Deriving life-course residential histories in brain bank cohorts: A feasibility study

INTRODUCTION

The exposome is theorized to interact with biological mechanisms to influence risk for Alzheimer's disease but is not well-integrated into existing Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) brain bank data collection.

METHODS

We apply public data tracing, an iterative, dual abstraction and validation process rooted in rigorous historic archival methods, to develop life-course residential histories for 1254 ADRC decedents.

RESULTS

The median percentage of the life course with an address is 78.1% (IQR 24.9); 56.5% of the sample has an address for at least 75% of their life course. Archivists had 89.7% agreement at the address level. This method matched current residential survey methodology 97.4% on average.

DISCUSSION

This novel method demonstrates feasibility, reproducibility, and rigor for historic data collection. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that public data tracing methods for brain bank decedent residential history development can be used to better integrate the social exposome with biobank specimens.

HIGHLIGHTS

Public data tracing compares favorably to survey-based residential history. Public data tracing is feasible and reproducible between archivists. Archivists achieved 89.7% agreement at the address level. This method identifies residences for nearly 80% of life-years, on average. This novel method enables brain banks to add social characterizations.

Association between military service and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology at autopsy

INTRODUCTION

Anti-amyloid therapies are at the forefront of efforts to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). Identifying amyloid risk factors may aid screening and intervention strategies. While veterans face increased exposure to risk factors, whether they face a greater neuropathologic amyloid burden is not well understood.

METHODS

Male decedents donating to two Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) brain banks from 1986 to 2018 with categorized neuritic plaque density and neurofibrillary tangles (n = 597) were included. Using generalized ordered logistic regression we modeled each outcome's association with military history adjusting for age and death year.

RESULTS

Having served in the military (60% of sample) is associated with post mortem neuritic amyloid plaque (for each comparison of higher to lower C scores OR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-1.49) and tau pathology (B score OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.08-1.12).

DISCUSSION

This is the first study, to our knowledge, finding increased levels of verified AD neuropathology in those with military service. Targeted veteran AD therapies is a pressing need.

Life Course Assessment of Area-Based Social Disadvantage: A Systematic Review

Area-based social disadvantage, which measures the income, employment, and housing quality in one's community, can impact an individual's health above person-level factors. A life course approach examines how exposure to disadvantage can affect health in later life. This systematic review aimed to summarize the approaches used to assess exposure to area-based disadvantage over a life course, specifically those that define the length and timing of exposure. We reviewed the abstracts of 831 articles based on the following criteria: (1) whether the abstract described original research; (2) whether the study was longitudinal; (3) whether area-based social disadvantage was an exposure variable; (4) whether area-based social disadvantage was assessed at multiple points; and (5) whether exposure was assessed from childhood to older adulthood. Zero articles met all the above criteria, so we relaxed the fifth criterion in a secondary review. Six studies met our secondary criteria and were eligible for data extraction. The included studies followed subjects from childhood into adulthood, but none assessed disadvantages in late life. The approaches used to assess exposure included creating a cumulative disadvantage score, conducting a comparison between life course periods, and modeling the trajectory of disadvantage over time. Additional research was needed to validate the methodologies described here, specifically in terms of measuring the impact of area-based social disadvantage on health.

Differential Effects of an Emergency Department-to-Home Care Transitions Intervention in an Older Adult Population: A Latent Class Analysis

BACKGROUND

Older adults frequently return to the emergency department (ED) within 30 days of a visit. High-risk patients can differentially benefit from transitional care interventions. Latent class analysis (LCA) is a model-based method used to segment the population and test intervention effects by subgroup.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify latent classes within an older adult population from a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an ED-to-home transitional care program and test whether class membership modified the intervention effect.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Participants were randomized to receive the Care Transitions Intervention or usual care. Study staff collected outcomes data through medical record reviews and surveys. We performed LCA and logistic regression to evaluate the differential effects of the intervention by class membership.

SUBJECTS

Participants were ED patients (age 60 y and above) discharged to a community residence.

MEASURES

Indicator variables for the LCA included clinically available and patient-reported data from the initial ED visit. Our primary outcome was ED revisits within 30 days. Secondary outcomes included ED revisits within 14 days, outpatient follow-up within 7 and 30 days, and self-management behaviors.

RESULTS

We interpreted 6 latent classes in this study population. Classes 1, 4, 5, and 6 showed a reduction in ED revisit rates with the intervention; classes 2 and 3 showed an increase in ED revisit rates. In class 5, we found evidence that the intervention increased outpatient follow-up within 7 and 30 days (odds ratio: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.13-2.91; odds ratio: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.25-4.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Class membership modified the intervention effect. Population segmentation is an important step in evaluating a transitional care intervention.

Association of rurality and identifying as black with receipt of specialty care among patients hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer: a Medicare cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Rural patients with diabetic foot ulcers, especially those identifying as black, face increased risk of major amputation. Specialty care can reduce this risk. However, care disparities might beget outcome disparities. We aimed to determine whether a smaller proportion of rural patients, particularly those identifying as black, receive specialty care compared with the national proportion.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This 100% national retrospective cohort examined Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with diabetic foot ulcers (2013-2014). We report observed differences in specialty care, including: endocrinology, infectious disease, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, podiatry, or vascular surgery. We used logistic regression to examine possible intersectionality between rurality and race, controlling for sociodemographics, comorbidities, and ulcer severity and including an interaction term between rurality and identifying as black.

RESULTS

Overall, 32.15% (n=124 487) of patients hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer received specialty care. Among rural patients (n=13 100), the proportion decreased to 29.57%. For patients identifying as black (n=21 649), the proportion was 33.08%. Among rural patients identifying as black (n=1239), 26.23% received specialty care. This was >5 absolute percentage points less than the overall cohort. The adjusted OR for receiving specialty care among rural versus urban patients identifying as black was 0.61 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.71), which was lower than that for rural versus urban patients identifying as white (aOR 0.85, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.89). This metric supported a role for intersectionality between rurality and identifying as black.

CONCLUSIONS

A smaller proportion of rural patients, particularly those identifying as black, received specialty care when hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer compared with the overall cohort. This might contribute to known disparities in major amputations. Future studies are needed to determine causality.

Disparities in 30-day readmission rates among Medicare enrollees with dementia

BACKGROUND

Readmissions contribute to excessive care costs and burden for people living with dementia. Assessments of racial disparities in readmissions among dementia populations are lacking, and the role of social and geographic risk factors such as individual-level exposure to greater neighborhood disadvantage is poorly understood. We examined the association between race and 30-day readmissions in a nationally representative sample of Black and non-Hispanic White individuals with dementia diagnoses.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used 100% Medicare fee-for-service claims from all 2014 hospitalizations nationwide among Medicare enrollees with dementia diagnosis linked to patient, stay, and hospital factors. The sample consisted of 1,523,142 hospital stays among 945,481 beneficiaries. The relationship between all cause 30-day readmissions and the explanatory variable of self-reported race (Black, non-Hispanic White) was examined via generalized estimating equations approach adjusting for patient, stay, and hospital-level characteristics to model 30-day readmission odds.

