Browsing by Author "Kosinski, Andrzej S"

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    ItemOpen Access
    Effectiveness of Acute Care Remote Triage Systems: a Systematic Review.
    (Journal of general internal medicine, 2020-07) Boggan, Joel C; Shoup, John Paul; Whited, John D; Van Voorhees, Elizabeth; Gordon, Adelaide M; Rushton, Sharron; Lewinski, Allison A; Tabriz, Amir A; Adam, Soheir; Fulton, Jessica; Kosinski, Andrzej S; Van Noord, Megan G; Williams, John W; Goldstein, Karen M; Gierisch, Jennifer M

    Background

    Technology-based systems can facilitate remote decision-making to triage patients to the appropriate level of care. Despite technologic advances, the effects of implementation of these systems on patient and utilization outcomes are unclear. We evaluated the effects of remote triage systems on healthcare utilization, case resolution, and patient safety outcomes.

    Methods

    English-language searches of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and CINAHL were performed from inception until July 2018. Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies of remote triage services that reported healthcare utilization, case resolution, and patient safety outcomes were included. Two reviewers assessed study and intervention characteristics independently for study quality, strength of evidence, and risk of bias.

    Results

    The literature search identified 5026 articles, of which eight met eligibility criteria. Five randomized, two controlled before-and-after, and one interrupted time series study assessed 3 categories of remote triage services: mode of delivery, triage professional type, and system organizational level. No study evaluated any other delivery mode other than telephone and in-person. Meta-analyses were unable to be performed because of study design and outcome heterogeneity; therefore, we narratively synthesized data. Overall, most studies did not demonstrate a decrease in primary care (PC) or emergency department (ED) utilization, with some studies showing a significant increase. Evidence suggested local, practice-based triage systems have greater case resolution and refer fewer patients to PC or ED services than regional/national systems. No study identified statistically significant differences in safety outcomes.

    Conclusion

    Our review found limited evidence that remote triage reduces the burden of PC or ED utilization. However, remote triage by telephone can produce a high rate of call resolution and appears to be safe. Further study of other remote triage modalities is needed to realize the promise of remote triage services in optimizing healthcare outcomes.

    Protocol registration

    This study was registered and followed a published protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42019112262).
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    Extending the Weighted Generalized Score Statistic for Comparison of Correlated Means
    (2023) Jones, Aaron Douglas

    The generalized score (GS) statistic is widely used to test hypotheses about mean model parameters in the generalized estimating equations (GEE) framework. However, when comparing predictive values of two diagnostic tests in a paired study design, or comparing correlated proportions between two unequally sized groups with both paired and independent outcomes, GS has been shown neither to adequately control type I error nor to reduce to the score statistic under independence. Weighting the residuals in empirical variance estimation by the ratio of the two groups’ sample sizes produces a weighted generalized score (WGS) statistic that has been shown to resolve these issues and is now used in the diagnostic testing literature. Potential improvements from weighting in more general uses of GS have not previously been investigated.This dissertation extends the WGS method in several ways. Formulas are derived to extend the WGS statistic for paired and/or independent data from two binary proportions to two means in a quasi-likelihood model with any suitable link and variance functions, assuming finite fourth moments. The asymptotic convergence of WGS to the chi-square distribution in these general cases is proven. Finite-sample type I error rates are compared between GS and WGS, for which purpose the variance of the test statistic denominator (i.e., the variance of the empirical variance estimator) is proposed as an analytic heuristic. New weights are derived to optimize the variance-of-the-denominator criterion for approximate type I error control. Simulation results verify that the heuristically optimal weights achieve type I error rates closer to the nominal alpha level than GS or WGS for combinations of correlation and sample size where either GS or WGS demonstrates poor control.

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    Lumbar intervertebral disc diurnal deformations and T2 and T1rho relaxation times vary by spinal level and disc region.
    (European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2022-03) Martin, John T; Oldweiler, Alexander B; Kosinski, Andrzej S; Spritzer, Charles E; Soher, Brian J; Erickson, Melissa M; Goode, Adam P; DeFrate, Louis E

    Purpose

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used to evaluate spine pathology; however, standard imaging findings weakly correlate to low back pain. Abnormal disc mechanical function is implicated as a cause of back pain but is not assessed using standard clinical MRI. Our objective was to utilize our established MRI protocol for measuring disc function to quantify disc mechanical function in a healthy cohort.

    Methods

    We recruited young, asymptomatic volunteers (6 male/6 female; age 18-30 years; BMI < 30) and used MRI to determine how diurnal deformations in disc height, volume, and perimeter were affected by spinal level, disc region, MRI biomarkers of disc health (T2, T1rho), and Pfirrmann grade.

    Results

    Lumbar discs deformed by a mean of -6.1% (95% CI: -7.6%, -4.7%) to -8.0% (CI: -10.6%, -5.4%) in height and -5.4% (CI: -7.6%, -3.3%) to -8.5% (CI: -11.0%, -6.0%) in volume from AM to PM across spinal levels. Regional deformations were more uniform in cranial lumbar levels and concentrated posteriorly in the caudal levels, reaching a maximum of 13.1% at L5-S1 (CI:-16.1%, -10.2%). T2 and T1rho relaxation times were greatest in the nucleus and varied circumferentially within the annulus. T2 relaxation times were greatest at the most cranial spinal levels and decreased caudally. In this young healthy cohort, we identified a weak association between nucleus T2 and the diurnal change in the perimeter.

