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Ramachandran J, Pati A, Wigg L, Narayana SK, Lawn S, Muller K, Wigg AJ. A qualitative enquiry into participants' and practitioners' experiences in the Australian Liver FaIlurE trial. BMJ Open 2025; 15:e089666. [PMID: 39956593 PMCID: PMC11831275 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-089666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2025] [Indexed: 02/18/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Australian Liver FaIlurE (ALFIE) trial, a multicentre, randomised controlled trial, assessed the efficacy of a nurse-coordinated model of care to reduce liver-related emergency admissions (LREAs) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The model of care was delivered by a specialist nurse, including intensive postdischarge monitoring, linkage to multidisciplinary care, rapid access to care pathway, enhanced education and self-management support. OBJECTIVE To examine the experiences of participants and practitioners in the ALFIE trial to understand its impact, barriers and areas for improvement. DESIGN AND SETTING A qualitative semistructured interview analysis nested within the ALFIE trial. PARTICIPANTS A purposeful sample of 15 patients, 14 controls and 12 staff. INTERVENTION Thematic analysis of interview transcripts. RESULTS Interventional participants and the nurses perceived the care provided as personalised, holistic and continuous. The intervention enabled the development of robust therapeutic relationships and trust that promoted participant engagement and risk factor modification. It helped intervention participants navigate the busy hospital system. The control participants desired more education and a personal contact to deal with emergencies. With respect to the intervention, nurses felt that their support helped reduce LREAs and improve care, but it was overwhelming. A number of barriers and systemic issues were identified. Suggestions for improvement of the intervention model included increased staffing, improved mental health support and communication pathways with primary care practitioners. CONCLUSIONS The ALFIE trial was well received by nurses and participants. It met the needs of intervention participants and the health system through easy-to-navigate, personalised, holistic and ongoing care. The study identified barriers and systemic improvement areas. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12617001293358.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeyamani Ramachandran
- Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Medicine Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Anuradha Pati
- The University of Adelaide-North Terrace Campus, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luisa Wigg
- James Cook University-Townsville City Campus, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sumudu K Narayana
- Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Medicine Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sharon Lawn
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kate Muller
- Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Medicine Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alan J Wigg
- Hepatology and Liver Transplantation Medicine Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
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Lin E, Gandhi D, Volk M. Preventing Readmissions of Hepatic Encephalopathy: Strategies in the Acute Inpatient, Immediate Postdischarge, and Longitudinal Outpatient Setting. Clin Liver Dis 2024; 28:359-367. [PMID: 38548445 DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a strong predictor of early hospital readmission in patients with cirrhosis. Early hospital readmission increases health care costs and is associated with worse survival. Herein we provide an overview of strategies to prevent hospital readmissions in patients with HE, divided into 3 contexts: (a) acute inpatient, (b) immediate postdischarge, and (c) longitudinal outpatient setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Devika Gandhi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
| | - Michael Volk
- Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott and White, Central Texas Region, Temple, TX, USA
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Thabut D, Roux J, Sultanik P, Tamberou C, Prost PL, Hagège H. Population characteristics, healthcare pathways and outcomes of patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with overt hepatic encephalopathy in France: A study of the French Hospital-Discharge Database. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2024; 48:102274. [PMID: 38154597 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2023.102274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe complication of cirrhosis, independently associated with a poor survival. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) requiring hospitalization, and the healthcare pathways and outcomes of patients hospitalized for OHE in France. Data from the French Hospital-Discharge Database (Programme de Medicalisation des Systemes d'information, PMSI) within the 5-year period from 2014 to 2018 were analysed. Since the disease lacks a PMSI code in the ICD-10, an identification algorithm was developed. The analysis identified 57,191 patients with OHE including 48,566 patients (85 %) who had been hospitalized twice or more during the study period. Each year, an average of over 20,000 patients were hospitalized in France for OHE as the primary or secondary reason for hospitalization. Among these patients, between 11,500 and 13,500 had been hospitalized at least twice in that year with an average of 3.4 hospitalisations per year. 25 % of admissions occurred following consultation at the emergency unit. Among hospitalisations, 15 % involved admission to the critical care resuscitation unit or intensive care. For all patients identified as suffering from OHE and hospitalized, the 5-year mortality was 46.5 % (26,621 patients). This pioneering study revealed that, in France, despite a probable underestimation of OHE episodes due to the lack of specific PMSI coding, the prevalence of OHE was very high, with frequent recurrences and readmissions, and high mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Thabut
- APHP Sorbonne-Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France; Brain Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), France; INSERM UMR_S 938, Centre de recherche Saint-Antoine, Maladies métaboliques, biliaires et fibro-inflammatoire du foie, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Paris, France
| | - Julia Roux
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, CHI de Villeneuve Saint Georges, 40 allée de la Source 94195 Villeneuve-Saint-Georges Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Sultanik
- APHP Sorbonne-Université, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France; Brain Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), France; INSERM UMR_S 938, Centre de recherche Saint-Antoine, Maladies métaboliques, biliaires et fibro-inflammatoire du foie, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Paris, France
| | - Cheikh Tamberou
- GERSDATA,137 Rue d'Aguesseau, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | | | - Hervé Hagège
- CHI Creteil, 40 Avenue de Verdun 94000 Créteil, France.