RESULTS

Black Medicare beneficiaries had 37% higher readmission odds compared to White beneficiaries (unadjusted OR 1.37, CI 1.35-1.39). This heightened readmission risk persisted after adjusting for geographic factors (OR 1.33, CI 1.31-1.34), social factors (OR 1.25, CI 1.23-1.27), hospital characteristics (OR 1.24, CI 1.23-1.26), stay-level factors (OR 1.22, CI 1.21-1.24), demographics (OR 1.21, CI 1.19-1.23), and comorbidities (OR 1.16, CI 1.14-1.17), suggesting racially-patterned disparities in care account for a portion of observed differences. Associations varied by individual-level exposure to neighborhood disadvantage such that the protective effect of living in a less disadvantaged neighborhood was associated with reduced readmissions for White but not Black beneficiaries. Conversely, among White beneficiaries, exposure to the most disadvantaged neighborhoods associated with greater readmission rates compared to White beneficiaries residing in less disadvantaged contexts.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant racial and geographic disparities in 30-day readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries with dementia diagnoses. Findings suggest distinct mechanisms underlying observed disparities differentially influence various subpopulations.

Race, Sex, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disparities in Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia Within a National Medicare Cohort

Background Ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation significantly improves our ability to control VT, yet little is known about whether disparities exist in delivery of this technology. Methods and Results Using a national 100% Medicare inpatient data set of beneficiaries admitted with VT from January 1, 2014, through November 30, 2014, multivariable logistic regression techniques were used to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with receiving ablation. Census block group-level neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was measured for each patient by the Area Deprivation Index, a composite measure of socioeconomic disadvantage consisting of education, income, housing, and employment factors. Among 131 645 patients admitted with VT, 2190 (1.66%) received ablation. After adjustment for comorbidities, hospital characteristics, and sociodemographics, female sex (odds ratio [OR], 0.75 [95% CI, 0.67-0.84]), identifying as Black race (OR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.62-0.90] compared with identifying as White race), and living in a highly socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhood (national Area Deprivation Index percentile of >85%) (OR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.69-0.95] versus Area Deprivation Index ≤85%) were associated with significantly lower odds of receiving ablation. Conclusions Female patients, patients identifying as Black race, and patients living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods are 19% to 25% less likely to receive ablation during hospitalization with VT. The cause of and solutions for these disparities require further investigation.

Coaching older adults discharged home from the emergency department: The role of competence and emotion in following up with outpatient clinicians

OBJECTIVE

Motivating older adults to follow up with an outpatient clinician after discharge from emergency departments (ED) is beneficial yet challenging. We aimed to answer whether psychological needs for motivation and discrete emotions observed by care transition coaches would predict this behavioral outcome.

METHODS

Community-dwelling older adults following ED discharge were recruited from three EDs in two U.S. states. We examined home visit notes documented by coaches (N = 725). Retrospective chart reviews of medical records tracked participants' health care utilization for 30 days.

RESULTS

Observed knowledge-based competence predicted higher likelihood of outpatient follow-up within 30 days, while observed sadness predicted a lower likelihood of follow-up within seven days following discharge. Moreover, participants who demonstrated happiness were marginally more likely to have an in-person follow-up within seven days, and those who demonstrated knowledge-based competence were more likely to have an electronic follow-up within 30 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge-based competence and emotions, as observed and documented in coach notes, can predict older adults' subsequent outpatient follow-up following their ED-discharge.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Intervention programs might encourage coaches to check knowledge-based competence and to observe emotions in addition to delivering the content. Coaches could also customize strategies for patients with different recommended timeframes of follow-up.

Multimethod Process Evaluation of a Community Paramedic Delivered Care Transitions Intervention for Older Emergency Department Patients

OBJECTIVE

We assessed fidelity of delivery and participant engagement in the implementation of a community paramedic coach-led Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) program adapted for use following emergency department (ED) visits.

METHODS

The adapted CTI for ED-to-home transitions was implemented at three university-affiliated hospitals in two cities from 2016 to 2019. Participants were aged ≥60 years old and discharged from the ED within 24 hours of arrival. In the current analysis, participants had to have received the CTI. Community paramedic coaches collected data on program delivery and participant characteristics at each transition contact via inventories and assessments. Participants provided commentary on the acceptability of the adapted CTI. Using a multimethod approach, the CTI implementation was assessed quantitatively for site- and coach-level differences. Qualitatively, barriers to implementation and participant satisfaction with the CTI were thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 863 patient participants, 726 (84.1%) completed their home visits. Cancellations were usually patient-generated (94.9%). Most planned follow-up visits were successfully completed (94.6%). Content on the planning for red flags and post-discharge goal setting was discussed with high rates of fidelity overall (95% and greater), while content on outpatient follow-up was lower overall (75%). Differences in service delivery between the two sites existed for the in-person visit and the first phone follow-up, but the differences narrowed as the study progressed. Participants showed a 24.6% increase in patient activation (i.e., behavioral adoption) over the 30-day study period (p < 0.001).Overall, participants reported that the program was beneficial for managing their health, the quality of coaching was high, and that the program should continue. Not all participants felt that they needed the program. Community paramedic coaches reported barriers to CTI delivery due to patient medical problems and difficulties with phone visit coordination. Coaches also noted refusal to communicate or engage with the intervention as an implementation barrier.

CONCLUSIONS

Community paramedic coaches delivered the adapted CTI with high fidelity across geographically distant sites and successfully facilitated participant engagement, highlighting community paramedics as an effective resource for implementing such patient-centered interventions.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage With Neurofibrillary Tangles on Neuropathological Tissue Assessment

This cross-sectional study evaluates income, educational level, employment status, and neighborhood and their association with brain changes in decedents with Alzheimer disease and related dementias.

Association of Race, Ethnicity, and Rurality With Major Leg Amputation or Death Among Medicare Beneficiaries Hospitalized With Diabetic Foot Ulcers

IMPORTANCE

Patients identifying as Black and those living in rural and disadvantaged neighborhoods are at increased risk of major (above-ankle) leg amputations owing to diabetic foot ulcers. Intersectionality emphasizes that the disparities faced by multiply marginalized people (eg, rural US individuals identifying as Black) are greater than the sum of each individual disparity.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether intersecting identities of Black race, ethnicity, rural residence, or living in a disadvantaged neighborhood are associated with increased risk in major leg amputation or death among Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with diabetic foot ulcers.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective cohort study used 2013-2014 data from the US National Medicare Claims Data Database on all adult Medicare patients hospitalized with a diabetic foot ulcer. Statistical analysis was conducted from August 1 to October 27, 2021.

EXPOSURES

Race was categorized using Research Triangle Institute variables. Rurality was assigned using Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes. Residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods comprised those living in neighborhoods at or above the national 80th percentile Area Deprivation Index.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Major leg amputation or death during hospitalization or within 30 days of hospital discharge. Logistic regression was used to explore interactions among race, ethnicity, rurality, and neighborhood disadvantage, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and ulcer severity.

