Updating and Validating the U.S. Veterans Affairs Frailty Index: Transitioning From ICD-9 to ICD-10

Prognostic accuracy of 70 individual frailty biomarkers in predicting mortality in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

The frailty index (FI) uses a deficit accumulation approach to derive a single, comprehensive, and replicable indicator of age-related health status. Yet, many researchers continue to seek a single "frailty biomarker" to facilitate clinical screening. We investigated the prognostic accuracy of 70 individual biomarkers in predicting mortality, comparing each with a composite FI. A total of 29,341 individuals from the comprehensive cohort of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were included (mean, 59.4 ± 9.9 years; 50.3% female). Twenty-three blood-based biomarkers and 47 test-based biomarkers (e.g., physical, cardiac, cardiology) were examined. Two composite FIs were derived: FI-Blood and FI-Examination. Mortality status was ascertained using provincial vital statistics linkages and contact with next of kin. Areas under the curve were calculated to compare prognostic accuracy across models (i.e., age, sex, biomarker, FI) in predicting mortality. Compared to an age-sex only model, the addition of individual biomarkers demonstrated improved model fit for 24/70 biomarkers (11 blood, 13 test-based). Inclusion of FI-Blood or FI-Examination improved mortality prediction when compared to any of the 70 biomarker-age-sex models. Individual addition of seven biomarkers (walking speed, chair rise, time up and go, pulse, red blood cell distribution width, C-reactive protein, white blood cells) demonstrated an improved fit when added to the age-sex-FI model. FI scores had better mortality risk prediction than any biomarker. Although seven biomarkers demonstrated improved prognostic accuracy when considered alongside an FI score, all biomarkers had worse prognostic accuracy on their own. Rather than a single biomarker test, implementation of routine FI assessment in clinical settings may provide a more accurate and reliable screening tool to identify those at increased risk of adverse outcomes.

Adaptation of the Risk Analysis Index for Frailty Assessment Using Diagnostic Codes

Importance

Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes after even minor physiologic stressors. The validated Risk Analysis Index (RAI) quantifies frailty; however, existing methods limit application to in-person interview (clinical RAI) and quality improvement datasets (administrative RAI).

Objective

To expand the utility of the RAI utility to available International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) administrative data, using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Design, Setting, and Participants

RAI parameters were systematically adapted to ICD-10-CM codes (RAI-ICD) and were derived (NIS 2019) and validated (NIS 2020). The primary analysis included survey-weighed discharge data among adults undergoing major surgical procedures. Additional external validation occurred by including all operative and nonoperative hospitalizations in the NIS (2020) and in a multihospital health care system (UPMC, 2021-2022). Data analysis was conducted from January to May 2023.

Exposures

RAI parameters and in-hospital mortality.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The association of RAI parameters with in-hospital mortality was calculated and weighted using logistic regression, generating an integerized RAI-ICD score. After initial validation, thresholds defining categories of frailty were selected by a full complement of test statistics. Rates of elective admission, length of stay, hospital charges, and in-hospital mortality were compared across frailty categories. C statistics estimated model discrimination.

Results

RAI-ICD parameters were weighted in the 9 548 206 patients who were hospitalized (mean [SE] age, 55.4 (0.1) years; 3 742 330 male [weighted percentage, 39.2%] and 5 804 431 female [weighted percentage, 60.8%]), modeling in-hospital mortality (2.1%; 95% CI, 2.1%-2.2%) with excellent derivation discrimination (C statistic, 0.810; 95% CI, 0.808-0.813). The 11 RAI-ICD parameters were adapted to 323 ICD-10-CM codes. The operative validation population of 8 113 950 patients (mean [SE] age, 54.4 (0.1) years; 3 148 273 male [weighted percentage, 38.8%] and 4 965 737 female [weighted percentage, 61.2%]; in-hospital mortality, 2.5% [95% CI, 2.4%-2.5%]) mirrored the derivation population. In validation, the weighted and integerized RAI-ICD yielded good to excellent discrimination in the NIS operative sample (C statistic, 0.784; 95% CI, 0.782-0.786), NIS operative and nonoperative sample (C statistic, 0.778; 95% CI, 0.777-0.779), and the UPMC operative and nonoperative sample (C statistic, 0.860; 95% CI, 0.857-0.862). Thresholds defining robust (RAI-ICD <27), normal (RAI-ICD, 27-35), frail (RAI-ICD, 36-45), and very frail (RAI-ICD >45) strata of frailty maximized precision (F1 = 0.33) and sensitivity and specificity (Matthews correlation coefficient = 0.26). Adverse outcomes increased with increasing frailty.

Conclusion and Relevance

In this cohort study of hospitalized adults, the RAI-ICD was rigorously adapted, derived, and validated. These findings suggest that the RAI-ICD can extend the quantification of frailty to inpatient adult ICD-10-CM-coded patient care datasets.

Patient Priorities Care Increases Long-Term Service and Support Use: Propensity Match Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Patient priorities care (PPC) is an evidence-based approach designed to help patients achieve what matters most to them by identifying their health priorities and working with clinicians to align the care they provide to the patient's priorities. This study examined the impact of the PPC approach on long-term service and support (LTSS) use among veterans.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental study examining differences in LTSS use between veterans exposed to PPC and propensity-matched controls not exposed to PPC adjusting for covariates.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-six social workers in 5 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sites trained in PPC in 2018, 143 veterans who used the PPC approach, and 286 matched veterans who did not use the PPC approach.

METHODS

Veterans with health priorities identified through the PPC approach were the intervention group (n = 143). The usual care group included propensity-matched veterans evaluated by the same social workers in the same period who did not participate in PPC (n = 286). The visit with the social worker was the index date. We examined LTSS use, emergency department (ED), and urgent care visits, 12 months before and after this date for both groups. Electronic medical record notes were extracted with a validated natural language processing algorithm (84% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and 92% accuracy).