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Sherman Z, Wahid N, Wagner M, Soltani A, Rosenblatt R, Fortune B, Lucero C, Schoenfeld E, Brown R, Jesudian A. Integration of Cirrhosis Best Practices Into Electronic Medical Record Documentation Associated With Reduction in 30-Day Mortality Following Hospitalization. J Clin Gastroenterol 2023; 57:951-955. [PMID: 36730665 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital admissions for patients with cirrhosis continue to increase. In New York City, 25% to 30% of hospitalized cirrhotics are readmitted within 30 days. Rehospitalization is associated with increased mortality, poor quality of life, and financial burden to patients, hospitals, and payers. Preventable readmissions are partially accounted for by a well-documented quality gap between evidence-based guidelines for cirrhosis management and real-world adherence to these recommendations. METHODS We performed a prospective cohort study that compared outcomes among cirrhotic patients admitted to 4 internal medicine teams over a 6-month period. An electronic medical record (EMR) note template that outlined best-practice measures for cirrhotics was developed. Inpatient providers on 2 teams were instructed to include it in daily progress notes and discharge summaries. The recommended practices included diagnostic paracentesis and diuretics for ascites, rifaximin, and lactulose for hepatic encephalopathy, beta blockers for esophageal varices, and antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. The remaining 2 teams continued the standard of care for cirrhotic patients. The primary outcome was 30-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, length of stay, and adherence to best-practice guidelines. RESULTS Over a 6-month period, 108 cirrhotic patients were admitted, 83 in the interventional group and 25 in the control group. MELD-Na scores on admission did not differ between the groups (20.1 vs. 21.1, P =0.56). Thirty-day readmissions were not significantly different between the interventional and control groups (19.3% vs. 24%, P =0.61). However, 30-day mortality was significantly lower in the interventional group (8.4% vs. 28%, P =0.01). There was no difference between the 2 groups in in-hospital mortality (4.8% vs. 0%, P =0.27), 90-day mortality (15.7% vs. 28.0%, P =0.17) or length of stay (10.2 vs. 12.6 d, P =0.34). Adherence to best-practice metrics was similar between the groups, except for rates of diagnostic paracentesis, which were higher in the interventional group (98% vs. 80%, P =0.01). CONCLUSION Implementation of an EMR note template with cirrhosis best practices was associated with lower 30-day mortality and higher rates of diagnostic paracentesis among admitted patients with cirrhosis. These findings suggest that the integration of best-practice measures into the EMR may improve outcomes in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Larger studies are required to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Sherman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Nabeel Wahid
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
| | - Amin Soltani
- Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital
| | - Russell Rosenblatt
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Brett Fortune
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Catherine Lucero
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Emily Schoenfeld
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Robert Brown
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
| | - Arun Jesudian
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College
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Teke E, Besler E. Predictive markers in estimating the need for early intensive care in patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction in the emergency department. J Minim Access Surg 2023; 19:535-539. [PMID: 37843164 PMCID: PMC10695310 DOI: 10.4103/jmas.jmas_189_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adhesive small-bowel obstruction (ASBO) is a common condition requiring emergency room admission, and predicting the need for intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalisation is crucial for optimal patient management. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of various scores and indices in determining ICU requirements in patients with ASBO. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy patients diagnosed with ASBO and managed nonoperatively were included in the study. Data on patient demographics, laboratory values, imaging findings, previous hospitalisations and comorbidities were collected. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score and C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio were calculated. Patients were categorised into ICU and non-ICU groups for analysis. RESULTS The ICU group comprised patients with higher number of previous ASBO hospitalisations and longer hospitalisation days. Serum albumin levels were significantly lower and the maximum small-bowel horizontal diameter was significantly higher in the ICU group. The SOFA score and CCI score were significantly higher in the ICU group. The CRP/albumin ratio showed a trend towards significance. CONCLUSION The number of days since the last stool discharge, SOFA score and CCI score demonstrated significant associations with ICU requirements in ASBO patients. These findings highlight the importance of assessing organ dysfunction, comorbidities and gastrointestinal function during patient triage. Our study provides valuable insights into predicting ICU need in ASBO patients, aiding in resource allocation and patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Teke
- General Surgery Clinic, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Evren Besler
- General Surgery Clinic, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
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Pusateri A, Litzenberg K, Griffiths C, Hayes C, Gnyawali B, Manious M, Kelly SG, Conteh LF, Jalil S, Nagaraja HN, Mumtaz K. Randomized intervention and outpatient follow-up lowers 30-d readmissions for patients with hepatic encephalopathy, decompensated cirrhosis. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:826-840. [PMID: 37397939 PMCID: PMC10308285 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i6.826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously reported national 30-d readmission rates of 27% in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (DC).
AIM To study prospective interventions to reduce early readmissions in DC at our tertiary center.
METHODS Adults with DC admitted July 2019 to December 2020 were enrolled and randomized into the intervention (INT) or standard of care (SOC) arms. Weekly phone calls for a month were completed. In the INT arm, case managers ensured outpatient follow-up, paracentesis, and medication compliance. Thirty-day readmission rates and reasons were compared.
RESULTS Calculated sample size was not achieved due to coronavirus disease 2019; 240 patients were randomized into INT and SOC arms. 30-d readmission rate was 33.75%, 35.83% in the INT vs 31.67% in the SOC arm (P = 0.59). The top reason for 30-d readmission was hepatic encephalopathy (HE, 32.10%). There was a lower rate of 30-d readmissions for HE in the INT (21%) vs SOC arm (45%, P = 0.03). There were fewer 30-d readmissions in patients who attended early outpatient follow-up (n = 17, 23.61% vs n = 55, 76.39%, P = 0.04).
CONCLUSION Our 30-d readmission rate was higher than the national rate but reduced by interventions in patients with DC with HE and early outpatient follow-up. Development of interventions to reduce early readmission in patients with DC is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoinette Pusateri
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Kevin Litzenberg
- Division of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Claire Griffiths
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Caitlin Hayes
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Bipul Gnyawali
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Michelle Manious
- Division of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Sean G Kelly
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Lanla F Conteh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Sajid Jalil
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Haikady N Nagaraja
- Division of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Khalid Mumtaz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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Development and validation of the Adult cirrhosiS Knowledge Questionnaire. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 35:333-341. [PMID: 36708305 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000002493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessing a patient's knowledge regarding liver cirrhosis is important to improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to develop and validate the Adult cirrhosiS Knowledge Questionnaire (ASK-Q) to assess patients' knowledge regarding liver cirrhosis from multiple aspects. METHODS A 24-item ASK-Q with four domains: self-understanding (5 items), aetiology (5 items), complications (5 items) and management (9 items) of liver cirrhosis was developed based on literature review and expert panel input. It was then piloted in five English-speaking patients with liver cirrhosis. These patients commented that the font size was too small. Hence, the font was enlarged and the final version of the ASK-Q was administered to English-speaking patients with liver cirrhosis, aged ≥18 years, with or without decompensation, at a tertiary hospital, from September 2020 to November 2021, at baseline and fortnight later. Patients with encephalopathy were excluded. RESULTS 120/135 patients agreed to participate (response rate = 88.9%). The overall median score was 59.1 (45.6-68.2). A total of 7/22 (31.8%) items were "easy", 14/22 (63.6%) items were "moderately easy" and 1/22 (4.5%) items were "difficult". Exploratory factor analysis extracted nine factors, and two items were omitted. The ASK-Q was able to discriminate the knowledge level of patients with and without tertiary education [59.1 (50.0-72.7) vs. 54.5 (36.4-63.6); P < 0.05]. The overall Kuder-Richardson coefficient was 0.760, indicating adequate internal consistency. At retest, 77/120 patients participated (response rate = 64.2%) and 15/22 items were not statistically significant, indicating adequate reliability. CONCLUSIONS The ASK-Q was found to be a valid and reliable questionnaire for evaluating the knowledge of liver cirrhosis among English-speaking adult patients.
