Burden of Medically Attended Diarrhea and Outpatient Clostridioides difficile Infection Among Persons in 2 Large Integrated Healthcare Settings, 2016-2021

Background

Identification of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in the community setting is increasing. We describe testing for CDI among patients with medically attended diarrhea (MAD) in the outpatient setting, and the incidence of outpatient CDI.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study among members ≥18 years of age from Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Kaiser Permanente Northwest from 1 January 2016 through 31 December 2021. MAD was identified by outpatient diarrheal International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes, and CDI through positive laboratory results. Outpatient CDI was defined by no hospitalization ≤7 days after specimen collection. Incidence rates (IRs) of outpatient CDI were stratified by select demographic and clinical variables. Outpatient CDI burden 12 months following index date was measured by CDI-associated healthcare visits, and CDI testing and treatment.

Results

We identified 777 533 MAD episodes; 12.1% (93 964/777 533) were tested for CDI. Of those tested, 10.8% (10 110/93 964) were positive. Outpatient CDI IR was 51.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.8-52.2) per 100 000 person-years, decreasing from 58.2 (95% CI, 55.7-60.7) in 2016 to 45.7 (95% CI, 43.7-47.8) in 2021. Approximately 44% (n = 4200) received an antibiotic 30 days prior to index date and 84.1% (n = 8006) CDIs were "community-associated" (no hospitalizations 12 weeks prior to index date). Of outpatient CDIs, 6.7% (n = 526) had a CDI-associated hospitalization ≤12 months.

Conclusions

There was a high incidence of outpatient CDI despite infrequent CDI testing among patients with MAD. The majority of those with outpatient CDI had no recent antibiotic use and no recent hospitalization. Further studies are needed to understand the source and management of medically attended outpatient CDI.

The Association Between Black vs. White Race and 30-Day Hospitalization Among People Diagnosed with COVID-19 Within an Integrated Care Setting: a Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Black Americans are more likely to experience hospitalization from COVID-19 compared with White Americans. Whether this excess risk differs by age, sex, obesity, or diabetes, key risk factors for COVID hospitalization, among an integrated population with uniform healthcare access, are less clear.

METHODS

We identified all adult members (≥ 18 years) of Kaiser Permanente Georgia (KPGA) diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021 (N = 24,564). We restricted the analysis to members of Black or White race identified from electronic medical records. Our primary outcome was first hospitalization within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis. To assess the association between race and 30-day hospitalization, we performed multivariable logistic regression adjusting for several member and neighborhood-level characteristics, and tested for interactions of race with age, sex, diabetes, and obesity. A regression-based decomposition method was then used to estimate how much of the observed race disparity in 30-day hospitalization could be explained by member and neighborhood-level factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 11.27% of Black KPGA members were hospitalized within 30 days of a COVID diagnosis, as compared with 9.44% of White KPGA members. Black (vs. White) KPGA members had a 34% (aOR: 1.32 [95% CI: 1.19-1.47]) higher odds of 30-day hospitalization following COVID-19 after accounting for clinical differences. The odds of 30-day hospitalization in Black vs. White KPGA members did not differ significantly by sex (men: 1.46 [1.25-1.70]; women: 1.24 [1.07-1.43]), by age (18-29 years: 1.33 [0. 841-2.10]; 30-49 years: 1.26 [1.02-1.56]; ≥ 50 years: 1.24 [1.10-1.41]); by diabetes status (with diabetes: 1.38 [1.16-1.66]; without diabetes: 1.26 [1.11-1.44]), or by obesity (with obesity: 1.31 [1.15-1.50]; without obesity: 1.28 [1.06-1.53]). Factors that, if Black and White KPGA members had the same level of exposure, would be most likely to reduce the Black-White disparity in 30-day hospitalization from COVID-19 were obesity, history of flu vaccine, and neighborhood-level income and social vulnerability.

CONCLUSIONS

Early in the pandemic, Black (vs. White) members of an integrated health system had higher odds of being hospitalized within 30 days of COVID-19 diagnosis and this excess risk was similar by sex, age, and comorbidities. Factors that explained the largest proportions of race-based disparities were obesity, receipt of flu vaccine, and neighborhood-level social determinants of health. These findings suggest that social determinants of health, or other unmeasured factors, may be drivers of racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.