    Conclusions

    Spinal level is a key factor in determining regional disc deformations. Interestingly, deformations were concentrated in the posterior regions of caudal discs where disc herniation is most prevalent.
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    Outcomes of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy with Image-Guided Left Ventricular Lead Placement at the Site of Latest Mechanical Activation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
    (Journal of interventional cardiology, 2022-01) Allen LaPointe, Nancy M; Ali-Ahmed, Fatima; Dalgaard, Frederik; Kosinski, Andrzej S; Schmidler, Gillian Sanders; Al-Khatib, Sana M

    Aim

    To assess evidence for an image-guided approach for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) that targets left ventricular (LV) lead placement at the segment of latest mechanical activation.

    Methods

    A systematic review of EMBASE and PubMed was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective observational studies from October 2008 through October 2020 that compared an image-guided CRT approach with a non-image-guided approach for LV lead placement. Meta-analyses were performed to assess the association between the image-guided approach and NYHA class improvement or changes in end-systolic volume (LVESV), end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and ejection fraction (LVEF).

    Results

    From 5897 citations, 5 RCTs including 818 patients (426 image-guided and 392 non-image-guided) were identified. The mean age ranged from 66 to 71 years, 76% were male, and 53% had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Speckle tracking echocardiography was the primary image-guided method in all studies. LV lead placement within the segment of the latest mechanical activation (concordant) was achieved in the image-guided arm in 45% of the evaluable patients. There was a statistically significant improvement in the NYHA class at 6 months (odds ratio 1.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.02, 2.69]) with the image-guided approach, but no statistically significant change in LVESV (MD -7.1%; 95% CI [-16.0, 1.8]), LVEDV (MD -5.2%; 95% CI [-15.8, 5.4]), or LVEF (MD 0.68; 95% CI [-4.36, 5.73]) versus the non-image-guided approach.

    Conclusion

    The image-guided CRT approach was associated with improvement in the NYHA class but not echocardiographic measures, possibly due to the small sample size and a low rate of concordant LV lead placement despite using the image-guided approach. Therefore, our meta-analysis was not able to identify consistent improvement in CRT outcomes with an image-guided approach.
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    Recent Myocardial Infarction is Associated With Increased Risk in Older Adults With Acute Ischemic Stroke Receiving Thrombolytic Therapy.
    (Journal of the American Heart Association, 2019-08) Inohara, Taku; Liang, Li; Kosinski, Andrzej S; Smith, Eric E; Schwamm, Lee H; Hernandez, Adrian F; Bhatt, Deepak L; Fonarow, Gregg C; Peterson, Eric D; Xian, Ying
    Background Intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) remains the only medical therapy to improve outcomes for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but the safety of rtPA in AIS patients with a history of recent myocardial infarction (MI) remains controversial. Methods and Results We sought to determine whether the presence of recent MI would alter the risk of mortality and rtPA-related complications. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to compare in-hospital outcomes between rtPA-treated AIS patients with recent MI within 3 months and those with no history of MI from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals between February 2009 and December 2015. Among 40 396 AIS patients aged ≥65 years treated with rtPA, 241 (0.6%) had recent MI, of which 19.5% were ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Patients with recent MI had more severe stroke than those without (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [interquartile range]: 13.0 [7.0-20.0] versus 11.0 [6.0-18.0]). Recent MI was associated with an increased risk of mortality compared with no history of MI (17.4% versus 9.0%; adjusted odds ratio 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10-2.33]; P=0.014), but no statistically significant differences in rtPA-related complications (13.5% versus 9.4%; adjusted odds ratio 1.28 [0.88-1.86]; P=0.19). Recent ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction was associated with higher risk of death and rtPA-related complications, but non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction was not. Conclusions Among older AIS patients treated with rtPA, recent MI was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether the benefit of rtPA outweighs its risk among AIS patients with recent MI.
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    Self-management of Epilepsy: A Systematic Review.
    (Annals of internal medicine, 2019-07) Luedke, Matthew W; Blalock, Dan V; Goldstein, Karen M; Kosinski, Andrzej S; Sinha, Saurabh R; Drake, Connor; Lewis, Jeffrey D; Husain, Aatif M; Lewinski, Allison A; Shapiro, Abigail; Gierisch, Jennifer M; Tran, Tung T; Gordon, Adelaide M; Van Noord, Megan G; Bosworth, Hayden B; Williams, John W
    Background:Although self-management is recommended for persons with epilepsy, its optimal strategies and effects are uncertain. Purpose:To evaluate the components and efficacy of self-management interventions in the treatment of epilepsy in community-dwelling persons. Data Sources:English-language searches of MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, and CINAHL in April 2018; the MEDLINE search was updated in March 2019. Study Selection:Randomized and nonrandomized comparative studies of self-management interventions for adults with epilepsy. Data Extraction:An investigator assessed study characteristics; intervention details, including 6 components of self-management; and outcomes, which were verified by a second reviewer. Risk of bias (ROB) was assessed independently by 2 investigators. Data Synthesis:13 randomized and 2 nonrandomized studies (2514 patients) evaluated self-management interventions. Interventions were delivered primarily in group settings, used a median of 4 components, and followed 2 general strategies: 1 based on education and the other on psychosocial therapy. Education-based approaches improved self-management behaviors (standardized mean difference, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.0 to 1.04]), and psychosocial therapy-based approaches improved quality of life (mean difference, 6.64 [CI, 2.51 to 10.77]). Overall, self-management interventions did not reduce seizure rates, but 1 educational intervention decreased a composite of seizures, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Limitation:High ROB in most studies, incomplete intervention descriptions, and studies limited to English-language publications. Conclusion:There is limited evidence that self-management strategies modestly improve some patient outcomes that are important to persons with epilepsy. Overall, self-management research in epilepsy is limited by the range of interventions tested, the small number of studies using self-monitoring technology, and uncertainty about components and strategies associated with benefit. Primary Funding Source:U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (PROSPERO: CRD42018098604).