RESULTS

The cohort included 124 487 patients, with a mean (SD) age of 71.5 (13.0) years, of whom 71 286 (57.3%) were men, 13 100 (10.5%) were rural, and 21 649 (17.4%) identified as Black. Overall, 17.6% of the cohort (n = 21 919), 18.3% of rural patients (2402 of 13 100), and 21.9% of patients identifying as Black (4732 of 21 649) underwent major leg amputation or died. Among 1239 rural patients identifying as Black, this proportion was 28.0% (n = 347). This proportion exceeded the expected excess for rural patients (18.3% - 17.6% = 0.7%) plus those identifying as Black (21.9% - 17.6% = 4.3%) by more than 2-fold (28.0% - 17.6% = 10.4% vs 0.7% + 4.3% = 5.0%). The adjusted predicted probability of major leg amputation or death remained high at 24.7% (95% CI, 22.4%-26.9%), with a significant interaction between race and rurality.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Rural patients identifying as Black had a more than 10% absolute increased risk of major leg amputation or death compared with the overall cohort. This study suggests that racial and rural disparities interacted, amplifying risk. Findings support using an intersectionality lens to investigate and address disparities in major leg amputation and mortality for patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

Machine learning-assisted screening for cognitive impairment in the emergency department

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Despite a high prevalence and association with poor outcomes, screening to identify cognitive impairment (CI) in the emergency department (ED) is uncommon. Identification of high-risk subsets of older adults is a critical challenge to expanding screening programs. We developed and evaluated an automated screening tool to identify a subset of patients at high risk for CI.

METHODS

In this secondary analysis of existing data collected for a randomized control trial, we developed machine-learning models to identify patients at higher risk of CI using only variables available in electronic health record (EHR). We used records from 1736 community-dwelling adults age > 59 being discharged from three EDs. Potential CI was determined based on the Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration (BOMC) test, administered in the ED. A nested cross-validation framework was used to evaluate machine-learning algorithms, comparing area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC) as the primary metric of performance.

RESULTS

Based on BOMC scores, 121 of 1736 (7%) participants screened positive for potential CI at the time of their ED visit. The best performing algorithm, an XGBoost model, predicted BOMC positivity with an AUC of 0.72. With a classification threshold of 0.4, this model had a sensitivity of 0.73, a specificity of 0.64, a negative predictive value of 0.97, and a positive predictive value of 0.13. In a hypothetical ED with 200 older adult visits per week, the use of this model would lead to a decrease in the in-person screening burden from 200 to 77 individuals in order to detect 10 of 14 patients who would fail a BOMC.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that an algorithm based on EHR data can define a subset of patients at higher risk for CI. Incorporating such an algorithm into a screening workflow could allow screening efforts and resources to be focused where they have the most impact.

Hospital Characteristics by Proportion of Patients from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

Neighborhood disadvantage reflects historic and ongoing systemic injustices. Without addressing these upstream social determinants of health, hospitals may face different risk profiles for important quality metrics. Our objective was to assess differences in hospital characteristics where the proportion of patients residing in severely disadvantaged neighborhoods was high vs low. Using Medicare fee-for-service claims between January 1, 2014 and November 30, 2014 (5,807,499 hospital stays), we calculated Area Disadvantage Share (ADS), the proportion of each hospital's discharges to severely disadvantaged neighborhoods, for 4,528 hospitals. We examined hospital characteristics by distribution of ADS and by risk-adjusted 30-day readmission. Hospitals in the highest decile cared for a higher proportion of Black patients, were more often located in rural areas, and had higher patient risk of 30-day readmission compared to all other deciles. Hospitals face unequal burdens of neighborhood disadvantage, a factor distinct from other social determinants such as rurality.

Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Pediatric Readmissions

OBJECTIVE

Although individual-level social determinants of health (SDH) are known to influence 30-day readmission risk, contextual-level associations with readmission are poorly understood among children. This study explores associations between neighborhood disadvantage measured by Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and pediatric 30-day readmissions.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included discharges of patients aged < 20 years from Maryland's 2013-2016 all-payer dataset. The ADI, which quantifies 17 indicators of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage within census block groups, is used as a proxy for contextual-level SDH. Readmissions were identified with the 30-day Pediatric All-Condition Readmissions measure. Associations between ADI and readmission were identified with generalized estimating equations adjusted for patient demographics and clinical severity (Chronic Condition Indicator [CCI], Pediatric Medical Complexity Algorithm [PMCA], Index Hospital All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups [APR-DRG]), and hospital discharge volume.

RESULTS

Discharges (n = 138,998) were mostly female (52.7%), publicly insured (55.1%), urban-dwelling (93.0%), with low clinical severity levels (0-1 CCIs [82.3%], minor APR-DRG severity [48.4%]). Overall readmission rate was 4.0%. Compared to the least disadvantaged ADI quartile, readmissions for the most disadvantaged quartile were significantly more likely (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09-1.30). After adjustment, readmissions were associated with public insurance and indicators of medical complexity (higher number of CCIs, complex-chronic disease PMCA, and APR-DRG severity).

CONCLUSION

In this all-payer, statewide sample, living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods independently predicted pediatric readmission. While the relative magnitude of neighborhood disadvantage was modest compared to medical complexity, disadvantage is modifiable and thus represents an important consideration for prevention and risk stratification efforts.

Effectiveness of a care transitions intervention for older adults discharged home from the emergency department: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Improving care transitions following emergency department (ED) visits may reduce post-ED adverse events among older adults (e.g., ED revisits, decreased function). The Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) improves hospital-to-home transitions; however, its effectiveness at improving post-ED outcomes is unknown. We tested the effectiveness of the CTI with community-dwelling older adult ED patients, hypothesizing that it would reduce revisits and increase performance of self-management behaviors during the 30 days following discharge.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized controlled trial among patients age ≥ 60 discharged home from one of three EDs in two states. Intervention participants received a minimally modified CTI, with a home visit 24 to 72 h postdischarge and one to three phone calls over 28 days. We collected demographic, health status, and psychosocial data at the initial ED visit. Medication adherence and knowledge of red flag symptoms were assessed via phone survey. Care use and comorbidities were abstracted from medical records. We performed multivariate regressions for intention-to-treat and per-protocol (PP) analyses.

RESULTS

Participant characteristics (N = 1,756) were similar across groups: mean age 72.4 ± 8.6 years and 53% female. Of those randomized to the intervention, 84% completed the home visit. Overall, 12.4% of participants returned to the ED within 30 days. The CTI did not significantly affect odds of 30-day ED revisits (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.72 to 1.30) or medication adherence (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.60 to 1.32). Participants receiving the CTI (PP) had increased odds of in-person follow-up with outpatient clinicians during the week following discharge (AOR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.51) and recalling at least one red flag from ED discharge instructions (AOR = 1.34 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.71).

CONCLUSIONS

The CTI did not reduce 30-day ED revisits but did significantly increase key care transition behaviors (outpatient follow-up, red flag knowledge). Additional research is needed to explore if patients with different conditions benefit more from the CTI and whether decreasing ED revisits is the most appropriate outcome for all older adults.

Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in Black and non-Hispanic White cohorts: A contextualized review of the evidence

Black Americans are disproportionately affected by dementia. To expand our understanding of mechanisms of this disparity, we look to Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. In this review, we summarize current data, comparing the few studies presenting these findings. Further, we contextualize the data using two influential frameworks: the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) Research Framework and NIA's Health Disparities Research Framework. The NIA-AA Research Framework provides a biological definition of AD that can be measured in vivo. However, current cut-points for determining pathological versus non-pathological status were developed using predominantly White cohorts-a serious limitation. The NIA's Health Disparities Research Framework is used to contextualize findings from studies identifying racial differences in biomarker levels, because studying biomakers in isolation cannot explain or reduce inequities. We offer recommendations to expand study beyond initial reports of racial differences. Specifically, life course experiences associated with racialization and commonly used study enrollment practices may better account for observations than exclusively biological explanations.

Race, Ethnicity, Neighborhood Characteristics, and In-Hospital Coronavirus Disease-2019 Mortality

BACKGROUND

Despite many studies reporting disparities in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) incidence and outcomes in Black and Hispanic/Latino populations, mechanisms are not fully understood to inform mitigation strategies.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to test whether neighborhood factors beyond individual patient-level factors are associated with in-hospital mortality from COVID-19. We hypothesized that the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a neighborhood census-block-level composite measure, was associated with COVID-19 mortality independently of race, ethnicity, and other patient factors.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective cohort study examining COVID-19 in-hospital mortality.

SUBJECTS

Inclusion required hospitalization with positive SARS-CoV-2 test or COVID-19 diagnosis at three large Midwestern academic centers.

MEASURES

The primary study outcome was COVID-19 in-hospital mortality. Patient-level predictors included age, sex, race, insurance, body mass index, comorbidities, and ventilation. Neighborhoods were examined through the national ADI neighborhood deprivation rank comparing in-hospital mortality across ADI quintiles. Analyses used multivariable logistic regression with fixed site effects.

RESULTS

Among 5999 COVID-19 patients median age was 61 (interquartile range: 44-73), 48% were male, 30% Black, and 10.8% died. Among patients who died, 32% lived in the most disadvantaged quintile while 11% lived in the least disadvantaged quintile; 52% of Black, 24% of Hispanic/Latino, and 8.5% of White patients lived in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods.Living in the most disadvantaged neighborhood quintile predicted higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 1.74; 95% confidence interval: 1.13-2.67) independent of race. Age, male sex, Medicare coverage, and ventilation also predicted mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Neighborhood disadvantage independently predicted in-hospital COVID-19 mortality. Findings support calls to consider neighborhood measures for vaccine distribution and policies to mitigate disparities.

Dementia Caregivers' Experiences Engaging Supportive Services While Residing in Under-Resourced Areas

BACKGROUND

Family caregivers of people living with dementia benefit from supportive service use to address care needs associated with caregiving. Yet, research consistently demonstrates low rates of service use. Existing research has focused on barriers and facilitators to service use, with few studies examining the influence of caregivers' environmental context which often patterns social advantage and health services accessibility.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the perspectives of caregivers residing in socially disadvantaged areas have in regards to utilizing supportive services.

METHODS

Ten informal caregivers residing in socially disadvantaged areas participated in in-depth interviews that were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Across all interviews, caregivers spontaneously described common precedents of service use (crisis or accumulation of unmet needs) and a distinct sequence of stages (seeking, initiating, and utilizing) surrounding service engagement. Major themes characterizing caregivers' experiences throughout service engagement highlight the varied influence of personal, familial, health, and social system-related factors. Findings demonstrate that caregivers may have different service needs as dementia progresses and that gerontological social work practice can facilitate service use.

CONCLUSION

While preliminary, these findings provide important insights into new domains that can be further examined in future research and intervention efforts to improve supportive service use in socially disadvantaged and underserved communities.

Operationalizing Social Environments in Cognitive Aging and Dementia Research: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Social environments are a contributing determinant of health and disparities. This scoping review details how social environments have been operationalized in observational studies of cognitive aging and dementia.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed and Web of Science identified studies of social environment exposures and late-life cognition/dementia outcomes. Data were extracted on (1) study design; (2) population; (3) social environment(s); (4) cognitive outcome(s); (5) analytic approach; and (6) theorized causal pathways. Studies were organized using a 3-tiered social ecological model at interpersonal, community, or policy levels.

RESULTS

Of 7802 non-duplicated articles, 123 studies met inclusion criteria. Eighty-four studies were longitudinal (range 1-28 years) and 16 examined time-varying social environments. When sorted into social ecological levels, 91 studies examined the interpersonal level; 37 examined the community/neighborhood level; 3 examined policy level social environments; and 7 studies examined more than one level.

CONCLUSIONS

Most studies of social environments and cognitive aging and dementia examined interpersonal factors measured at a single point in time. Few assessed time-varying social environmental factors or considered multiple social ecological levels. Future studies can help clarify opportunities for intervention by delineating if, when, and how social environments shape late-life cognitive aging and dementia outcomes.

A Scoping Review of the Association of Social Disadvantage and Cerebrovascular Disease Confirmed by Neuroimaging and Neuropathology

Social disadvantage—a state of low-income, limited education, poor living conditions, or limited social support—mediates chronic health conditions, including cerebrovascular disease. Social disadvantage is a key component in several health impact frameworks, providing explanations for how individual-level factors interact with interpersonal and environmental factors to create health disparities. Understanding the association between social disadvantage and vascular neuropathology, brain lesions identified by neuroimaging and autopsy, could provide insight into how one’s social context interacts with biological processes to produce disease. The goal of this scoping review was to evaluate the scientific literature on the relationship between social disadvantage and cerebrovascular disease, confirmed through assessment of vascular neuropathology. We reviewed 4049 titles and abstracts returned from our search and included records for full-text review that evaluated a measure of social disadvantage as an exposure variable and cerebrovascular disease, confirmed through assessment of vascular neuropathology, as an outcome measure. We extracted exposures and outcomes from 20 articles meeting the criteria after full-text review, and described the study findings and populations sampled. An improved understanding of the link between social factors and cerebrovascular disease will be an important step in moving the field closer to addressing the fundamental causes of disease and towards more equitable brain health.

Assessment of Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Timeliness and Comprehensiveness of Dementia Diagnosis in California

Importance

The US aging population is rapidly becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. Early diagnosis of dementia is a health care priority.

Objective

To examine the associations between race/ethnicity and timeliness of dementia diagnosis and comprehensiveness of diagnostic evaluation.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cross-sectional study used 2013-2015 California Medicare fee-for-service data to examine the associations of race/ethnicity, individual factors, and contextual factors with the timeliness and comprehensiveness of dementia diagnosis. Data from 10 472 unique beneficiaries were analyzed. The sample was selected on the basis of the following criteria: presence of 1 or more claims; no diagnoses of dementia or mild cognitive impairment in 2013 to 2014; continuous enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B; Asian, Black, Hispanic, or White race/ethnicity; and incident diagnoses of dementia or mild cognitive impairment in January through June 2015. Data analyses were conducted from November 1, 2019, through November 10, 2020.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Timeliness of diagnosis, defined as incident diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment vs dementia, and comprehensiveness of diagnostic evaluation, defined as presence of the following services in claims within 6 months before or after the incident diagnosis date: specialist evaluation, laboratory testing, and neuroimaging studies.