RESULTS

Most participants were white men, mean age was 76, and 30% were frail. LTSS use was 48% higher in the PPC group compared with the usual care group [odds ratio (OR), 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.18; P = .05]. Among those who lived >2 years after the index date, new LTSS use was higher (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.04-2.76; P = .036). Among nonfrail individuals, LTSS use was also higher in the PPC group (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.06-2.74; P = .028). PPC was not associated with higher ED or urgent care use.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

PPC results in higher LTSS use but not ED or urgent care in these veterans. LTSS use was higher for nonfrail veterans and those living longer. The PPC approach helps identify health priorities, including unmet needs for safe and independent living that LTSS can support.

What is the additive value of nutritional deficiency to VA-FI in the risk assessment for heart failure patients?

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of adding the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) to the U.S. Veterans Health Administration frailty index (VA-FI) for the prediction of time-to-death and other clinical outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with Heart Failure.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of veterans hospitalized for heart failure (HF) from October 2015 to October 2018. Veterans ≥50 years with albumin and lymphocyte counts, needed to calculate the PNI, in the year prior to hospitalization were included. We defined malnutrition as PNI ≤43.6, based on the Youden index. VA-FI was calculated from the year prior to the hospitalization and identified three groups: robust (≤0.1), prefrail (0.1-0.2), and frail (>0.2). Malnutrition was added to the VA-FI (VA-FI-Nutrition) as a 32nd deficit with the total number of deficits divided by 32. Frailty levels used the same cut-offs as the VA-FI. We compared categories based on VA-FI to those based on VA-FI-Nutrition and estimated the hazard ratio (HR) for post-discharge all-cause mortality over the study period as the primary outcome and other adverse events as secondary outcomes among patients with reduced or preserved ejection fraction in each VA-FI and VA-FI-Nutrition frailty groups.

RESULTS

We identified 37,601 Veterans hospitalized for HF (mean age: 73.4 ± 10.3 years, BMI: 31.3 ± 7.4 kg/m2). In general, VA-FI-Nutrition reclassified 1959 (18.6%) Veterans to a higher frailty level. The VA-FI identified 1,880 (5%) as robust, 8,644 (23%) as prefrail, and 27,077 (72%) as frail. The VA-FI-Nutrition reclassified 382 (20.3%) from robust to prefrail and 1577 (18.2%) from prefrail to frail creating the modified-prefrail and modified-frail categories based on the VA-FI-Nutrition. We observed shorter time-to-death among Veterans reclassified to a higher frailty status vs. those who remained in their original group (Median of 2.8 years (IQR:0.5,6.8) in modified-prefrail vs. 6.3 (IQR:1.8,6.8) years in robust, and 2.2 (IQR:0.7,5.7) years in modified-frail vs. 3.9 (IQR:1.4,6.8) years in prefrail). The adjusted HR in the reclassified groups was also significantly higher in the VA-FI-Nutrition frailty categories with a 38% increase in overall all-cause mortality among modified-prefrail and a 50% increase among modified-frails. Similar trends of increasing adverse events were also observed among reclassified groups for other clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Adding PNI to VA-FI provides a more accurate and comprehensive assessment among Veterans hospitalized for HF. Clinicians should consider adding a specific nutrition algorithm to automated frailty tools to improve the validity of risk prediction in patients hospitalized with HF.

Longitudinal Patterns of Multimorbidity in Gulf War Era Veterans With and Without Gulf War Illness

Objectives: To examine whether severe Gulf War illness (SGWI) case status was associated with longitudinal multimorbidity patterns. Methods: Participants were users of the Veteran Health Administration Health Care System drawn from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository (n = 840). Longitudinal measures of multimorbidity were constructed using (1) electronic health records (Charlson Comorbidity Index; Elixhauser; and Veterans Affairs Frailty Index) from 10/1/1999 to 6/30/2023 and (2) self-reported medical conditions (Deficit Accumulation Index) since the war until the survey date. Accelerated failure time models examined SGWI case status as a predictor of time until threshold level of multimorbidity was reached, adjusted for age and sociodemographic and military characteristics. Results: Models, adjusted for covariates, revealed that (1) relative to the SWGI- group, the SGWI+ group was associated with an accelerated time for reaching each threshold and (2) the relationship between SGWI and each threshold was not moderated by age. Discussion: Findings suggest that veterans with SGWI experienced accelerated aging.

Pneumonitis After Chemoradiotherapy and Adjuvant Durvalumab in Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

Adjuvant durvalumab after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is well-tolerated in clinical trials. However, pneumonitis rates outside of clinical trials remain poorly defined with CRT followed by durvalumab. We aimed to describe the influence of durvalumab on pneumonitis rates among a large cohort of patients with stage III NSCLC.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We studied patients with stage III NSCLC in the national Veterans Health Administration from 2015 to 2021 who received concurrent CRT alone or with adjuvant durvalumab. We defined pneumonitis as worsening respiratory symptoms with radiographic changes within 2 years of CRT and graded events according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03. We used Cox regression to analyze risk factors for pneumonitis and the effect of postbaseline pneumonitis on overall survival.

RESULTS

Among 1994 patients (989 CRT alone, 1005 CRT followed by adjuvant durvalumab), the 2-year incidence of grade 2 or higher pneumonitis was 13.9% for CRT alone versus 22.1% for CRT plus durvalumab (unadjusted P < .001). On multivariable analysis, durvalumab was associated with higher risk of grade 2 pneumonitis (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.93; P = .012) but not grade 3 to 5 pneumonitis (P = .2). Grade 3 pneumonitis conferred worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.06-3.05; P < .001) but grade 2 pneumonitis did not (P = .4).