BNT162b2 against COVID-19-associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Visits among Children 5-11 Years of Age: a Test Negative Design

In a 1:1 matched test-negative design among 5-11-year-olds in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health system (n=3984), BNT162b2 effectiveness against omicron-related emergency department or urgent care encounters was 60% [95%CI: 47-69] <3 months post-dose-two and 28% [8-43] after ≥3 months. A booster improved protection to 77% [53-88].

No difference in reoperation rates for nonunions (operative nonunions) in posterior cervical fusions stopping at C7 versus T1/2: a cohort of 875 patients

OBJECTIVE

The challenges of posterior cervical fusions (PCFs) at the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) are widely known, including the development of adjacent-segment disease by stopping fusions at C7. One solution has been to cross the CTJ (T1/T2) rather than stopping at C7. This approach may have undue consequences, including increased reoperations for symptomatic nonunion (operative nonunion). The authors sought to investigate if there is a difference in operative nonunion in PCFs that stop at C7 versus T1/T2.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis identified patients from the authors' spine registry (Kaiser Permanente) who underwent PCFs with caudal fusion levels at C7 and T1/T2. Demographics, diagnoses, operative times, lengths of stay, and reoperations were extracted from the registry. Operative nonunion was adjudicated via chart review. Patients were followed until validated operative nonunion, membership termination, death, or end of study (March 31, 2020). Descriptive statistics and 2-year crude incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals for operative nonunion for PCFs stopping at C7 or T1/T2 were reported. Time-dependent crude and adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate operative nonunion rates.

RESULTS

The authors identified 875 patients with PCFs (beginning at C3, C4, C5, or C6) stopping at either C7 (n = 470) or T1/T2 (n = 405) with a mean follow-up time of 4.6 ± 3.3 years and a mean time to operative nonunion of 0.9 ± 0.6 years. There were 17 operative nonunions, and, after adjustment for age at surgery and smoking status, the cumulative incidence rates were similar between constructs stopping at C7 and those that extended to T1/T2 (C7: 1.91% [95% CI 0.88%-3.60%]; T1/T2: 1.98% [95% CI 0.86%-3.85%]). In the crude model and model adjusted for age at surgery and smoking status, no difference in risk for constructs extended to T1/T2 compared to those stopping at C7 was found (adjusted HR 1.09 [95% CI 0.42-2.84], p = 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

In one of the largest cohort of patients with PCFs stopping at C7 or T1/T2 with an average follow-up of > 4 years, the authors found no statistically significant difference in reoperation rates for symptomatic nonunion (operative nonunion). This finding shows that there is no added risk of operative nonunion by extending PCFs to T1/T2 or stopping at C7.

Predicting the Need for Phototherapy After Discharge

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Bilirubin screening before discharge is performed to identify neonates at risk for future hyperbilirubinemia. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a graph of bilirubin levels by age (the Bhutani Nomogram) to guide follow-up and a different graph to determine phototherapy recommendations. Our objective was to evaluate predictive models that incorporate the difference between the last total serum bilirubin (TSB) before discharge and the American Academy of Pediatrics phototherapy threshold (Δ-TSB) to predict a postdischarge TSB above the phototherapy threshold by using a single graph.

METHODS

We studied 148 162 infants born at ≥35 weeks' gestation at 11 Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities from 2012 to 2017 whose TSB did not exceed phototherapy levels and who did not receive phototherapy during the birth hospitalization. We compared 3 logistic models (Δ-TSB; Δ-TSB-Plus, which included additional variables; and the Bhutani Nomogram) by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in a 20% validation subset.

RESULTS

A total of 2623 infants (1.8%) exceeded the phototherapy threshold postdischarge. The predicted probability of exceeding the phototherapy threshold after discharge ranged from 56% for a predischarge Δ-TSB 0 to 1 mg/dL below the threshold to 0.008% for Δ-TSB >7 mg/dL below the threshold. Discrimination was better for the Δ-TSB model (AUC 0.93) and the Δ-TSB-Plus model (AUC 0.95) than for the Bhutani Nomogram (AUC 0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of Δ-TSB models had excellent ability to predict postdischarge TSB above phototherapy thresholds and may be simpler to use than the Bhutani Nomogram.

Introduction of Network-Based Healthcare at Kaiser Permanente

Background:

Early 2014, Kaiser Permanente decided to adopt an innovative model for network-based allied healthcare for persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD), based on the principles of the Dutch ParkinsonNet.

Objective:

We present the interventions that were performed to implement this method at Kaiser Permanente and we show the first outcomes based on these interventions.