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Shaw J, Acharya C, Albhaisi S, Fagan A, McGeorge S, White MB, Lachar J, Olson J, Olofson A, Bergstrom L, Kamath PS, Bajaj JS. Subjective and objective burden on providers from a multicenter app-based study of patients with cirrhosis and caregivers. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0030. [PMID: 36706194 PMCID: PMC9988316 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND App-based technologies could enhance patient and caregiver communication and provide alerts that potentially reducing readmissions. However, the burden of App alerts needs to be optimized to reduce provider burnout. AIM The purpose of this study was to determine subjective and objective burden of using the Patient Buddy App, a health information technology (HIT) on providers in a randomized multicenter trial, who completed a semi-quantitative Likert scale survey regarding training procedures, data and privacy concerns, follow-up details, and technical support. This randomized multicenter trial recruits cirrhosis inpatients and their caregivers, and randomizes them into standard-of-care, HIT (communication only via App) and HIT+visits (App+phone calls/visits) for 30 days after discharge. The alerts are monitored by providers through a central iPad. The reason(s) and number of alerts were recorded as the objective burden. A total of 1442 messages were sent as alerts from the 103 dyads (patient + caregiver) (n=206) randomized to HIT arms. The most common messages related to Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) (high or low bowel movement=50% or orientation tests=37%). Twelve providers completed the surveys reflecting the following themes-92% and 100%, felt adequately trained and confident about educating the patients and caregivers before roll out of App and had no concerns related to data and privacy; 70%, felt that appropriate time was spent on pursuing reason for data not being logged; 60% each, had issues with availability of adequate technical support and connectivity. CONCLUSION The Patient Buddy App randomized multicenter trial till date shows an overall favorable rating regarding training procedures/education, privacy concerns, and ease of message follow-up, from providers. However, it is important to gauge and address subjective and objective burdens of monitoring human resources in current and future HIT studies to avoid burnout and to ensure successful study completion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawaid Shaw
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Chathur Acharya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Somaya Albhaisi
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Andrew Fagan
- GI Section, Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Sara McGeorge
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Melanie B. White
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jatinder Lachar
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jessica Olson
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Amy Olofson
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lori Bergstrom
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Patrick S. Kamath
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jasmohan S. Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- GI Section, Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Use of a Cirrhosis Admission Order Set Improves Adherence to Quality Metrics and May Decrease Hospital Length of Stay. Am J Gastroenterol 2023; 118:114-120. [PMID: 35971218 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Quality metrics for inpatient cirrhosis management have been created to improve processes of care. We aimed to improve adherence to quality metrics by creating a novel clinical decision support (CDS) tool in the electronic health record (EHR). METHODS We developed and piloted an alert system in the EHR that directs providers to a cirrhosis order set for patients who have a known diagnosis of cirrhosis or are likely to have cirrhosis. Adherence to process measures and outcomes when the CDS was used were compared with baseline performance before the implementation of the CDS. RESULTS The use of the order set resulted in a significant increase in adherence to process measures such as diagnostic paracentesis (29.6%-51.1%), low-sodium diet (34.3%-77.8%), and social work involvement (36.6%-88.9%) ( P < 0.001 for all). There were also significant decreases in both intensive care and hospital lengths of stay ( P < 0.001) as well as in-hospital development of infection ( P = 0.002). There was no difference in hospital readmissions at 30 or 90 days between the groups ( P = 0.897, P = 0.640). DISCUSSION The use of CDS in EHR-based interventions improves adherence to quality metrics for patients with cirrhosis and could easily be shared by institutions through EHR platforms. Further studies and larger sample sizes are needed to better understand its impact on additional outcome measures.
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Amin AN, Nguyen PH, Tapper EB. Missed diagnosis of cirrhosis in the inpatient setting. J Hosp Med 2022; 17 Suppl 1:S1-S7. [PMID: 35972039 PMCID: PMC9387549 DOI: 10.1002/jhm.12918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cirrhosis accounts for a large number of deaths in the United States and worldwide, leading to an increasing burden on the healthcare system. Cirrhosis is, however, a progressive disease with different potential complications related to liver dysfunction and portal hypertension. Often, patients may present with complications of cirrhosis without having been diagnosed previously. It is pertinent that clinicians recognize these signs to place patients on an appropriate course of management to help delay or avoid further disease progression while avoiding deleterious outcomes and unnecessary utilization. We will discuss the epidemiology of liver disease, cirrhosis, and its complications (hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and varices). In this study, we will discuss the rationale and impact of missing these diagnoses on the healthcare system and patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpesh N. Amin
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | | | - Elliot B. Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan
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Ebhohon E, Ogundipe OA, Adejumo AC. Alarming rate of 30-day hospital readmissions in patients with liver cirrhosis. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1608. [PMID: 34926652 PMCID: PMC8640909 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-5258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ebehiwele Ebhohon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Lincoln Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Adeyinka Charles Adejumo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Individualized Genomics and Health Program, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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12
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Çelik F, Bektaş H. Preventive and Treatment Interventions for Abdominal Ascites of Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Florence Nightingale Hemsire Derg 2021; 29:250-262. [PMID: 34263244 PMCID: PMC8245014 DOI: 10.5152/fnjn.2021.19171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic approaches used in the management of ascites in liver cirrhosis. METHOD Literature review was done in “Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, PubMed MEDLINE, Ulakbim National Database, and Cochrane Library” databases using the keywords, “ascites, refractory ascites, liver cirrhosis, intervention, prophylaxis, treatment, nursing management, prevention, ascites management, randomized controlled trials,” and 2,447 articles were obtained. The studies with low bias risk were included. This systematic review was planned by following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. RESULTS A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included. When the included studies were examined, ascites treatment approaches were evaluated in all of the studies; however, preventive approaches were not evaluated. It was found that mannitol, a diuretic drug, helps ascites management by contributing to weight loss, decrease in abdominal circumference, and urinary sodium excretion. The automatic low-flow ascites pump also reduced the need for large-volume paracentesis. There was a decrease in weight and abdominal circumference measurements when band compression was applied to the umbilicus. CONCLUSION Therapeutic approaches were found to be effective. It was thought that the lack of nursing practices and the prevention of ascites formation in the abdomen was an important deficiency. Randomized controlled trials were recommended for the prevention of abdominal ascites formation and the side effects of treatment on the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferya Çelik
- Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Akdeniz University Faculty of Nursing, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hicran Bektaş
- Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Akdeniz University Faculty of Nursing, Antalya, Turkey
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13
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Louissaint J, Foster C, Harding-Theobald E, Lok AS, Tapper EB. Social Support Does Not Modify the Risk of Readmission for Patients with Decompensated Cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci 2021; 66:1855-1861. [PMID: 32578043 PMCID: PMC7755706 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-020-06421-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are at high risk of frequent hospitalizations. Whether the level of perceived social support impacts this risk is unknown. We sought to determine the relationship between social support and burden of hospitalization in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS A total of 73 patients, all with decompensated cirrhosis and an index cirrhosis-related admission between 7/1/2017 and 7/1/2019, completed the modified medical outcomes study social support (mMOS-SS) survey. We retrospectively assessed the relationship between mMOS-SS scores and probability of readmission 90-days after the index admission. Additionally, we prospectively analyzed the association between mMOS-SS scores at enrollment and risk of 90-day hospitalization. RESULTS At enrollment, 50.7% were female, median age 61 years, and median mMOS-SS score was 87.5. Median model for end-stage liver disease sodium (MELD-Na) at the time of the index admission was 15 and was 13 at the time of enrollment. The mMOS-SS score did not modify the rate of readmission 90 days after the index admission date (adjusted HR 1.01, 95%CI 0.98-1.03) nor was it associated with the rate of admission 90 days after enrollment prospectively (adjusted HR 0.99, 95%CI 0.96-1.02). The MELD-Na score at enrollment was the only significant predictor of hospitalization during prospective follow-up (adjusted HR 1.18, 95%CI 1.09-1.27). CONCLUSIONS Social support, as measured by the mMOS-SS survey, in patients with decompensated cirrhosis was high. However, this did not modify the risk of cirrhosis-related hospitalizations. Future investigation to define the specific components of social support that could modify readmission risk is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Louissaint