CONCLUSIONS

Adjuvant durvalumab use was associated with increased risk of low-grade but not higher-grade pneumonitis. Reassuringly, low-grade pneumonitis did not increase mortality risk. We observed increased rates of high-grade pneumonitis relative to clinical trials; the reasons for this require further study.

Development and validation of new multimorbidity-weighted index for ICD-10-coded electronic health record and claims data: an observational study

OBJECTIVE

Map multimorbidity-weighted index (MWI) conditions to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), expand the conditions and codes to develop a new ICD-10-coded MWI (MWI-ICD10) and updated MWI-ICD9, and assess their consistency.

DESIGN

Population-based retrospective cohort.

SETTING

Large medical centre between 2013 and 2017.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults ≥18 years old with encounters in each of 4 years (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

MWI conditions mapped to ICD-10 codes, and additional conditions and codes added to produce a new MWI-ICD10 and updated MWI-ICD9. We compared the prevalence of ICD-coded MWI conditions within the ICD-9 era (2013-2014), within the ICD-10 era (2016-2017) and across the ICD-9-ICD-10 transition in 2015 (washout period) among adults present in both sets of comparison years. We computed the prevalence and change in prevalence of conditions when using MWI-ICD10 versus MWI-ICD9.

RESULTS

88 175 adults met inclusion criteria. Participants were 60.8% female, 50.5% white, with mean age 54.7±17.3 years and baseline MWI-ICD9 4.47±6.02 (range 0-64.33). Of 94 conditions, 65 had <1% difference across the ICD-9-ICD-10 transition and similar minimal changes within ICD coding eras.

CONCLUSIONS

MWI-ICD10 captured the prevalence of chronic conditions nearly identically to that of the validated MWI-ICD9, along with notable but explicable changes across the ICD-10 transition. This new comprehensive person-centred index enables quantification of cumulative disease burden and physical functioning in adults as a clinically meaningful measure of multimorbidity in electronic health record and claims data.

Awaiting the verdict: Statins and the road ahead for primary prevention in older adults

This editorial comments on the article by Orkaby et al. in this issue.

New horizons in frailty identification via electronic frailty indices: early implementation lessons from experiences in England and the United States

Frailty represents an integrative prognostic marker of risk that associates with a myriad of age-related adverse outcomes in older adults. As a concept, frailty can help to target scarce resources and identify subgroups of vulnerable older adults that may benefit from interventions or changes in medical management, such as pursing less aggressive glycaemic targets for frail older adults with diabetes. In practice, however, there are several operational challenges to implementing frailty screening outside the confines of geriatric medicine. Electronic frailty indices (eFIs) based on the theory of deficit accumulation, derived from routine data housed in the electronic health record, have emerged as a rapid, feasible and valid approach to screen for frailty at scale. The goal of this paper is to describe the early experience of three diverse groups in developing, implementing and adopting eFIs (The English National Health Service, US Department of Veterans Affairs and Atrium Health-Wake Forest Baptist). These groups span different countries and organisational complexity, using eFIs for both research and clinical care, and represent different levels of progress with clinical implementation. Using an implementation science framework, we describe common elements of successful implementation in these settings and set an agenda for future research and expansion of eFI-informed initiatives.

Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Utilization for the Treatment of Non-hospitalized Adults with COVID-19 in the National Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System

INTRODUCTION

Limited data exist regarding real-world utilization of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. We identified predictors of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use among Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients nationally.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who were eligible to receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir between January and December of 2022, to identify factors associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use (i.e., demographics, medical history, prior medication and healthcare exposures, frailty, and other clinical characteristics) using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

We included 309,755 outpatients with COVID-19 who were eligible for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, of whom 12.2% received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir uptake increased from 1.1% to 23.2% over the study period. Factors associated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir receipt included receiving a COVID-19 booster vs. none (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.19 [95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12-2.26]), age ≥ 50 vs. 18-49 years (aORs > 1.5 for all age groups ≥ 50 years), having HIV (aOR 1.36 [1.22-1.51]), being non-frail vs. severely frail (aOR 1.22 [1.13-1.33]), and having rheumatoid arthritis (aOR 1.12 [1.04-1.21). Those with concomitant use of potentially interacting antiarrhythmics (aOR 0.35 [0.28-0.45]), anticoagulants/antiplatelets (aOR 0.42 [0.40-0.45]), and/or psychiatric/sedatives (aOR 0.84 [0.81-0.87]) were less likely to receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite increases over time, overall utilization of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was low. Predictors of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir utilization were consistent with known risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19, including older age and underlying medical conditions. Unvaccinated and undervaccinated patients and those receiving potentially interacting medications for cardiovascular or mental health conditions (antiarrhythmic, alpha-1 antagonist, anticoagulant/antiplatelet, sedative/hypnotic/psychiatric) were less likely to receive nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Further education of prescribers and patients about nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment guidelines is needed to improve overall uptake and utilization in certain high-risk subpopulations.

Construct validity of the electronic Veterans Affairs Frailty Index against clinician frailty assessment

BACKGROUND

Electronic frailty indices (eFIs) can expand measurement of frailty in research and practice and have demonstrated predictive validity in associations with clinical outcomes. However, their construct validity is less well studied. We aimed to assess the construct validity of the VA-FI, an eFI developed for use in the U.S. Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

METHODS

Veterans who underwent comprehensive geriatric assessments between January 31, 2019 and June 6, 2022 at VA Boston and had sufficient data documented for a comprehensive geriatric assessment-frailty index (CGA-FI) were included. The VA-FI, based on diagnostic and procedural codes, and the CGA-FI, based on geriatrician-measured deficits, were calculated for each patient. Geriatricians also assessed the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), functional status (ADLs and IADLs), and 4-meter gait speed (4MGS).