Results

The sample comprised 10 472 unique Medicare beneficiaries with incident diagnoses of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (6504 women [62.1%]; mean [SD] age, 82.9 [8.0] years) and included 993 individuals who identified as Asian (9.5%), 407 as Black (3.9%), 1255 as Hispanic (12.0%), and 7817 as White (74.6%). Compared with White beneficiaries, those who identified as Asian (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.38-0.56), Black (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.94), or Hispanic (odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.52-0.72) were less likely to receive a timely diagnosis. Asian beneficiaries (incidence rate ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.74-0.87) also received fewer diagnostic evaluation elements. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity burden, neighborhood disadvantage, and rurality.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings highlight substantial disparities in the timeliness and comprehensiveness of dementia diagnosis. Public health interventions are needed to achieve equitable care for people living with dementia across all racial/ethnic groups.

Association of Neighborhood Context, Cognitive Decline, and Cortical Change in an Unimpaired Cohort

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that neighborhood-level disadvantage is associated with longitudinal measures of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in an unimpaired cohort.

METHODS

Longitudinal MRI and cognitive testing data were collected from 601 cognitively unimpaired participants in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention Study and the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center clinical cohort. Area Deprivation Index was geospatially determined based on participant residence geocode and ranked relative to state of residence. Linear regression models were fitted to test associations between neighborhood-level disadvantage and longitudinal change in cortical thickness and cognitive test performance. Mediation tests were used to assess whether neurodegeneration and cognitive decline were associated with neighborhood-level disadvantage along the same theoretical causal path.

RESULTS

In our middle- to older-aged study population (mean baseline age 59 years), living in the 20% most disadvantaged neighborhoods (n = 19) relative to state of residence was associated with cortical thinning in Alzheimer signature regions (p = 0.002) and decline in the Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Cognitive Composite (p = 0.04), particularly the Trail-Making Test, part B (p < 0.001), but not Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (p = 0.77) or Story Memory Delayed Recall (p = 0.49) subtests. Associations were attenuated but remained significant after controlling for racial and demographic differences between neighborhood-level disadvantage groups. Cortical thinning partially mediated the association between neighborhood-level disadvantage and cognitive decline.

CONCLUSIONS

In this longitudinal study of cognitively unimpaired adults, living in the most highly disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with accelerated degeneration in Alzheimer signature regions and cognitive decline. This study provides further evidence for neighborhood-level disadvantage as a risk factor for preclinical neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in certain populations. Limitations of the present study, including a small number of participants from highly disadvantaged neighborhoods and a circumscribed geographic setting, should be explored in larger and more diverse study cohorts.

Association between social isolation and outpatient follow-up in older adults following emergency department discharge

OBJECTIVES

Follow-up with outpatient clinicians after discharge from the emergency department (ED) reduces adverse outcomes among older adults, but rates are suboptimal. Social isolation, a common factor associated with poor health outcomes, may help explain these low rates. This study evaluates social isolation as a predictor of outpatient follow-up after discharge from the ED.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cohort study uses the control group from a randomized-controlled trial investigating a community paramedic-delivered Care Transitions Intervention with older patients (age≥60 years) at three EDs in mid-sized cities. Social Isolation scores were measured at baseline using the PROMIS 4-item social isolation questionnaire, grouped into tertiles for analysis. Chart abstraction was conducted to identify follow-up with outpatient primary or specialty healthcare providers and method of contact within 7 and 30 days of discharge.

RESULTS

Of 642 patients, highly socially-isolated adults reported significantly worse overall health, as well as increased anxiety, depressive symptoms, functional limitations, and co-morbid conditions compared to those less socially-isolated (p<0.01). We found no effect of social isolation on 30-day follow-up. Patients with high social isolation, however, were 37% less likely to follow-up with a provider in-person within 7 days of ED discharge compared to low social isolation (OR:0.63, 95% CI:0.42-0.96).

CONCLUSION

This study adds to our understanding of how and when socially-isolated older adults seek outpatient care following ED discharge. Increased social isolation was not significantly associated with all-contact follow-up rates after ED discharge. However, patients reporting higher social isolation had lower rates of in-person follow-up in the week following ED discharge.

Predictors of Older Adult Adherence With Emergency Department Discharge Instructions

OBJECTIVE

Older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED) are at high risk for adverse outcomes. Adherence to ED discharge instructions is necessary to reduce those risks. The objective of this study is to determine the individual-level factors associated with adherence with ED discharge instructions among older adult ED outpatients.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of data from the control group of a randomized controlled trial testing a care transitions intervention among older adults (age ≥ 60 years) discharged home from the ED in two states. Taking data from patient surveys and chart reviews, we used multivariable logistic regression to identify patient characteristics associated with adherence to printed discharge instructions. Outcomes were patient-reported medication adherence, provider follow-up visit adherence, and knowledge of "red flags" (signs of worsening health requiring further medical attention).

RESULTS

A total 824 patients were potentially eligible, and 699 had data in at least one pillar. A total of 35% adhered to medication instructions, 76% adhered to follow-up instructions, and 35% recalled at least one red flag. In the multivariate analysis, no factors were significantly associated with failure to adhere to medications. Participants with poor health status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31 to 0.98) were less likely to adhere to follow-up instructions. Participants who were older (AORs trended downward as age category increased) or depressed (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.17 to 0.85) or had one or more functional limitations (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.41 to 0.94) were less likely to recall red flags.

CONCLUSION

Older adults discharged home from the ED have mixed rates of adherence to discharge instructions. Although it is thought that some subgroups may be higher risk than others, given the opportunity to improve ED-to-home transitions, EDs and health systems should consider providing additional care transition support to all older adults discharged home from the ED.

Thirty-Day Re-observation, Chronic Re-observation, and Neighborhood Disadvantage

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, as determined by the Area Deprivation Index, increases 30-day hospital re-observation risk.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study of 20% Medicare fee-for-service beneficiary observation stays from January 1, 2014, to November 30, 2014, included 319,980 stays among 273,308 beneficiaries. We evaluated risk for a 30-day re-observation following an index observation stay for those living in the 15% most disadvantaged compared with the 85% least disadvantaged neighborhoods.

RESULTS

Overall, 4.5% (270,600 of 6,080,664) of beneficiaries had index observation stays, which varied by disadvantage (4.3% [232,568 of 5,398,311] in the least disadvantaged 85% compared with 5.6% [38,032 of 682,353] in the most disadvantaged 15%). Patients in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods had a higher 30-day re-observation rate (2857 of 41,975; 6.8%) compared with least disadvantaged neighborhoods (13,543 of 278,005; 4.9%); a 43% increased risk (unadjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% CI, 1.31 to 1.55). After adjustment, this risk remained (adjusted OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.22). Discharge to a skilled nursing facility reduced 30-day re-observation risk (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.69), whereas index observation length of stay of 4 or more days (3 midnights) conferred increased risk (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.52); those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods were less likely to discharge to skilled nursing facilities and more likely to have long index stays. Beneficiaries with more than one 30-day re-observation (chronic re-observation) had progressively greater disadvantage by number of stays (adjusted incident rate ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.14). Observation prevalence varied nationally.