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 3912 Taubman, SPC 5362 1500 E Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Chelsey Foster
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 3912 Taubman, SPC 5362 1500 E Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Emily Harding-Theobald
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 3912 Taubman, SPC 5362 1500 E Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anna S Lok
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 3912 Taubman, SPC 5362 1500 E Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, 3912 Taubman, SPC 5362 1500 E Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Gastroenterology Section, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Acharya C, Sehrawat TS, McGuire DB, Shaw J, Fagan A, McGeorge S, Olofson A, White MB, Gavis E, Kamath PS, Bergstrom L, Bajaj JS. Perspectives of Inpatients With Cirrhosis and Caregivers on Using Health Information Technology: Cross-sectional Multicenter Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e24639. [PMID: 33744844 PMCID: PMC8065567 DOI: 10.2196/24639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health information technology (IT) interventions to decrease readmissions for cirrhosis may be limited by patient-associated factors. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine perspectives regarding adoption versus refusal of health IT interventions among patient-caregiver dyads. METHODS Inpatients with cirrhosis and their caregivers were approached to participate in a randomized health IT intervention trial requiring daily contact with research teams via the Patient Buddy app. This app focuses on ascites, medications, and hepatic encephalopathy over 30 days. Regression analyses for characteristics associated with acceptance were performed. For those who declined, a semistructured interview was performed with themes focused on caregivers, protocol, transport/logistics, technology demands, and privacy. RESULTS A total of 349 patient-caregiver dyads were approached (191 from Virginia Commonwealth University, 56 from Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and 102 from Mayo Clinic), 87 of which (25%) agreed to participate. On regression, dyads agreeing included a male patient (odds ratio [OR] 2.08, P=.01), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 2.3, P=.006), or hepatic encephalopathy admission (OR 2.0, P=.01), whereas opioid use (OR 0.46, P=.03) and alcohol-related etiology (OR 0.54, P=.02) were associated with refusal. Race, study site, and other admission reasons did not contribute to refusing participation. Among the 262 dyads who declined randomization, caregiver reluctance (43%), perceived burden (31%), technology-related issues (14%), transportation/logistics (10%), and others (4%), but not privacy, were highlighted as major concerns. CONCLUSIONS Patients with cirrhosis admitted with hepatic encephalopathy and gastrointestinal bleeding without opioid use or alcohol-related etiologies were more likely to participate in a health IT intervention focused on preventing readmissions. Caregiver and study burden but not privacy were major reasons to decline participation. Reducing perceived patient-caregiver burden and improving communication may improve participation. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03564626; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03564626.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chathur Acharya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Tejasav S Sehrawat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Deborah B McGuire
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jawaid Shaw
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Andrew Fagan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Sara McGeorge
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Amy Olofson
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Melanie B White
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Edith Gavis
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Patrick S Kamath
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Lori Bergstrom
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Jasmohan Singh Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States.,McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
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15
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Brahmania M, Wiskar K, Walley KR, Celi LA, Rush B. Lower household income is associated with an increased risk of hospital readmission in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021; 36:1088-1094. [PMID: 32562577 PMCID: PMC8063220 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.15153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The impact of household income, a surrogate of socioeconomic status, on hospital readmission rates for patients with decompensated cirrhosis has not been well characterized. METHODS The Nationwide Readmission Database from 2012 to 2014 was used to study the association of lower median household income on 30-, 90-, and 180-day hospital readmission rates for patients with decompensated cirrhosis. RESULTS From the 42 679 001 hospital admissions contained in the sample, there were 82 598 patients with decompensated cirrhosis who survived a hospital admission in the first 6 months of the year. During a uniform 6-month follow-up period, 25 914 (31.4%), 39 928 (48.3%), and 47 496 (57.5%) patients were readmitted at 30, 90, and 180 days, respectively. After controlling for demographic and clinical confounders, patients residing in the three lowest income quartiles were significantly more likely to be readmitted at 30 days than those in the fourth quartile (first quartile, odds ratio [OR] 1.32 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.17-1.47, P < 0.01]; second quartile, OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.13-1.38, P < 0.01]; and third quartile, OR 1.08 [95% CI 0.97-1.20, P = 0.07]). The association between lower socioeconomic status and the higher risk of readmissions persisted at 90 days (first quartile, OR 1.21 [95% CI 1.14-1.30, P < 0.01]) and 180 days (first quartile, OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.20-1.44, P < 0.01]). CONCLUSION Patients with decompensated cirrhosis residing in the lowest income quartile had a 32% higher odds of hospital readmissions at 30, 90, and 180 days compared with those in the highest income quartile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Brahmania
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, London Health Sciences Center, Western University, London, Ontario
| | - Katie Wiskar
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Keith R Walley
- Department of Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, St. Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia,,Center for Heart Lung Innovation (HLI), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
| | - Leo A Celi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Barret Rush
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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16
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Low Predictability of Readmissions and Death Using Machine Learning in Cirrhosis. Am J Gastroenterol 2021; 116:336-346. [PMID: 33038139 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Readmission and death in cirrhosis are common, expensive, and difficult to predict. Our aim was to evaluate the abilities of multiple artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to predict clinical outcomes based on variables collected at admission, during hospitalization, and at discharge. METHODS We used the multicenter North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease (NACSELD) cohort of cirrhotic inpatients who are followed up through 90-days postdischarge for readmission and death. We used statistical methods to select variables that are significant for readmission and death and trained 3 AI models, including logistic regression (LR), kernel support vector machine (SVM), and random forest classifiers (RFC), to predict readmission and death. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) from 10-fold crossvalidation for evaluation to compare sexes. Data were compared with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) at discharge. RESULTS We included 2,170 patients (57 ± 11 years, MELD 18 ± 7, 61% men, 79% White, and 8% Hispanic). The 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were 28% and 47%, respectively, and 13% died at 90 days. Prediction for 30-day readmission resulted in 0.60 AUC for all patients with RFC, 0.57 AUC with LR for women-only subpopulation, and 0.61 AUC with LR for men-only subpopulation. For 90-day readmission, the highest AUC was achieved with kernel SVM and RFC (AUC = 0.62). We observed higher predictive value when training models with only women (AUC = 0.68 LR) vs men (AUC = 0.62 kernel SVM). Prediction for death resulted in 0.67 AUC for all patients, 0.72 for women-only subpopulation, and 0.69 for men-only subpopulation, all with LR. MELD-Na model AUC was similar to those from the AI models. DISCUSSION Despite using multiple AI techniques, it is difficult to predict 30- and 90-day readmissions and death in cirrhosis. AI model accuracies were equivalent to models generated using only MELD-Na scores. Additional biomarkers are needed to improve our predictive capability (See also the visual abstract at http://links.lww.com/AJG/B710).