RESULTS

A total of 132 veterans were included, with median age 81.4 years (IQR 75.8-88.7). Across increasing levels of VA-FI (<0.2; 0.2-0.4; >0.4), mean CGA-FI increased (0.24; 0.30; 0.40). The VA-FI was moderately correlated with the CGA-FI (r 0.45, p < 0.001). Every 0.1-unit increase in the VA-FI was associated with an increase in the CGA-FI (linear regression beta 0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03-0.06), higher CFS category (ordinal regression OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.24-2.30), higher odds of ADL dependency (logistic regression OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.20-2.11), IADL dependency (logistic regression OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.23-2.30), and a decrease in 4MGS (linear regression beta -0.07, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.02). All models were adjusted for age and race, and associations held after further adjustment for the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate the construct validity of the VA-FI through its associations with clinical measures of frailty, including summary frailty measures, functional status, and objective physical performance. Our findings complement others' in showing that eFIs can capture functional and mobility domains of frailty beyond just comorbidity and may be useful to measure frailty among populations and individuals.

Baseline correlates of frailty and its association with survival in United States veterans with acute myeloid leukemia

Frailty is an important construct to measure in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We used the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI) - calculated using readily available data within the VA's electronic health records - to measure frailty in U.S. veterans with AML. Of the 1166 newly diagnosed and treated veterans with AML between 2012 and 2022, 722 (62%) veterans with AML were classified as frail (VA-FI > 0.2). At a median follow-up of 252.5 days, moderate-severely frail veterans had significantly worse survival than mildly frail, and non-frail veterans (median survival 179 vs. 306 vs. 417 days, p < .001). Increasing VA-FI severity was associated with higher mortality. A model with VA-FI in addition to the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) risk classification and other covariates statistically outperformed a model containing the ELN risk and other covariates alone (p < .001). These findings support the VA-FI as a tool to expand frailty measurement in research and clinical practice for informing prognosis in veterans with AML.

Do Home- and Community-Based Services Delay Frailty Onset in Older Adults With Low Care Needs?

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether using adult day services or personal assistance services can delay the onset of frailty among older adults with low care needs during a 5-year follow-up study.

DESIGN

This prospective cohort study was conducted using long-term care and health insurance claims data.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a population-based study of 3 municipalities in Osaka, Japan. Initially, 655 nonfrail or prefrail individuals were included from a cohort of 790 population-based adults aged ≥65 years, who were newly certified as being on a support level of the long-term care insurance program from September 2012 to March 2013.

METHODS

Using long-term care and health insurance claims data from the Southern Osaka Health and Aging Study, conducted between April 2012 and March 2017, monthly usage of adult day and personal assistance services was measured. Data were analyzed from December 2021 to January 2022.

RESULTS

Of the 655 individuals (median age at baseline: 79 years), 436 (66.6%) were female, 388 (59.2%) were nonfrail, and 267 (40.8%) were prefrail, according to the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index. During the 5-year follow-up period, 222 individuals (33.9%) experienced the onset of frailty. The time-dependent Cox regression models showed that using adult day services lowered the risk of frailty when compared with not using such services [hazard ratio (HR) 0.60, 95% CI 0.42-0.86; P = .006], although personal assistance services usage was not associated with the onset of frailty (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48-1.03, P = .07).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Using adult day services lowered the risk of frailty in older adults with low care needs over the 5-year follow-up period. The findings support the value of providing adult day services to prevent frailty for those in need of long-term care.

More intensive therapy as more effective treatment for frail patients with multiple myeloma [corrected]

Although randomized controlled trial data suggest that the more intensive triplet bortezomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (VRd) is superior to the less intensive doublet lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Rd) in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM), guidelines have historically recommended Rd over VRd for patients who are frail and may not tolerate a triplet. We identified 2573 patients (median age, 69.7 years) newly diagnosed with MM who were initiated on VRd (990) or Rd (1583) in the national US Veterans Affairs health care System from 2004 to 2020. We measured frailty using the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index. To reduce imbalance in confounding, we matched patients for MM stage and 1:1 based on a propensity score. Patients who were moderate-severely frail had a higher prevalence of stage III MM and myeloma-related frailty deficits than patients who were not frail. VRd vs Rd was associated with lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70-0.94) in the overall matched population. Patients who were moderate-severely frail demonstrated the strongest association (HR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.97), whereas the association weakened in those who were mildly frail (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.61-1.05) and nonfrail (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.67-1.10). VRd vs Rd was associated with a modestly higher incidence of hospitalizations in the overall population, but this association weakened in patients who were moderate-severely frail. Our findings confirm the benefit of VRd over Rd in US veterans and further suggest that this benefit is strongest in patients with the highest levels of frailty, arguing that more intensive treatment of myeloma may be more effective treatment of frailty itself.

Examining the current health of Gulf War veterans with the veterans affairs frailty index

Introduction

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multisymptom (e.g., fatigue, muscle/joint pain, memory and concentration difficulties) condition estimated to affect 25-32% of Gulf War (GW) veterans. Longitudinal studies suggest that few veterans with GWI have recovered over time and that deployed GW veterans may be at increased risks for age-related conditions.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study to examine the current health status of 703 GW veterans who participated in research studies at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) between 2002 and 2018. We used the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI) as a proxy measure of current health and compared the VA-FIs of GW veterans to a group of randomly selected age- and sex-matched, non-GW veterans. We also examined GW veterans' VA-FIs as a function of different GWI case definitions and in relationship to deployment-related experiences and exposures.

Results

Compared to matched, non-GW veterans, GW veterans had lower VA-FIs (0.10 ± 0.10 vs. 0.12 ± 0.11, p < 0.01). However, the subset of GW veterans who met criteria for severe Chronic Multisymptom Illness (CMI) at the time of the SFVAHCS studies had the highest VA-FI (0.13 ± 0.10, p < 0.001). GW veterans who had Kansas GWI exclusionary conditions had higher VA-FI (0.12 ± 0.12, p < 0.05) than veterans who were Kansas GWI cases (0.08 ± 0.08) and controls (i.e., veterans with little or no symptoms, 0.04 ± 0.06) at the time of the SFVAHCS research studies. The VA-FI was positively correlated with several GW deployment-related exposures, including the frequency of wearing flea collars.