Methods:

In this study, 57 physical therapists, 18 speech therapists and 20 occupational therapists, as well as 13 medical centers across the state of California were included. Nine interventions were performed more or less simultaneously, including training and education of healthcare providers and patients, a train the trainer curriculum, organizing IT, streamlining referral processes and building networks.

Results:

At the start, less than 30% of the patients within the Southern California Region received specialized allied health treatment (consisting of, i.e., gait training, voice training or guidance in activities of daily life). After one year, almost 55% of patients received specialized allied health treatment. In the second year, this number increased to just under 67%, suggesting a sustained concentration of care (the second core component of networked care). This can be seen as a first indicator for successful implementation of the ParkinsonNet network at Kaiser Permanente.

Conclusions:

The importance of these findings lies in the fact that a healthcare innovation that proved effective in one country can be transferred successfully to another country and to another healthcare system.

A comparison between risk-factor guidance for neonatal early-onset sepsis and Kaiser Permanente sepsis risk calculator in a Greek cohort

BACKGROUND

The management of neonates with early-onset sepsis (EOS) is based on maternal risk factors and infant clinical indications. An online sepsis risk calculator (SRC) has been established taking into consideration how clinical appearance modifies the initial risk for EOS.

AIMS

To compare our clinical practice based on risk-factor guidance with that projected through the application of the SRC.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

All neonates ≥34 weeks' gestation, during 01/2019-8/2020. The SRC was applied retrospectively to determine the recommendation. EOS was defined based on a positive blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture-proven infection within 72 h of age. Clinical sepsis was defined according to the European Medicine Agency criteria.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Differences on antibiotic administration and management.

RESULTS

Overall, 2084 infants were identified, of whom 150 (7%) received antibiotics. Of them, 34 infants were diagnosed with clinical sepsis, while one was diagnosed with culture positive-proven EOS. Applying SRC, 87 (4%) infants would have received antibiotics. Clinical sepsis was diagnosed in 29 infants, while one infant had culture positive-proven EOS. Sixty-seven of 150 (45%) infants that received antibiotics would not have been treated based on SRC; five infants that developed clinical sepsis would have been missed with SRC. A 99.7% agreement between both guidance was found regarding infants not indicated for antibiotics. SRC application led to an absolute reduction of antibiotic administration by 2.93% (95% CI 2.19-3.75), p < 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

The adoption of SRC would have significantly reduced antibiotic usage; however, a significant portion of cases with clinical EOS would have been missed.

[Healthcare management protocols for chronic stone disease (Kaiser Permanente).]

INTRODUCTION

Stone disease is a chronic condition in a high percentage of patients. Duento the high healthcare costs associated with the treatment of this pathology, chronicity approaches and strategies should be adapted and used in a similar way to other chronic diseases. One of the models applied for the management of these diseases with a significant impact on the consumption of health resources is the Kaiser Permanente model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A chronic stone disease management project was developed and carried out in three different phases: Phase 1: identification of the target population of the program and design of the risk allocation model. The risk factors considered were CRG model (classification of risk groups or burden of morbidity) as a predictor of greater consumption of resources, anatomical risk factors, lithogenic risk factors, and hereditary factors associated with lithiasis. Phase 2: classification of patients according to risk and application of specific measures. The intervention measures will depend on the level of risk assigned: low, intermediate or high risk. Phase 3: analysis of indicators and results.

RESULTS

An algorithm of risk allocation was designed, and a Kaiser pyramid drawn. A total of 59% of the patients were assigned to the low-risk group and 41% corresponded to high-risk (36.5%) or very high-risk patients (4.5%). Preliminary results obtained at two years of follow-up show a reduction in global stone recurrence by 42.2% when compared with a control group (classic follow-up). The overall adherence of the intervention group was 96.4% and the satisfaction of the patients included in the program was 9.93/10.

CONCLUSIONS

A management model for chronic stone disease based on the Kaiser Permanente pyramidis feasible. The implantation of this model has preliminarily demonstrated its efficiency in chronic patients.

Multiple Stakeholder Views on Data Sharing in a Biobank in an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System: Implications for Biobank Governance

BACKGROUND

Beginning in 2005, researchers at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) Division of Research developed the Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH), a research resource of linked biospecimens, health surveys, and electronic health records on more than 200,000 adult KPNC members. This study examined multiple stakeholders' values and preferences regarding protection of participants' privacy and wide sharing of participant data by RPGEH.