CONCLUSION

Thirty-day re-observation, especially chronic re-observation, is highly associated with socioeconomic neighborhood disadvantage, even after accounting for factors such as race, disability, and Medicaid eligibility. Beneficiaries least able to pay are potentially most vulnerable to costs from serial re-observations and challenges of Medicare observation policy, which may discourage patients from seeking necessary care.

Neighborhood disadvantage and 30-day readmission risk following Clostridioides difficile infection hospitalization

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is commonly associated with outcomes like recurrence and readmission. The effect of social determinants of health, such as 'neighborhood' socioeconomic disadvantage, on a CDI patient's health outcomes is unclear. Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood could interfere with a CDI patient's ability to follow post-discharge care recommendations and the success probability of these recommendations, thereby increasing risk of readmission. We hypothesized that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with 30-day readmission risk in Medicare patients with CDI.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, odds of 30-day readmission for CDI patients are evaluated controlling for patient sociodemographics, comorbidities, and hospital and stay-level variables. The cohort was created from a random 20% national sample of Medicare patients during the first 11 months of 2014.

RESULTS

From the cohort of 19,490 patients (39% male; 80% white; 83% 65 years or older), 22% were readmitted within 30 days of an index stay. Unadjusted analyses showed that patients from the most disadvantaged neighborhoods were readmitted at a higher rate than those from less disadvantaged neighborhoods (26% vs. 21% rate: unadjusted OR = 1.32 [1.20, 1.45]). This relationship held in adjusted analyses, in which residence in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with 16% increased odds of readmission (adjusted OR = 1.16 [1.04, 1.28]).

CONCLUSIONS

Residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods poses a significantly increased risk of readmission in CDI patients. Further research should focus on in-depth assessments of this population to better understand the mechanisms underlying these risks and if these findings apply to other infectious diseases.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage With Cerebral and Hippocampal Volume

Importance

Identifying risk factors for brain atrophy during the aging process can help direct new preventive approaches for dementia and cognitive decline. The association of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage with brain volume in this context is not well known.

Objective

To test whether neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with decreased brain volume in a cognitively unimpaired population enriched for Alzheimer disease risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This study, conducted from January 6, 2010, to January 17, 2019, at an academic research neuroimaging center, used cross-sectional data on 951 participants from 2 large, ongoing cohort studies of Alzheimer disease (Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention and Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center clinical cohort). Participants were cognitively unimpaired based on National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroup diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease, confirmed through a consensus diagnosis panel. The cohort was enriched for Alzheimer disease risk based on family history of dementia. Statistical analysis was performed from April 3 to September 27, 2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The Area Deprivation Index, a geospatially determined index of neighborhood-level disadvantage, and cardiovascular disease risk indices were calculated for each participant. Linear regression models were fitted to test associations between relative neighborhood-level disadvantage (highest 20% based on state of residence) and hippocampal and total brain tissue volume, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

In the primary analysis of 951 participants (637 women [67.0%]; mean [SD] age, 63.9 [8.1] years), living in the 20% most disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with 4.1% lower hippocampal volume (β = -317.44; 95% CI, -543.32 to -91.56; P = .006) and 2.0% lower total brain tissue volume (β = -20 959.67; 95% CI, -37 611.92 to -4307.43; P = .01), after controlling for intracranial volume, individual-level educational attainment, age, and sex. Robust propensity score-matched analyses determined that this association was not due to racial/ethnic or demographic characteristics. Cardiovascular risk score, examined in a subsample of 893 participants, mediated this association for total brain tissue but not for hippocampal volume.

Conclusions and Relevance

For cognitively unimpaired individuals, living in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with significantly lower cerebral volumes, after controlling for maximal premorbid (total intracranial) volume. This finding suggests an association of community socioeconomic context, distinct from individual-level socioeconomic status, with brain volume during aging. Cardiovascular risk mediated this association for total brain tissue volume but not for hippocampal volume, suggesting that neighborhood-level disadvantage may be associated with these 2 outcomes via distinct biological pathways.

"Hopes and wishes": Goals of high-need, high-cost older patients and their caregivers

OBJECTIVE

Integration of patient-identified goals is a critical element of shared decision-making and patient-provider communication. There is limited information on the goals of patients with multiple medical conditions and high healthcare utilization. We aimed to identify and categorize the goals described by "high-need, high-cost" (HNHC) older patients and their caregivers.

METHODS

Using conventional content analysis, we used data from interviews conducted with 17 HNHC older patients (mean age 72.5 years) and 4 caregivers.

RESULTS

HNHC older patients and their caregivers used language such as "hopes, wishes, and wants" to describe their goals, which fell into eight categories: alleviating discomfort, having autonomy and control, decreasing treatment burden, maintaining physical functioning and engagement, leaving a legacy, extending life, having satisfying and effective relationships, and experiencing security.

CONCLUSION

Our results contribute to knowledge of goals of HNHC patients and provides guidance for improving the patient-provider relationship and communication between HNHC older patients and their healthcare providers.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Our findings can inform provider efforts to assess patient goals and engage high-need, high-cost older patients in shared decision-making. Further, this study contributes to an improved understanding of HNHC older patients to support continued development of effective care models for this population.

The Area Deprivation Index: A novel tool for harmonizable risk assessment in Alzheimer's disease research

INTRODUCTION

Residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood associates with adverse health exposures and outcomes, and may increase risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. Utilization of a publicly available, geocoded disadvantage metric could facilitate efficient integration of social determinants of health into models of cognitive aging.

METHODS

Using the validated Area Deprivation Index and two cognitive aging cohorts, we quantified Census block-level poverty, education, housing, and employment characteristics for the neighborhoods of 2119 older adults. We assessed relationships between neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive performance in domains sensitive to age-related change.

RESULTS

Participants in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods (n = 156) were younger, more often female, and less often college-educated or white than those in less disadvantaged neighborhoods (n = 1963). Disadvantaged neighborhood residence associated with poorer performance on tests of executive function, verbal learning, and memory.

DISCUSSION

This geospatial metric of neighborhood disadvantage may be valuable for exploring socially rooted risk mechanisms, and prioritizing high-risk communities for research recruitment and intervention.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage With Alzheimer Disease Neuropathology

IMPORTANCE

Social determinants of health, such as income, education, housing quality, and employment, are associated with disparities in Alzheimer disease and health generally, yet these determinants are rarely incorporated within neuropathology research.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the feasibility of linking neuropathology data to social determinants of health exposures using neighborhood disadvantage metrics (the validated Area Deprivation Index) and to evaluate the association between neighborhood disadvantage and Alzheimer disease-related neuropathology.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cross-sectional study consisted of decedents with a known home address who donated their brains to 1 of 2 Alzheimer disease research center brain banks in California and Wisconsin between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2016. Neither site had preexisting social metrics available for their decedents. Neuropathologic features were obtained from each site for data collected using the standardized Neuropathology Data Set form and from autopsy reports. Data were analyzed from June 7 to October 10, 2019.