Discussion

Although GW veterans, as a group, were less frail than non-GW veterans, the subset of GW veterans who met criteria for severe CDC CMI and/or who had Kansas GWI exclusionary conditions at the time of the SFVAHCS research studies were frailest at index date. This suggests that many ongoing studies of GWI that use the Kansas GWI criteria may not be capturing the group of GW veterans who are most at risk for adverse chronic health outcomes.

Preoperative frailty and adverse outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery in US veterans

BACKGROUND

Contemporary guidelines emphasize the value of incorporating frailty into clinical decision-making regarding revascularization strategies for coronary artery disease. Yet, there are limited data describing the association between frailty and longer-term mortality among coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study (2016-2020, 40 VA medical centers) of US veterans nationwide that underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Frailty was quantified by the Veterans Administration Frailty Index (VA-FI), which applies the cumulative deficit method to render a proportion of 30 pertinent diagnosis codes. Patients were classified as non-frail (VA-FI ≤ 0.1), pre-frail (0.1 < VA-FI ≤ 0.2), or frail (VA-FI > 0.2). We used Cox proportional hazards models to ascertain the association of frailty with all-cause mortality. Our primary study outcome was 5-year all-cause mortality; the co-primary outcome was days alive and out of the hospital within the first postoperative year.

RESULTS

There were 13,554 CABG patients (median 69 years, 79% White, 1.5% women). The mean pre-operative VA-FI was 0.21 (SD: 0.11); 31% were pre-frail (VA-FI: 0.17) and 47% were frail (VA-FI: 0.31). Frail patients were older and had higher co-morbidity burdens than pre-frail and non-frail patients. Compared with non-frail patients (13.0% [11.4, 14.7]), there was a significant association between frail and pre-frail patients and increased cumulative 5-year all-cause mortality (frail: 24.8% [23.3, 26.1]; HR: 1.75 [95% CI 1.54, 2.00]; pre-frail 16.8% [95% CI 15.3, 18.4]; HR 1.2 [1.08,1.34]). Compared with non-frail patients (mean 362[SD 12]), pre-frail (mean 361 [SD 14]; p < 0.01) and frail patients (mean 358[SD 18]; p < 0.01) spent fewer days alive and out of the hospital in the first postoperative year.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-frailty and frailty were prevalent among US veterans undergoing CABG and associated with worse mid-term outcomes. Given the high prevalence of frailty with attendant adverse outcomes, there may be an opportunity to improve outcomes by identifying and mitigating frailty before surgery.

Clinical Outcomes of Intensive Inpatient Blood Pressure Management in Hospitalized Older Adults

Importance

Asymptomatic blood pressure (BP) elevations are common in hospitalized older adults, and widespread heterogeneity in the clinical management of elevated inpatient BPs exists.

Objective

To examine the association of intensive treatment of elevated inpatient BPs with in-hospital clinical outcomes of older adults hospitalized for noncardiac conditions.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study examined Veterans Health Administration data between October 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017, for patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized for noncardiovascular diagnoses and who experienced elevated BPs in the first 48 hours of hospitalization.

Interventions

Intensive BP treatment following the first 48 hours of hospitalization, defined as receipt of intravenous antihypertensives or oral classes not used prior to admission.

Main Outcome and Measures

The primary outcome was a composite of inpatient mortality, intensive care unit transfer, stroke, acute kidney injury, B-type natriuretic peptide elevation, and troponin elevation. Data were analyzed between October 1, 2021, and January 10, 2023, with propensity score overlap weighting used to adjust for confounding between those who did and did not receive early intensive treatment.

Results

Among 66 140 included patients (mean [SD] age, 74.4 [8.1] years; 97.5% male and 2.6% female; 17.4% Black, 1.7% Hispanic, and 75.9% White), 14 084 (21.3%) received intensive BP treatment in the first 48 hours of hospitalization. Patients who received early intensive treatment vs those who did not continued to receive a greater number of additional antihypertensives during the remainder of their hospitalization (mean additional doses, 6.1 [95% CI, 5.8-6.4] vs 1.6 [95% CI, 1.5-1.8], respectively). Intensive treatment was associated with a greater risk of the primary composite outcome (1220 [8.7%] vs 3570 [6.9%]; weighted odds ratio [OR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.18-1.39), with the highest risk among patients receiving intravenous antihypertensives (weighted OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.65-2.19). Intensively treated patients were more likely to experience each component of the composite outcome except for stroke and mortality. Findings were consistent across subgroups stratified by age, frailty, preadmission BP, early hospitalization BP, and cardiovascular disease history.

Conclusions and Relevance

The study's findings indicate that among hospitalized older adults with elevated BPs, intensive pharmacologic antihypertensive treatment was associated with a greater risk of adverse events. These findings do not support the treatment of elevated inpatient BPs without evidence of end organ damage, and they highlight the need for randomized clinical trials of inpatient BP treatment targets.

Heart-Brain 346-7 Score: the development and validation of a simple mortality prediction score for carbon monoxide poisoning utilizing deep learning

INTRODUCTION

Acute mortality from carbon monoxide poisoning is 1-3%. The long-term mortality risk of survivors of carbon monoxide poisoning is doubled compared to age-matched controls. Cardiac involvement also increases mortality risk. We built a clinical risk score to identify carbon monoxide-poisoned patients at risk for acute and long-term mortality.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis. We identified 811 adult carbon monoxide-poisoned patients in the derivation cohort, and 462 adult patients in the validation cohort. We utilized baseline demographics, laboratory values, hospital charge transactions, discharge disposition, and clinical charting information in the electronic medical record in Stepwise Akaike's Information Criteria with Firth logistic regression to determine optimal parameters to create a prediction model.