METHODS

We conducted 45 semi-structured interviews in person or via phone and two focus groups with seven stakeholder groups, including RPGEH participants and decliners who are KPNC members, KPNC research scientists, external scientists, leadership, Human Subjects Research Protection Program staff, and RPGEH Community Advisory Panel members.

RESULTS

Three major themes emerged related to: (1) perceived individual and social harms associated with data sharing; (2) concerns to address when governing access to RPGEH data; and (3) impact of a blurred boundary between research and clinical care in the context of biobanking.

CONCLUSIONS

The study results were considered in the development of RPGEH data governance and motivated the inclusion of KPNC Community Advisory Panel members and ELSI experts on committees that evaluate data access proposals. Our findings can help inform other biobanks going through similar processes developing data sharing and access policies.

Dissemination and Implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in the Kaiser Permanente Health Care System: Evaluation of Initial Training and Clinical Outcomes

Notwithstanding its empirical status and strong recommendation in clinical practice guidelines, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) continues to be delivered infrequently and with low fidelity on the clinical front lines. Recently, organized efforts and policies within the public sector to disseminate and implement CBT and other evidence-based psychotherapies have yielded encouraging results and provided optimism for bridging the research-to-practice-gap. Following from these efforts, the current article examines the initial impact and experience of the implementation of an individualized approach to CBT training and treatment within the Kaiser Permanente health care system. Initial training outcomes, including changes in general and specific competencies, were assessed using divergent assessment methods within the initial cohort of therapists undergoing training. Initial patient outcomes, including changes in depression and anxiety, were assessed among patients receiving treatment from therapists in training. Results revealed training in and implementation of CBT-D was associated with overall large improvements in therapist competencies and in clinically significant improvements in both depression and anxiety among patients. Findings from the initial phase of dissemination and implementation within a large private system provide support for, and extend recent findings related to, the feasibility and effectiveness of training in and implementation of CBT-D in a real-world context.

Process-Based Treatment of Diabetes in Kaiser Permanente Southern California: How to Make Diabetes Care "Complete"

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) Complete Care management strategy.

RECENT FINDINGS

The KPSC Complete Care program allows members of care management teams to coordinate the administration of care for patients with diabetes. This program encompasses teams of physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, registered nurse (RN) care managers, office-based RNs, health educators, and many others to contribute to the glycemic and overall health outcomes for our patients with diabetes. The 2016 Kaiser Permanente National Clinical Practice Guideline for Adult Diabetes Clinician Guide and the supplemental KPSC Treat-to-Target (TTT) Type 2 Diabetes A1c Control algorithm are used to assist KPSC clinicians by providing guidance for shared decision-making, as well as the selection and sequence of appropriate pharmacological treatment. Collaboration with pharmacy through the Formulary and the Drug Utilization Action Team (DUAT) allows the organization to manage member resources while consistently offering patients the highest quality and value health care possible. Recent technology integrations have also contributed to the success of the program.

Prevalence and neonatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorders in preterm infants

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across gestational age, examine the risk of ASD by gestational age controlling for other risk factors, and identify potential risk factors in the neonatal intensive care unit.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort of infants born at ≥ 24 weeks between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007 at 11 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals (n = 195,021). ASD cases were defined by a diagnosis made at a Kaiser Permanente ASD evaluation center, by a clinical specialist, or by a pediatrician. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate the association between gestational age and ASD as well as potential risk factors in the neonatal intensive care unit and ASD.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ASD in infants <37 weeks was 1.78% compared with 1.22% in infants born ≥ 37 weeks (P < .001). Compared with term infants, infants born at 24-26 weeks had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for a diagnosis of ASD of 2.7 (95% CI 1.5-5.0). Infants born at 27-33 weeks (adjusted HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.8) and 34-36 weeks (adjusted HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.4) were also at increased risk. High frequency ventilation and intracranial hemorrhage were associated with ASD in infants < 34 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

ASD was ~ 3 times more prevalent in infants <27 weeks compared with term infants. Each week of shorter gestation was associated with an increased risk of ASD. High frequency ventilation and intracranial hemorrhage were associated with ASD among infants <34 weeks.

Personal health record use and association with immunizations and well-child care visits recommendations

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association of parental use of integrated personal health records (PHRs) with children's adherence to immunization and well-child care (WCC) visit recommendations.

