In the Literature: HM-Related Research You Need to Know

Bottom line: Patients who lack timely post-discharge follow-up have higher readmission rates for the same medical condition.

Citation: Misky GJ, Wald HL, Coleman EA. Post-hospitalization transitions: examining the effects of timing of primary care provider follow-up. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(7):392-397.

Compared with Uninsured and Medicaid Patients, Privately Insured Patients Admitted for Acute MI, Stroke, and Pneumonia Have Better Mortality Rates

Clinical question: Do outcomes for insured and underinsured patients vary for three of the most common medical conditions for which patients are hospitalized: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, and pneumonia?

Background: The ideal healthcare system would provide quality care to all individuals regardless of insurance status. Nevertheless, disparities in outcomes for the insured and underinsured or uninsured are well-documented in the outpatient setting but not as well in the inpatient setting. More needs to be done to address these potential disparities.

Study design: Retrospective database analysis.

Setting: Database including 20% of all U.S. community hospitals, including public hospitals, academic medical centers, and specialty hospitals.

Synopsis: This study utilized a database of 8 million discharges from more than 1,000 hospitals and isolated patients 18-64 years old (154,381 patients). Privately insured, uninsured, and Medicaid patients’ data were reviewed for in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost per hospitalization. The analysis took into account disease severity, comorbidities, and the proportion of underinsured patients receiving care in each hospital when insurance-related disparities were examined.

Compared with the privately insured, in-hospital mortality and LOS for AMI and stroke were significantly higher for uninsured and Medicaid patients. Among pneumonia patients, Medicaid patients had significantly higher in-hospital mortality and LOS than the other two groups. Cost per hospitalization was highest for all three conditions in the Medicaid group; the uninsured group had the lowest costs for all three conditions.

Unfortunately, the three conditions analyzed only comprise 8% of annual hospital discharges, so the findings cannot be generalized. Also, deaths occurring soon after hospital discharge were not included, and uninsured and Medicaid patients are likely to have more severe diseases, which, rather than insurance status, could account for the mortality differences.

Bottom line: In-hospital mortality and resource use for three common medical conditions vary significantly between privately insured and uninsured or Medicaid patients, highlighting the need to take measures to close this gap.

Citation: Hasan O, Orav EJ, LeRoi LS. Insurance status and hospital care for myocardial infarction, stroke, and pneumonia. J Hosp Med. 2010;5(8);452-459.

Clinical Shorts

MEDICAL STUDENT STRESS AFFECTS PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS

Voluntary responses from students in seven U.S. medical schools indicate that burnout is more associated with unprofessional and less-altruistic behaviors than is depression.

Citation: Dyrbye LN, Massie FS Jr, Eacker A, et al. Relationship between burnout and professional conduct and attitudes among US medical students. JAMA. 2010;304(11):1173-1180.

TRANSIENT INCREASE IN VASCULAR EVENTS AFTER INVASIVE DENTAL PROCEDURES

Invasive dental treatment might be associated with a transient increase in the risk for stroke and myocardial infarction in the first four weeks after the procedure. However, the short-lived risk is likely to be outweighed by long-term beneﬁts of good dental health on vascular events.

Citation: Minassian C, D’Aiuto F, Hingorani AD, Smeeth L. Invasive dental treatment and risk for vascular events. Ann Intern Med. 2010;153:499-506.

UNDERUSE OF VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM PROPHYLAXIS

Despite well-publicized guidelines, rates of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis remain substantially below Joint Commission targets.

Citation: Rothberg M, Lahti M, Pekow P, Lindenauer PK. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis among medical patients at US hospitals. J Gen Intern Med. 2010;25(6):489-494.

Warfarin Monotherapy Best in Prevention of Thromboembolic Events for Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Clinical question: Is there a benefit to adding an antiplatelet agent to warfarin for the prevention of thromboembolic stroke in atrial fibrillation?