RESULTS

In the derivation cohort, 5% had inpatient or 1-year mortality. Three variables following the final Firth logistic regression minimized Stepwise Akaike's Information Criteria: altered mental status, age, and cardiac complications. The following predict inpatient or 1-year mortality: age > 67, age > 37 with cardiac complications, age > 47 with altered mental status, or any age with cardiac complications and altered mental status. The sensitivity of the score was 82% (95% confidence interval: 65-92%), the specificity was 80% (95% confidence interval: 77-83%), negative predictive value was 99% (95% confidence interval: 98-100%), positive predictive value 17% (95% confidence interval: 12-23%), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.74-0.87). A score above the cut-off point of -2.9 was associated with an odds ratio of 18 (95% confidence interval: 8-40). In the validation cohort (462 patients), 4% had inpatient death or 1-year mortality. The score performed similarly in the validation cohort: sensitivity was 72% (95% confidence interval: 47-90%), specificity was 69% (95% confidence interval: 63-73%), negative predictive value was 98% (95% confidence interval: 96-99%), positive predictive value was 9% (95% confidence interval: 5-15%) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 60%-81%).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated a simple, clinical-based scoring system, the Heart-Brain 346-7 Score to predict inpatient and long-term mortality based on the following: age > 67, age > 37 with cardiac complications, age > 47 with altered mental status, or any age with cardiac complications and altered mental status. With further validation, this score will hopefully aid decision-making to identify carbon monoxide-poisoned patients with higher mortality risk.

Frailty predicts referral for elder abuse evaluation in a nationwide healthcare system-Results from a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Elder abuse (EA) is common and has devastating health impacts. Frailty may increase susceptibility to and consequences of EA for older adults, making healthcare system detection more likely, but this relationship has been difficult to study. We examined the association between a recently validated frailty index and referral to social work (SW) for EA evaluation in the Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare system.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study of veterans aged ≥60 years evaluated by SW for suspected EA between 2010 and 2018 (n = 14,723) and controls receiving VA primary care services in the same 60-day window (n = 58,369). We used VA and Medicare claims data to measure frailty (VA Frailty Index) and comorbidity burden (the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index) in the 2 years prior to the index. We used adjusted logistic regression models to examine the association of frailty or comorbidity burden with referral to SW for EA evaluation. We used Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) values to evaluate model fit and likelihood ratio (LR) tests to assess the statistical significance of including frailty and comorbidity in the same model.

RESULTS

The sample (n = 73,092) had a mean age 72 years; 14% were Black, and 6% were Hispanic. More cases (67%) than controls (36%) were frail. LR tests comparing the nested models were highly significant (p < 0.001), and AIC values indicated superior model fit when including both frailty and comorbidity in the same model. In a model adjusting for comorbidity and all covariates, pre-frailty (aOR vs. robust 1.7; 95% CI 1.5-1.8) and frailty (aOR vs. robust 3.6; 95% CI 3.3-3.9) were independently associated with referral for EA evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

A claims-based measure of frailty predicted referral to SW for EA evaluation in a national healthcare system, independent of comorbidity burden. Electronic health record measures of frailty may facilitate EA risk assessment and detection for this important but under-recognized phenomenon.

Frailty Trends in an Older Veteran Subpopulation 1 Year Prior and Into the COVID-19 Pandemic Using CAN Scores

Background

We studied the effects of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on frailty trends in a subset of older veterans at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Methods

We identified 3538 and 6103 veterans aged 70 to 75 years as of February 8, 2019, with a calculated Care Assessment Need (CAN) score of ≥ 75 for 1-year mortality and hospitalization, respectively. After excluding veterans with insufficient 2020 and 2021 data, we compared the difference in 1-year mortality and hospitalization CAN scores from 2019 to 2020 with 2020 to 2021 using a paired t test.

Results

The difference in mean (SD) 1-year mortality CAN scores from 2020 to 2021 was 0.2 (13.4) when compared with the previous year's -4.9 (12.5) (P < .0001), indicating increased frailty. The difference in 1-year hospitalization CAN scores from 2020 to 2021 was -1.5 (12.0) when compared with the previous year's -2.8 (9.9) (P < .0001).

Conclusions

Frailty in our veteran subpopulation as calculated by 1-year mortality CAN scores increased in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic when compared with a recovering trend the previous year.

Frailty and survival among veterans treated with abiraterone or enzalutamide for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Abiraterone and enzalutamide are treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Due to a lack of head-to-head trials, they are prescribed interchangeably. However, the drugs have different pharmacokinetics and thus may have differing efficacy and adverse effects influenced by patient functional status and comorbid diseases. Additionally, mCRPC mainly affects older adults and since the prevalence of frailty increases with age, frailty is an important patient factor to consider in personalizing drug selection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study of US veterans treated with abiraterone or enzalutamide for mCRPC from September 2014 to June 2017. Frailty was assessed using the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI), which utilizes administrative codes to assign a standardized frailty score. Patients were categorized as frail if VA-FI scores were > 0.2. The primary outcome was difference in overall survival (OS) between the two treatment groups. Cox regression modeling and propensity score matching was used to compare between abiraterone and enzalutamide treatments.

RESULTS

We identified 5,822 veterans, 57% of whom were initially treated with abiraterone and 43% with enzalutamide. Frail patients (n = 2,314; 39.7%) were older, with a mean age of 76.1 versus 74.9 years in the non-frail group (n = 3,508; 60.3%, p < 0.001) and had shorter OS compared to non-frail patients regardless of treatment group (18.5 vs. 26.6 months, p < 0.001). Among non-frail patients there was no significant difference in OS between abiraterone and enzalutamide treatment (27.7 vs 26.1 months, p = 0.07). However, frail patients treated with enzalutamide versus abiraterone had improved OS (20.7 vs 17.2 months, p < 0.001). In a propensity score matched analysis of frail patients (n = 2,070), enzalutamide was associated with greater median OS (24.1 vs 20.9 months, p < 0.001). In patients with dementia, enzalutamide was associated with longer OS (19.4 vs. 16.6 months, p = 0.003).