STUDY DESIGN

For the immunization and WCC visit measures, we retrospectively analyzed, respectively, 766 and 639 matched pairs at Kaiser Permanente (KP) Hawaii and 2795 and 2448 pairs at KP Northwest who were ≤ 31 days old at enrollment and continuously enrolled for 2 years between January 2007 and July 2011. The independent variable (≥ 1 PHR feature used vs none) was matched using propensity scores on parental and children characteristics. The dependent variables were 2 measures from the 2010 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set: combination 2 immunization (all immunizations vs <all) and number of WCC visits through 15 months old (≥ 6 vs <6). We conducted multivariate logistic, propensity score-matched regression adjusting for parents' education and child's continuity of care.

RESULTS

Children whose parents used ≥ 1 PHR feature (vs none) had higher odds of adhering to the recommended immunizations only at KP Northwest (KP Hawaii: OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.4, P > .05; KP Northwest OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.3, P < .05). PHR use was associated with better adherence to WCC visit recommendations for both KP Hawaii (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.9, P < .001) and KP Northwest (OR 2.5, 95% CI 2.1-2.9, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Young children whose parents used a PHR were more likely to adhere to the recommended WCC visits in both regions but immunizations in only 1 region.

DASH for asthma: a pilot study of the DASH diet in not-well-controlled adult asthma

This pilot study aims to provide effect size confidence intervals, clinical trial and intervention feasibility data, and procedural materials for a full-scale randomized controlled trial that will determine the efficacy of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) as adjunct therapy to standard care for adults with uncontrolled asthma. The DASH diet encompasses foods (e.g., fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts) and antioxidant nutrients (e.g., vitamins A, C, E, and zinc) with potential benefits for persons with asthma, but it is unknown whether the whole diet is beneficial. Participants (n = 90) will be randomized to receive usual care alone or combined with a DASH intervention consisting of 8 group and 3 individual sessions during the first 3 months, followed by at least monthly phone consultations for another 3 months. Follow-up assessments will occur at 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome measure is the 7-item Juniper Asthma Control Questionnaire, a validated composite measure of daytime and nocturnal symptoms, activity limitations, rescue medication use, and percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second. We will explore changes in inflammatory markers important to asthma pathophysiology (e.g., fractional exhaled nitric oxide) and their potential to mediate the intervention effect on disease control. We will also conduct pre-specified subgroup analyses by genotype (e.g., polymorphisms on the glutathione S transferase gene) and phenotype (e.g., atopy, obesity). By evaluating a dietary pattern approach to improving asthma control, this study could advance the evidence base for refining clinical guidelines and public health recommendations regarding the role of dietary modifications in asthma management.

The care pathway: concepts and theories: an introduction

This article addresses first the definition of a (care) pathway, and then follows a description of theories since the 1950s. It ends with a discussion of theoretical advantages and disadvantages of care pathways for patients and professionals. The objective of this paper is to provide a theoretical base for empirical studies on care pathways. The knowledge for this chapter is based on several books on pathways, which we found by searching in the digital encyclopedia Wikipedia. Although this is not usual in scientific publications, this method was used because books are not searchable by databases as Pubmed. From 2005, we performed a literature search on Pubmed and other literature databases, and with the keywords integrated care pathway, clinical pathway, critical pathway, theory, research, and evaluation. One of the inspirational sources was the website of the European Pathway Association (EPA) and its journal International Journal of Care Pathways. The authors visited several sites for this paper. These are mentioned as illustration of a concept or theory. Most of them have English websites with more information. The URLs of these websites are not mentioned in this paper as a reference, because the content of them changes fast, sometimes every day.

Advance directives are more likely among seniors asked about end-of-life care preferences

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the proportion of seniors in a large health maintenance organization (HMO) who had been asked about their end-of-life care preferences (EOLCPs) by a clinician and who had completed an advance directive (AD). To examine the association of having had an EOLCP discussion and AD completion.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A random sample of HMO members aged 65 years or older were asked to complete a mailed survey about health and health-related issues in 1996. Data provided by 5117 seniors (80% response rate) were used to estimate the prevalence of EOLCP and AD among seniors overall and in specific risk groups. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of AD completion, especially having been asked about EOLCP.

RESULTS

One third of seniors reported having an AD on file with the HMO, but only 15% had talked with a clinician about EOLCP. Both having been asked about EOLCP and having an AD were positively associated with age, but not significantly associated with sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, or self-rated health status. Having been asked by a clinician about EOLCP was significantly associated with completion of an AD.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians can play an important role in increasing AD completion rates among seniors by bringing up the subject of EOLCPs.