EXPOSURES

Geocoded decedent addresses linked to neighborhood disadvantage as measured by the Area Deprivation Index calculated for the year of death.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Presence of Alzheimer disease neuropathology. The association between neighborhood disadvantage and Alzheimer disease neuropathology was evaluated via logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, and year of death.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 447 decedents (249 men [56%]; mean [SD] age, 80.3 [9.5] years; median year of death, 2011) spanning 24 years of donation. Fewer decedents (n = 24 [5.4%]) originated from the top 20% most disadvantaged neighborhood contexts. Increasing neighborhood disadvantage was associated with an 8.1% increase in the odds of Alzheimer disease neuropathology for every decile change on the Area Deprivation Index (adjusted odds ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.07-1.09). As such, living in the most disadvantaged neighborhood decile was associated with a 2.18 increased odds of Alzheimer disease neuropathology (adjusted odds ratio, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.99-2.39).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that social determinants of health data can be linked to preexisting autopsy samples as a means to study sociobiological mechanisms involved in neuropathology. This novel technique has the potential to be applied to any brain bank within the United States. To our knowledge, this is the first time Alzheimer disease neuropathology has been associated with neighborhood disadvantage.

What Is an Observation Stay? Evaluating the Use of Hospital Observation Stays in Medicare

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Observation stays are increasingly common for older adults, yet little is known about the extent to which they are being used as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) originally intended for unscheduled or acute problems and whether different types of services are reflected in current billing practices.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

A total of 867,165 qualifying observation stays identified from 451,408 patients using Medicare fee-for-service claims data from a nationally representative 20% beneficiary sample between January 1, 2014, and November 30, 2014.

MEASUREMENTS

Using descriptive and multivariable logistic model analytic approaches, we evaluated the patient, stay, and hospital characteristics associated with the most common billing practice for observation stays (charge revenue center 0761 exclusively) vs all other practices.

RESULTS

Sixty-three percent of observation stays were billed exclusively under the 0761 revenue center and were more likely to be for preplanned chronic conditions consisting of short-term treatments (eg, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, wound care, paracentesis, epidural spinal injection). These stays appeared to be used for recurrent single-day visits, given their strong association with prior visits and a high rate of reobservation (41.4%), with frequent return stays appearing in a 7-day pattern.

CONCLUSION

Nearly two-thirds of observation stays are billed using only the 0761 revenue code and appear to be for prescheduled, repeated treatments-differing substantially from CMS' explicitly stated purpose as a form of care used while a healthcare provider determines whether a patient presenting for unscheduled or acute conditions requires inpatient hospital admission or can be safely discharged. Guidance is needed from CMS to clarify the appropriate role of observation stays, with discussion as to whether episodic single-day, planned treatment for chronic conditions not originating in the emergency department should be billed as observation stays or placed under another mechanism. Subsequent research is needed to understand how the current use of observation stays impact patient out-of-pocket costs. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1568-1572, 2020.

An index of geospatial disadvantage predicts both obesity and unmeasured body weight

Neighborhood context impacts health. Using an index of geospatial disadvantage measures to predict neighborhood socioeconomic disparities would support area-based allocation of preventative resources, as well as the use of location as a clinical risk factor in care of individual patients. This study tested the association of the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a neighborhood-based index of socioeconomic contextual disadvantage, with elderly obesity risk. We sampled 5066 Medicare beneficiaries at the University of Missouri between September 1, 2013 and September 1, 2014. We excluded patients with unknown street addresses, excluded body mass index (BMI) lower than 18 or higher than 62 as probable errors, and excluded patients with missing BMI data. We used a plot of simple proportions to examine the association between ADI and prevalence of obesity, defined as BMI of 30 and over. We found that obesity was significantly less prevalent in the least-disadvantaged ADI decile (decile 1) than in all other deciles (p < 0.05) except decile 7. Obesity prevalence within the other deciles (2–6 and 8–10) was not significantly distinguishable except that decile 2 was significantly lower than decile 4. Patients with missing BMI data were more likely to reside in the most disadvantaged areas. There was a positive association between neighborhood disadvantage and obesity in this Midwestern United States Medicare population. The association of missing BMI information with neighborhood disadvantage may reflect unmeasured gaps in care delivery to the most disadvantaged patients. These preliminary results support the continued study of neighborhood socioeconomic measures to identify health disparities in populations.

The U-ARE Protocol: A Pragmatic Approach to Decisional Capacity Assessment for Clinical Research

With increased longevity and growth in the number of older adults comes rising rates of individuals with cognitive impairment and dementia. The expansion of this population has important implications for research on aging and dementia syndromes, namely increased enrollment of older individuals in clinical research. Ethical prerogatives, as well as historical underrepresentation of persons with dementia in research studies due to the perceived burden of traditional decisional capacity evaluations, necessitates the development of pragmatic approaches to ascertain decisional abilities in research settings. We outline a protocol used in the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) that adopts a stepped approach to the evaluation of decisional capacity meant to maximize study visit efficiency while preserving participant safety and autonomy. The protocol specifies the structure of the consent process and incorporates a brief semi-structured interview based on Appelbaum & Grisso's theoretical model for evaluating a patient's decisional capacity to provide informed consent to participate in research. This protocol is easily implemented in a research study visit and is designed to minimize participant burden and ensure reliable assessment of decisional capacity in older adults across a wide range of research protocols. The protocol emphasizes capacity optimization, using memory aids and other compensatory strategies to preserve participant autonomy while protecting welfare.

A Case Study on A University-Community Partnership to Eliminate Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality: Effective Strategies and Lessons Learned

This case study discusses the implementation framework, effective strategies, and lessons learned of a university-community partnership addressing racial disparities in infant mortality. The partnership was successful at enhancing coordination within service delivery systems for maternal and child health programs. Results: the elimination of waiting list for services, maximizing federal and state reimbursement, the adoption of culturally-appropriate intervention practices, increasing racial diversity in the workforce, diffusing silos, and facilitating healthier relationships among service providers. Key lessons: activating the collective strengths among a network of diverse community stakeholders with shared interests, prioritizing black voices in the change process, and capacity building opportunities.

Impact Of Risk Adjustment For Socioeconomic Status On Medicare Advantage Plan Quality Rankings

Sociodemographically disadvantaged patients have worse outcomes on some quality measures that inform Medicare Advantage plan ratings. Performance measurement that does not adjust for sociodemographic factors may penalize plans that disproportionately serve disadvantaged populations. We assessed the impact of adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic factors (sex, race/ethnicity, dual eligibility, disability, rurality, and neighborhood disadvantage) on Medicare Advantage plan rankings for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol control. After adjustment, 20.3 percent, 19.5 percent, and 11.4 percent of Medicare Advantage plans improved by one or more quintiles in rank on the diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure measures, respectively. Plans that improved in ranking after adjustment enrolled higher proportions of disadvantaged enrollees. Adjusting quality measures for socioeconomic factors is important for equitable payment and quality reporting. Our study suggests that plans serving disadvantaged populations would have improved relative rankings for three important outcome measures if socioeconomic factors were included in risk-adjustment models.