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Moon AM, Singal AG, Tapper EB. Contemporary Epidemiology of Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 18:2650-2666. [PMID: 31401364 PMCID: PMC7007353 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2019.07.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 688] [Impact Index Per Article: 137.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Accurate estimates for the contemporary burden of chronic liver disease (CLD) are vital for setting clinical, research, and policy priorities. We aimed to review the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of CLD and its resulting complications, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We reviewed the published literature on the incidence, prevalence, trends of various etiologies of CLD and its resulting complications. In addition, we provided updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Global Burden of Disease Study on the morbidity and mortality of CLD, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lastly, we assessed the strengths and weaknesses of available sources of data in hopes of providing important context to these national estimates of cirrhosis burden. RESULTS An estimated 1.5 billion persons have CLD worldwide and the age-standardized incidence of CLD and cirrhosis is 20.7/100,000, a 13% increase since 2000. Similarly, cirrhosis prevalence and mortality has increased in recent years in the United States. The epidemiology of CLD is shifting, reflecting implementation of large-scale hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis C treatment programs, the increasing prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, and increasing alcohol misuse. CONCLUSIONS The global burden of CLD and cirrhosis is substantial. Although vaccination, screening, and antiviral treatment campaigns for hepatitis B and C have reduced the CLD burden in some parts of the world, concomitant increases in injection drug use, alcohol misuse, and metabolic syndrome threaten these trends. Ongoing efforts to address CLD-related morbidity and mortality require accurate contemporary estimates of epidemiology and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Moon
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Amit G Singal
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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18
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Tennakoon L, Baiu I, Concepcion W, Melcher ML, Spain DA, Knowlton LM. Understanding Health Care Utilization and Mortality After Emergency General Surgery in Patients With Underlying Liver Disease. Am Surg 2020; 86:665-674. [PMID: 32683972 DOI: 10.1177/0003134820923304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality and complications are not well defined nationally for emergency general surgery (EGS) patients presenting with underlying all-cause liver disease (LD). STUDY DESIGN We analyzed the 2012-2014 National Inpatient Sample for adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with a primary EGS diagnosis. Underlying LD included International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for alcoholic and viral hepatitis, malignancy, congenital etiologies, and cirrhosis. The primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes included complications, operative intervention, and costs. RESULTS Of the 6.8 million EGS patients, 358 766 (5.3%) had underlying LD. 59.1% had cirrhosis, 6.7% had portal hypertension, and 13.7% had ascites. Compared with other EGS patients, EGS-LD patients had higher mean costs ($12 847 vs $10 234, P < .001). EGS-LD patients were less likely to have surgery (26.1% vs 37.0%, P < .001) but for those who did, mortality was higher (4.8% vs 1.8%, P < .001). Risk factors for mortality included ascites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.68, P < .001), dialysis (aOR = 3.44, P < .001), sepsis (aOR = 8.97, P < .001), and respiratory failure requiring intubation (aOR = 10.40, P < .001). Odds of death increased in both surgical (aOR = 4.93, P < .001) and non-surgical EGS-LD patients (aOR = 2.56, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Underlying all-cause LD among EGS patients is associated with increased in-hospital mortality, even in the absence of surgical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshika Tennakoon
- 6429 Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ioana Baiu
- 6429 Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Waldo Concepcion
- 6429 Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marc L Melcher
- 6429 Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David A Spain
- 6429 Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M Knowlton
- 6429 Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
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Louissaint J, Lok AS, Fortune BE, Tapper EB. Acceptance and use of a smartphone application in cirrhosis. Liver Int 2020; 40:1556-1563. [PMID: 32343467 PMCID: PMC10291489 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The development of cirrhosis-related smartphone applications for remote monitoring is increasing. Whether patients with cirrhosis will welcome such new technology, however, is uncertain. METHODS We prospectively enrolled patients with cirrhosis (N = 102) to determine predictors of acceptance and utilization of a smartphone application for cirrhosis management using a 12-item Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) survey. Patients were then shown the EncephalApp© and evaluated for their willingness to download and use the application. RESULTS Patients had a median age of 61.3 years and 63.7% had a history of hepatic decompensation. Intention to use the hypothetical application was associated with perceived usefulness (β: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3-0.5) and the presence of a caregiver (β: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.2-2.0). Of the eligible participants, 71% agreed to download the EncephalApp© and the decision was influenced by computer anxiety, behavioural intent, caregiver presence and disease state factors. Actual usage was 32% and not associated with baseline characteristics or the technology acceptance model. CONCLUSIONS Patient acceptance of smartphone applications for the management of cirrhosis is high and related to their attitudes towards technology and the presence of a caregiver. However, usage was low. Future research must employ behavioural interventions to optimize uptake and utilization of remote monitoring technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Louissaint
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anna S. Lok
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brett E. Fortune
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elliot B. Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Gastroenterology Section, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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20
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Ramachandran J, Woodman RJ, Muller KR, Wundke R, McCormick R, Kaambwa B, Wigg AJ. Validation of Knowledge Questionnaire for Patients With Liver Cirrhosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 18:1867-1873.e1. [PMID: 31809918 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2019.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS There is no validated questionnaire to assess disease knowledge and self-management in patients with liver cirrhosis. We developed and validated a Cirrhosis Knowledge Questionnaire (CKQ). METHODS We created a preliminary CKQ comprising 10 questions relevant to self-management of cirrhosis, based on publications and clinical experiences. The CKQ was given to a pilot sample of 17 patients with decompensated cirrhosis to assess its face validity. In consultation with experts, we developed a second version of CKQ, comprising 14 multiple choice questions, and administered it to 116 patients with cirrhosis participating in a Chronic Liver Failure Program. The dimensionality of the construct was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Known-group validity of the resulting instrument was assessed by comparing the performance of the CKQ in 69 patients with decompensated cirrhosis (mean age, 62 ± 13 years; 109 responses), with (n = 42) vs without (n = 67) case management. RESULTS A 3-factor model with 7 questions related to variceal bleeding, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy was considered the optimal dimensionality with excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82). The mean knowledge score was higher in patients with case management (5.6 ± 1.1) than in patients without case management (4.3 ± 2.1) (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS We developed and validated a questionnaire with 7 questions on ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy to assess knowledge and self-management in patients with liver cirrhosis. Studies are needed to confirm its dimensionality and assess association of scores with patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeyamani Ramachandran