DISCUSSION

In this study of 5822 US veterans with mCRPC, treatment with enzalutamide was associated with improved OS compared to abiraterone among frail veterans and veterans with dementia, but not among non-frail veterans. Future studies should evaluate interactions between frailty and cancer treatments to optimize selection of therapy among frail adults.

Dynamic frailty risk assessment among older adults with multiple myeloma: A population-based cohort study

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of older adults and those who are more frail are at high risk of poor outcomes. Current tools for identifying and categorizing frail patients are often static and measured only at the time of diagnosis. The concept of dynamic frailty (i.e. frailty changing over time) is largely unexplored in MM. In our study, adults with newly-diagnosed MM who received novel drugs between the years 2007-2014 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked databases. Using a previously published cumulative deficit approach, a frailty index score was calculated at diagnosis and each landmark interval (1-yr, 2-yr, 3-yr post diagnosis). The association of frailty with overall survival (OS) both at baseline and at each landmark interval as well as factors associated with worsening frailty status over time were evaluated. Overall, 4617 patients were included. At baseline, 39% of the patients were categorized as moderately frail or severely frail. Among those who had 3 years of follow-up, frailty categorization changed post diagnosis in 93% of the cohort (78% improved and 72% deteriorated at least at one time point during the follow up period). In a landmark analysis, the predictive ability of frailty at the time of diagnosis decreased over time for OS (Harrell's C Statistic 0.65 at diagnosis, 0.63 at 1-yr, 0.62 at 2-yr, and 0.60 at 3-yr) and was inferior compared to current frailty status at each landmark interval. Our study is one of the first to demonstrate the dynamic nature of frailty among older adults with MM. Frailty may improve or deteriorate over time. Current frailty status is a better predictor of outcomes than frailty status at time of diagnosis, indicating the need for re-measurement in this high-risk patient population.

Population-based discovery and Mendelian randomization analysis identify telmisartan as a candidate medicine for Alzheimer's disease in African Americans

INTRODUCTION

African Americans (AAs) and European Americans (EAs) differ in Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevalence, risk factors, and symptomatic presentation and AAs are less likely to enroll in AD clinical trials.

METHODS

We conducted race-conscious pharmacoepidemiologic studies of 5.62 million older individuals (age ≥60) to investigate the association of telmisartan exposure and AD outcome using Cox analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and log-rank test. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of large ethnically diverse genetic data to test likely causal relationships between telmisartan's target and AD.

RESULTS

We identified that moderate/high telmisartan exposure was significantly associated with a reduced incidence of AD in the AAs compared to low/no telmisartan exposure (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.91, p-value = 0.0022), but not in the non-Hispanic EAs (HR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.89-1.05, p-value = 0.4110). Sensitivity and sex-/age-stratified patient subgroup analyses identified that telmisartan's medication possession ratio (MPR) and average hypertension daily dosage were significantly associated with a stronger reduction in the incidence of both AD and dementia in AAs. Using MR analysis from large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (over 2 million individuals) across AD, hypertension, and diabetes, we further identified AA-specific beneficial effects of telmisartan for AD.

DISCUSSION

Randomized controlled trials with ethnically diverse patient cohorts are warranted to establish causality and therapeutic outcomes of telmisartan and AD.

HIGHLIGHTS

Telmisartan is associated with lower risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in African Americans (AAs). Telmisartan is the only angiotensin II receptor blockers having PPAR-γ agonistic properties with beneficial anti-diabetic and renal function effects, which mitigate AD risk in AAs. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis demonstrates the specificity of telmisartan's protective mechanism to AAs.

Residing in a Food Desert and Adverse Cardiovascular Events in US Veterans With Established Cardiovascular Disease

Residents living in a "food desert" are known to be at a higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, national-level data regarding the influence of residing in a food desert in patients with established CVD is lacking. Data from veterans with established atherosclerotic CVD who received outpatient care in the Veterans Health Administration system between January 2016 and December 2021 were obtained, with follow-up information collected until May 2022 (median follow-up: 4.3 years). A food desert was defined using the United States Department of Agriculture criteria, and census tract data were used to identify Veterans in these areas. All-cause mortality and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; a composite of myocardial infarction/stroke/heart failure/all-cause mortality) were evaluated as the co-primary end points. The relative risk for MACE in food desert areas was evaluated by fitting multivariable Cox models adjusted for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and median household income, with food desert status as the primary exposure. Of the 1,640,346 patients (mean age 72 years, women 2.7%, White 77.7%, Hispanic 3.4%), 25,7814 (15.7%) belonged to the food desert group. Patients residing in food deserts were younger; more likely to be Black (22% vs 13%)or Hispanic (4% vs 3.5%); and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (52.7% vs 49.8%), chronic kidney disease (31.8% vs 30.4%,) and heart failure (25.6% vs 23.8%). Adjusted for covariates, food desert patients had a higher risk of MACE (hazard ratio 1.040 [1.033 to 1.047]; p <0.001) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.032 [1.024 to 1.039]; p <0.001). In conclusion, we observed that a large proportion of US veterans with established atherosclerotic CVD reside in food desert census tracts. Adjusting for age, gender, race, and ethnicity, residing in food deserts was associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiac events and all-cause mortality.