Safety-Net Hospitals, Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Readmissions Under Maryland's All-Payer Program: An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Safety-net hospitals have higher-than-expected readmission rates. The relative roles of the mean disadvantage of neighborhoods the hospitals serve and the disadvantage of individual patients in predicting a patient's readmission are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the independent contributions of the patient's neighborhood and the hospital's service area to risk for 30-day readmission.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

Maryland.

PARTICIPANTS

All Maryland residents discharged from a Maryland hospital in 2015.

MEASUREMENTS

Predictors included the disadvantage of neighborhoods for each Maryland resident (area disadvantage index) and the mean disadvantage of each hospital's discharged patients (safety-net index). The primary outcome was unplanned 30-day hospital readmission. Generalized estimating equations and marginal modeling were used to estimate readmission rates. Results were adjusted for clinical readmission risk.

RESULTS

13.4% of discharged patients were readmitted within 30 days. Patients living in neighborhoods at the 90th percentile of disadvantage had a readmission rate of 14.1% (95% CI, 13.6% to 14.5%) compared with 12.5% (CI, 11.8% to 13.2%) for similar patients living in neighborhoods at the 10th percentile. Patients discharged from hospitals at the 90th percentile of safety-net status had a readmission rate of 14.8% (CI, 13.4% to 16.1%) compared with 11.6% (CI, 10.5% to 12.7%) for similar patients discharged from hospitals at the 10th percentile of safety-net status. The association of readmission risk with the hospital's safety-net index was approximately twice the observed association with the patient's neighborhood disadvantage status.

LIMITATIONS

Generalizability outside Maryland is unknown. Confounding may be present.

CONCLUSION

In Maryland, residing in a disadvantaged neighborhood and being discharged from a hospital serving a large proportion of disadvantaged neighborhoods are independently associated with increased risk for readmission.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission.

Coordinated-Transitional Care for Veterans with Heart Failure and Chronic Lung Disease

OBJECTIVES

Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) account for most 30-day hospital readmissions nationwide. The Coordinated-Transitional Care (C-TraC) program is a telephone-based, nurse-driven intervention shown to decrease readmissions in Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA hospitals. The goal of this project was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of adapting C-TraC to meet the needs of complex patients with CHF and COPD in a large urban tertiary care VA medical center.

DESIGN

We used the Replicating Effective Programs model to guide the implementation. The C-TraC nurse received intensive training in cardiology and pulmonology and worked closely with both inpatient and outpatient providers to coordinate care. Eligible patients were admitted with CHF or COPD and had at least one additional risk for readmission.

SETTING

The nurse met patients in the hospital, participated in their discharge planning, and then provided intensive case management for up to 4 weeks.

PARTICIPANTS

Over its initial 14 months, the program successfully enrolled 299 veterans with good fidelity to the protocol.

MEASUREMENTS

A total of 43 (15.8%) C-TraC participants were rehospitalized within 30 days compared with 172 (21.0%) of historical controls matched 3:1 on age, risk of 90-day hospital admission, and discharge diagnosis.

RESULTS

Participants were 54% less likely to be rehospitalized (odds ratio = .46; 95% CI = .24-.89).

CONCLUSION

The program was financially sustainable. The total cost of care in the 30-day postdischarge period was $1842.52 less per C-TraC patient than per controls, leading the medical center to sustain and expand the program.

Adjusting for social risk factors impacts performance and penalties in the hospital readmissions reduction program

OBJECTIVE

Medicare's Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) does not account for social risk factors in risk adjustment, and this may lead the program to unfairly penalize safety-net hospitals. Our objective was to determine the impact of adjusting for social risk factors on HRRP penalties.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING

Claims data for 2 952 605 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF) or pneumonia from December 2012 to November 2015.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Poverty, disability, housing instability, residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood, and hospital population from a disadvantaged neighborhood were associated with higher readmission rates. Under current program specifications, safety-net hospitals had higher readmission ratios (AMI, 1.020 vs 0.986 for the most affluent hospitals; pneumonia, 1.031 vs 0.984; and CHF, 1.037 vs 0.977). Adding social factors to risk adjustment cut these differences in half. Over half the safety-net hospitals saw their penalty decline; 4-7.5 percent went from having a penalty to having no penalty. These changes translated into a $17 million reduction in penalties to safety-net hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Accounting for social risk can have a major financial impact on safety-net hospitals. Adjustment for these factors could reduce negative unintended consequences of the HRRP.

Identifying Observation Stays In Medicare Data: Policy Implications of a Definition

Observation stays are increasingly common, yet no standard method to identify observation stays in Medicare claims is available, including events with status change. To determine the claims patterns of Medicare observation stays, define comprehensive claims-based methodology for future Medicare observation research and data reporting, and identify policy implications of such definition, we identified potential observation events in a 2014 20% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries with both Part A and B claims and at least 1 acute care stay (1,667,660 events). Observation revenue center (ORC) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes occurring within 30 days of an inpatient hospitalization were recorded. A total of 125,920 (7.6%) events had an ORC code, and 75,502 (4.5%) were in the outpatient revenue center. Claims patterns varied tremendously, and almost half (47.3%, 59,529) of the ORC codes were associated with an inpatient claim, indicating status change and demonstrating a need for clarity in observation policy. The proposed University of Wisconsin method identified 72,858 of 75,502 (96.5%) events with ORC codes as observation stays, and provides a comprehensive, reproducible methodology.

Neighborhood disadvantage and chronic disease management

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between a composite measure of neighborhood disadvantage, the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and control of blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol in the Medicare Advantage (MA) population.

DATA SOURCES

Secondary analysis of 2013 Medicare Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, Medicare enrollment data, and a neighborhood disadvantage indicator.

STUDY DESIGN

We tested the association of neighborhood disadvantage with intermediate health outcomes. Generalized estimating equations were used to adjust for geographic and individual factors including region, sex, race/ethnicity, dual eligibility, disability, and rurality.

DATA COLLECTION

Data were linked by ZIP+4, representing compact geographic areas that can be linked to Census block groups.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Compared with enrollees residing in the least disadvantaged neighborhoods, enrollees in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods were 5 percentage points (P < 0.05) less likely to have controlled blood pressure, 6.9 percentage points (P < 0.05) less likely to have controlled diabetes, and 9.9 percentage points (P < 0.05) less likely to have controlled cholesterol. Adjustment attenuated this relationship, but the association remained.

CONCLUSIONS

The ADI is a strong, independent predictor of diabetes and cholesterol control, a moderate predictor of blood pressure control, and could be used to track neighborhood-level disparities and to target disparities-focused interventions in the MA population.