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Richard J Woodman
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kate R Muller
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Rachel Wundke
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Rosemary McCormick
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Billingsley Kaambwa
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alan J Wigg
- Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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21
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Carbonneau M, Eboreime EA, Hyde A, Campbell-Scherer D, Faris P, Gramlich L, Tsuyuki RT, Congly SE, Shaheen AA, Sadler M, Zeman M, Spiers J, Abraldes JG, Sugars B, Sia W, Green L, Abdellatif D, Schaefer JP, Selvarajah V, Marr K, Ryan D, Westra Y, Bakshi N, Varghese JC, Tandon P. The cirrhosis care Alberta (CCAB) protocol: implementing an evidence-based best practice order set for the management of liver cirrhosis - a hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation trial. BMC Health Serv Res 2020; 20:558. [PMID: 32552833 PMCID: PMC7301349 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-05427-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cirrhosis is a leading cause of morbidity, premature mortality and acute care utilization in patients with digestive disease. In the province of Alberta, hospital readmission rates for patients with cirrhosis are estimated at 44% at 90 days. For hospitalized patients, multiple care gaps exist, the most notable stemming from i) the lack of a structured approach to best practice care for cirrhosis complications, ii) the lack of a structured approach to broader health needs and iii) suboptimal preparation for transition of care into the community. Cirrhosis Care Alberta (CCAB) is a 4-year multi-component pragmatic trial which aims to address these gaps. The proposed intervention is initiated at the time of hospitalization through implementation of a clinical information system embedded electronic order set for delivering evidence-based best practices under real-world conditions. The overarching objective of the CCAB trial is to demonstrate effectiveness and implementation feasibility for use of the order set in routine patient care within eight hospital sites in Alberta. METHODS A mixed methods hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation design will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the order set intervention. The primary outcome is a reduction in 90-day cumulative length of stay. Implementation outcomes such as reach, adoption, fidelity and maintenance will also be evaluated alongside other patient and service outcomes such as readmission rates, quality of care and cost-effectiveness. This theory-based trial will be guided by Normalization Process Theory, Consolidated Framework on Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance (RE-AIM) Framework. DISCUSSION The CCAB project is unique in its breadth, both in the comprehensiveness of the multi-component order set and also for the breadth of its roll-out. Lessons learned will ultimately inform the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach in "real-world" conditions as well as adoption and adaptation of these best practices within the rest of Alberta, other provinces in Canada, and beyond. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04149223, November 4, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Carbonneau
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton & Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Ejemai Amaize Eboreime
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Ashley Hyde
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Denise Campbell-Scherer
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Office of Lifelong Learning and the Physician Learning Program, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Peter Faris
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton & Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Leah Gramlich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Ross T Tsuyuki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Stephen E Congly
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Abdel Aziz Shaheen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew Sadler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Marilyn Zeman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Jude Spiers
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Juan G Abraldes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
- Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research (CEGIIR), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Benjamin Sugars
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Winnie Sia
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lee Green
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dalia Abdellatif
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jeffrey P Schaefer
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Vijeyakumar Selvarajah
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada
| | - Kaleb Marr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - David Ryan
- Central Alberta Digestive Disease Specialists, Red Deer, AB, Canada
| | - Yolande Westra
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Neeja Bakshi
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jayant C Varghese
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Puneeta Tandon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada.
- Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research (CEGIIR), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G2X8, Canada.
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Volk ML. Burden of Cirrhosis on Patients and Caregivers. Hepatol Commun 2020; 4:1107-1111. [PMID: 32766471 PMCID: PMC7395058 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.1526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Volk
- Division of Gastroenterology and Transplant Institute Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda CA
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Bloom PP, Marx M, Wang TJ, Green B, Ha J, Bay C, Chung RT, Richter JM. Attitudes towards digital health tools for outpatient cirrhosis management in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjinnov-2019-000369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundTechnology represents a promising tool to improve healthcare delivery for patients with cirrhosis. We sought to assess utilisation of technology and preferred features of a digital health management tool, in patients with an early readmission for decompensated cirrhosis.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of patients readmitted within 90 days for decompensated cirrhosis. A semistructured interview obtained quantitative and qualitative data through open-ended questions.ResultsOf the 50 participants, mean age was 57.6 years and mean (range) model for end stage liver disease was 22.7 (10–46). Thirty-eight (76%) patients own a Smartphone and 62% have regular access to a computer with internet. Thirty-nine (78%) patients would consider using a Smartphone application to manage their cirrhosis. Forty-six (92%) patients report having a principal caregiver, of which 80% own a Smartphone. Patients were interested in a Smartphone application that could communicate with their physician (85%), send medication notifications to the patient (65%) and caregiver (64%), transmit diagnostic results and appointment reminders (82%), educate about liver disease (79%), regularly transmit weight data to the doctor (85% with ascites) and play a game to detect cognitive decline (67% with encephalopathy). Common themes from qualitative data include a desire to learn about liver disease and communicate with providers via digital tools.ConclusionAmong patients with cirrhosis with an early readmission for decompensation, most have Smartphones and would be willing to use a Smartphone to manage their disease. Future digital health management tools should be tailored to the use patterns and preferences of the patients with cirrhosis and their caregivers.
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Kruger AJ, Durkin C, Mumtaz K, Hinton A, Krishna SG. Early Readmission Predicts Increased Mortality in Cirrhosis Patients After Clostridium difficile Infection. J Clin Gastroenterol 2019; 53:e322-e327. [PMID: 30045168 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
GOALS We sought to determine the impact of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in cirrhosis by evaluating trends and outcomes of early readmission and mortality. BACKGROUND The incidence of CDI in cirrhotics is increasing. STUDY We analyzed the Nationwide Readmissions Database (2011 to 2014) for hospitalized patients with CDI and differentiated them by presence of cirrhosis. Baseline characteristics, surgical rates, and outcomes were collected. The primary outcomes of interest included readmission and mortality rates. RESULTS Of 366,283 patients hospitalized with CDI, 12,274 (3.4%) had cirrhosis, of which 7741 (63.1%) were decompensated. Among patients with CDI, 30-day readmission rates (33% vs. 24%), index admission mortality (5% vs. 2.5%), and calendar-year mortality (9% vs. 4%) were higher in patients with cirrhosis compared with those without cirrhosis. Recurrent CDI (rCDI) (46%) and cirrhosis-related complications (34.6%) were the most common reasons for readmission. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis were more likely to be readmitted within 30-days than those with compensated cirrhosis [odds ratio (OR), 1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.36]. Multivariable analyses revealed that among patients with cirrhosis, index colectomy (OR, 6.50; 95% CI, 1.61-26.24) and decompensation (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 2.49-5.23) predicted index admission mortality. In addition, 30-day readmission (OR, 3.71; 95% CI, 2.95-4.67) and decompensated cirrhosis (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.17-1.89) independently predicted calendar-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS One-third of CDI patients with cirrhosis were readmitted within 30-days, most commonly because of rCDI. The mortality associated with CDI in patients with cirrhosis is high, with decompensation and 30-day readmission heralding a poor prognosis. Reducing rCDI-related readmissions may potentially improve these outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claire Durkin
- Department of Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
| | - Khalid Mumtaz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
| | - Alice Hinton
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Somashekar G Krishna
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
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25
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Bajaj JS, O’Leary JG, Tandon P, Wong F, Kamath PS, Biggins SW, Garcia-Tsao G, Lai J, Fallon MB, Thuluvath PJ, Vargas HE, Maliakkal B, Subramanian RM, Thacker LR, Reddy KR. Targets to improve quality of care for patients with hepatic encephalopathy: data from a multi-centre cohort. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2019; 49:1518-1527. [PMID: 31032966 PMCID: PMC6538445 DOI: 10.1111/apt.15265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) can adversely affect outcomes in both in-patients and out-patients with cirrhosis. AIM To define targets for improving quality of care in HE management in the multi-centre North American Consortium for End-Stage Liver Disease (NACSELD) cohort. METHOD NACSELD in-patient cohort was analysed for (a) medication-associated precipitants, (b) aspiration pneumonia development, (c) HE medication changes, and (d) 90-day HE recurrence/readmissions. Comparisons were made between patients on no-therapy, lactulose only, rifaximin only or both. Ninety-day HE-readmission analysis was adjusted for MELD score. RESULTS Two thousand eight hundred and ten patients (1102 no-therapy, 659 lactulose, 154 rifaximin, 859 both) were included. HE on admission, and HE rates during hospitalisation were highest in those on lactulose only or dual therapy compared to no-therapy or rifaximin only (P < 0.001). Medications were the most prevalent precipitants (32%; 21% lactulose over/underuse, 5% benzodiazepines, 4% opioids, 1% rifaximin underuse, 1% hypnotics). Patients with medication-associated precipitants had a better prognosis compared to other precipitants. A total of 23% (n = 217) reached grade 3/4 HE, of which 16% developed HE-related aspiration pneumonia. Two thousand four hundred and twenty patients were discharged alive without liver transplant (790 no-therapy, 639 lactulose, 136 rifaximin, 855 both); 12.5% (n = 99) of no-therapy patients did not receive a discharge HE therapy renewal. Ninety-day HE-related readmissions were seen in 16% of patients (9% no-therapy, 9% rifaximin only, lactulose only 18%, dual 21%, <0.001), which persisted despite MELD adjustment (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION Several targets to improve HE management were identified in a large cohort of hospitalised cirrhotic patients. Interventions to decrease medication-precipitated HE, prevention of aspiration pneumonia, and optimisation of HE medications are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Scott W Biggins
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA and University of Denver, Colorado, CO, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Lai
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael B Fallon
- University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA and University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Benedict Maliakkal
- University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN and University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Leroy R Thacker
- Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
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Kruger AJ, Aberra F, Black SM, Hinton A, Hanje J, Conteh LF, Michaels AJ, Krishna SG, Mumtaz K. A validated risk model for prediction of early readmission in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Ann Hepatol 2019; 18:310-317. [PMID: 31047848 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication in cirrhotics and is associated with an increased healthcare burden. Our aim was to study independent predictors of 30-day readmission and develop a readmission risk model in patients with HE. Secondary aims included studying readmission rates, cost, and the impact of readmission on mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS We utilized the 2013 Nationwide Readmission Database (NRD) for hospitalized patients with HE. A risk assessment model based on index hospitalization variables for predicting 30-day readmission was developed using multivariate logistic regression and validated with the 2014 NRD. Patients were stratified into Low Risk and High Risk groups. Cox regression models were fit to identify predictors of calendar-year mortality. RESULTS Of 24,473 cirrhosis patients hospitalized with HE, 32.4% were readmitted within 30 days. Predictors of readmission included presence of ascites (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.33), receiving paracentesis (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.26-1.62) and acute kidney injury (OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.00-1.22). Our validated model stratified patients into Low Risk and High Risk of 30-day readmissions (29% and 40%, respectively). The cost of the first readmission was higher than index admission in the 30-day readmission cohort ($14,198 vs. $10,386; p-value <0.001). Thirty-day readmission was the strongest predictor of calendar-year mortality (HR: 4.03; 95% CI: 3.49-4.65). CONCLUSIONS Nearly one-third of patients with HE were readmitted within 30 days, and early readmission adversely impacted healthcare utilization and calendar-year mortality. With our proposed simple risk assessment model, patients at high risk for early readmissions can be identified to potentially avert poor outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Kruger
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Fasika Aberra
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sylvester M Black
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Alice Hinton
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - James Hanje
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lanla F Conteh
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anthony J Michaels
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Somashekar G Krishna
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Khalid Mumtaz
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Hospital Cirrhosis Volume and Readmission in Patients with Cirrhosis in California. Dig Dis Sci 2018; 63:2267-2274. [PMID: 29457210 PMCID: PMC6097881 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-018-4964-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with cirrhosis are at high readmission risk. Using a large statewide database, we evaluated the effect of hospital cirrhosis-related patient volume on 30-day readmissions in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database for adult patients with cirrhosis, as defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes, hospitalized in California between 2009 and 2011. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of hospital volume on 30-day readmissions. RESULTS A total of 69,612 patients with cirrhosis were identified in 405 hospitals; 24,062 patients were discharged from the top 10% of hospitals (N = 41) by cirrhosis volume, and 45,550 patients in the bottom 90% (N = 364). Compared with higher-volume centers, lower-volume hospitals cared for patients with similar average Quan-Charlson-Deyo (QCD) comorbidity scores (6.54 vs. 6.68), similar proportion of hepatitis B and fatty liver disease, lower proportion of hepatitis C (34.8 vs. 41.5%) but greater proportion of alcoholic liver disease (53.1 vs. 47.4%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated admission to a lower-volume hospital did not predict 30-day readmission (odds ratio [OR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-1.01) after adjusting for sociodemographics, QCD score, cirrhosis severity, and hospital characteristics. Instead, liver transplant center status significantly decreased the risk of readmission (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.94). Ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, higher QCD, and presence of alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis C were also independent predictors. CONCLUSIONS Readmissions within 30 days were common among patients with cirrhosis hospitalized in California. While hospital cirrhosis volume did not predict 30-day readmissions, liver transplant center status was protective of readmissions. Medically complicated patients with cirrhosis at hospitals without liver transplant centers may benefit from additional support to prevent readmission.
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Bajaj JS, Ross D. Concise Commentary: Remaining Outside the Hospital Is a Golden State in Cirrhosis-Lessons from California. Dig Dis Sci 2018; 63:2275-2276. [PMID: 29850981 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-018-5134-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition,, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA.
| | - David Ross
- HIV, Hepatitis, and Related Conditions (HHRC) Programs (10P11I), Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, USA.,DC VA Medical Center, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
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Bittermann T, Hubbard RA, Serper M, Lewis JD, Hohmann SF, VanWagner LB, Goldberg DS. Healthcare utilization after liver transplantation is highly variable among both centers and recipients. Am J Transplant 2018; 18:1197-1205. [PMID: 29024364 PMCID: PMC5895535 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.14539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between healthcare utilization before and after liver transplantation (LT), and its association with center characteristics, is incompletely understood. This was a retrospective cohort study of 34 402 adult LTs between 2002 and 2013 using Vizient inpatient claims data linked to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database. Multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models evaluated the association between hospitalization 90 days pre-LT and the number of days alive and out of the hospital (DAOH) 1 year post-LT. Of those patients alive at LT discharge, 24.7% spent ≥30 days hospitalized during the first year. Hospitalization in the 90 days pre-LT was inversely associated with DAOH (β = -3.4 DAOH/week hospitalized pre-LT; P = .002). Centers with >30% of their liver transplant recipients hospitalized ≥30 days in the first LT year were typically smaller volume and/or transplanting higher risk recipients (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] score ≥35, inpatient or ventilated pre-LT). In conclusion, pre-LT hospitalization predicts 1-year post-LT hospitalization independent of MELD score at the patient-level, whereas center-specific post-LT healthcare utilization is associated with certain center behaviors and selection practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bittermann
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - R A Hubbard
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J D Lewis
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S F Hohmann
- Center for Advanced Analytics, Vizient, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - L B VanWagner
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - D S Goldberg
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Avigan MI, Muñoz MA. Perspectives on the Regulatory and Clinical Science of Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI). METHODS IN PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7677-5_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Ganapathy D, Acharya C, Lachar J, Patidar K, Sterling RK, White MB, Ignudo C, Bommidi S, DeSoto J, Thacker LR, Matherly S, Shaw J, Siddiqui MS, Puri P, Sanyal AJ, Luketic V, Lee H, Stravitz RT, Bajaj JS. The patient buddy app can potentially prevent hepatic encephalopathy-related readmissions. Liver Int 2017; 37:1843-1851. [PMID: 28618192 DOI: 10.1111/liv.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Readmissions are a major burden in cirrhosis. A proportion of readmissions in cirrhosis, especially because of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) could be avoided through patient and caregiver engagement. We aimed to define the feasibility of using the Patient Buddy App and its impact on 30-day readmissions by engaging and educating cirrhotic inpatients and caregivers in a pilot study. METHODS Cirrhotic inpatients with caregivers were enrolled and followed for 30 days post-discharge. On separately assigned devices loaded with Patient Buddy, they were trained on entering medication adherence, daily sodium intake and weights, and weekly cognitive (EncephalApp_Stroop) and fall-risk assessment and were educated regarding cirrhosis-related symptoms. These were monitored daily through a Patient Buddy loaded iPad by the clinical team. The App sent automatic alerts between patient/caregivers and clinical team regarding adherence and critical values. At 30 days, total, and HE-related admissions were analysed as well as the feasibility and feedback regarding educational values. RESULTS Forty patients and 40 caregivers were enrolled. Seventeen patients were readmitted within 30-days but none for HE. Eight potential HE-related readmissions were prevented through App-generated alerts that encouraged early outpatient interventions. Caregivers and patients were concordant in data entry but six did not complete data entries. Most respondents rated the App favourably for its educational value. CONCLUSIONS In this proof-of-concept trial, the use of Patient Buddy is feasible in recently discharged patients with cirrhosis and their caregivers. Eight HE-related readmissions were potentially avoided after the use of the App.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Ganapathy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Chathur Acharya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jatinder Lachar
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Kavish Patidar
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Richard K Sterling
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Melanie B White
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Leroy R Thacker
- Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Scott Matherly
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jawaid Shaw
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Puneet Puri
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Arun J Sanyal
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Velimir Luketic
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Hannah Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Richard T Stravitz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Richmond, VA, USA
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Pantham G, Post A, Venkat D, Einstadter D, Mullen KD. A New Look at Precipitants of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci 2017; 62:2166-2173. [PMID: 28560484 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-017-4630-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. We examined the frequency and profile of the precipitating factors resulting in hospitalizations for overt HE. METHODS We conducted both retrospective and prospective studies to identify clinical precipitants of overt HE in patients with cirrhosis. The retrospective study patients were hospitalized at a large urban safety-net hospital, and the prospective study included the patients admitted at a liver transplant center. RESULTS There were a total of 149 patients with cirrhosis and overt HE (91 males, mean age 55.3 ± 8.6 years) in the retrospective group and 45 patients (27 males, mean age 58.3 ± 8.2 years) in the prospective group of the study. The average MELD score was 16 ± 6.8 in the retrospective group and 22.7 ± 7.2 in the prospective group. Dehydration (46-76%), acute kidney injury (32-76%), lactulose nonadherence (about 50%), constipation (about 40%), and infections (20-42%) were the most frequently identified precipitants for hospitalization in retrospective and prospective groups. Multiple precipitants were identified in 60 (40.3%) patients in the retrospective group and 34 (76%) patients in the prospective group. CONCLUSIONS Multiple concurrent precipitating factors were identified in the majority of patients with overt HE requiring hospitalization. Dehydration due to various causes was the most common precipitant of overt HE, followed by acute kidney injury (AKI), constipation, and infections. Prevention of dehydration, AKI, and constipation by close outpatient monitoring may be an effective measure to prevent hospitalization for overt HE in patients with cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Pantham
- Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Anthony Post
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Deepak Venkat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Douglas Einstadter
- Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kevin D Mullen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
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