Utilization and Outcomes of Clinically Indicated Invasive Cardiac Care in Veterans with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Chronic Kidney Disease

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Of studies reporting an association of CKD with lower use of invasive cardiac care to treat acute coronary syndrome (ACS), just one accounted for the appropriateness of such care. However, its findings in patients hospitalized nearly 30 years ago may not apply to current practice. In a more recent cohort of 64,695 veterans hospitalized with ACS, CKD was associated with a 32% lower likelihood of receiving invasive care determined to be clinically indicated. Among patients with CKD, not receiving such care was associated with a 1.39-fold higher risk of 6-month mortality. Efforts to elucidate the reasons for this disparity in invasive care in patients with ACS and CKD and implement tailored interventions to enhance its use in this population may offer the potential to improve clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that patients with CKD are less likely than those without CKD to receive invasive care to treat acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, few studies have accounted for whether such care was clinically indicated or assessed whether nonuse of such care was associated with adverse health outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of US veterans who were hospitalized at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers from January 2013 through December 2017 and received a discharge diagnosis of ACS. We used multivariable logistic regression to investigate the association of CKD with use of invasive care (coronary angiography, with or without revascularization; coronary artery bypass graft surgery; or both) deemed clinically indicated based on Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events 2.0 risk scores that denoted a 6-month predicted all-cause mortality ≥5%. Using propensity scoring and inverse probability weighting, we examined the association of nonuse of clinically indicated invasive care with 6-month all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Among 34,430 patients with a clinical indication for invasive care, the 18,780 patients with CKD were less likely than the 15,650 without CKD to receive such care (adjusted odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 0.72). Among patients with CKD, nonuse of invasive care was associated with higher risk of 6-month all-cause mortality (absolute risk, 21.5% versus 15.5%; absolute risk difference 6.0%; adjusted risk ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.29 to 1.49). Findings were consistent across multiple sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

In contemporary practice, veterans with CKD who experience ACS are less likely than those without CKD to receive clinically indicated invasive cardiac care. Nonuse of such care is associated with increased mortality.

Developing a Parsimonious Frailty Index for Older, Multimorbid Adults With Heart Failure Using Machine Learning

Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF). A parsimonious frailty index (FI) that predicts outcomes of older, multimorbid patients with HF could be a useful resource for clinicians. A retrospective study of veterans hospitalized from October 2015 to October 2018 with HF, aged ≥50 years, and discharged home developed a 10-item parsimonious FI using machine learning from diagnostic codes, laboratory results, vital signs, and ejection fraction (EF) from outpatient encounters. An unsupervised clustering technique identified 5 FI strata: severely frail, moderately frail, mildly frail, prefrail, and robust. We report hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality, adjusting for age, gender, race, and EF and odds ratios (ORs) for 30-day and 1-year emergency department visits and all-cause hospitalizations after discharge. We identified 37,431 veterans (age, 73 ± 10 years; co-morbidity index, 5 ± 3; 43.5% with EF ≤40%). All frailty groups had a higher mortality than the robust group: severely frail (HR 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.42 to 2.86), moderately frail (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.87 to 2.22), mildly frail (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.74), and prefrail (HR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.29). The associations between frailty and mortality remained unchanged in the stratified analysis by age or EF. The combined (severely, moderately, and mildly) frail group had higher odds of 30-day emergency visits (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.83), all-cause readmission (OR, 1.75, 95% CI 1.52 to 2.02), 1-year emergency visits (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.53 to 1.89), rehospitalization (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.97 to 2.41) than the robust group. In conclusion, a 10-item FI is associated with postdischarge outcomes among patients discharged home after a hospitalization for HF. A parsimonious FI may aid clinical prediction at the point of care.

Neither Race nor Ethnicity Impact the Mortality of Residents of Veterans Affairs Community Living Center With COVID-19

OBJECTIVES

COVID-19 disproportionately affected nursing home residents and people from racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Nursing homes in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system, termed Community Living Centers (CLCs), belong to a national managed care system. In the period prior to the availability of vaccines, we examined whether residents from racial and ethnic minorities experienced disparities in COVID-19 related mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Residents at 134 VA CLCs from April 14 to December 10, 2020.

METHODS

We used the VA Corporate Data Warehouse to identify VA CLC residents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test during or 2 days prior to their admission and without a prior case of COVID-19. We assessed age, self-reported race/ethnicity, frailty, chronic medical conditions, Charlson comorbidity index, the annual quarter of the infection, and all-cause 30-day mortality. We estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of all-cause 30-day mortality using a mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS

During the study period, 1133 CLC residents had an index positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Mortality at 30 days was 23% for White non-Hispanic residents, 15% for Black non-Hispanic residents, 10% for Hispanic residents, and 16% for other residents. Factors associated with increased 30-day mortality were age ≥70 years, Charlson comorbidity index ≥6, and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test between April 14 and June 30, 2020. Frailty, Black race, and Hispanic ethnicity were not independently associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Among a national cohort of VA CLC residents with COVID-19, neither Black race nor Hispanic ethnicity had a negative impact on survival. Further research is needed to determine factors within the VA health care system that mitigate the influence of systemic racism on COVID-19 outcomes in US nursing homes.

Sentiment analysis of medical record notes for lung cancer patients at the Department of Veterans Affairs

Natural language processing of medical records offers tremendous potential to improve the patient experience. Sentiment analysis of clinical notes has been performed with mixed results, often highlighting the issue that dictionary ratings are not domain specific. Here, for the first time, we re-calibrate the labMT sentiment dictionary on 3.5M clinical notes describing 10,000 patients diagnosed with lung cancer at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The sentiment score of notes was calculated for two years after date of diagnosis and evaluated against a lab test (platelet count) and a combination of data points (treatments). We found that the oncology specific labMT dictionary, after re-calibration for the clinical oncology domain, produces a promising signal in notes that can be detected based on a comparative analysis to the aforementioned parameters.

Prescription Patterns of Cardiovascular- and Kidney-Protective Therapies Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence and correlates of prescription of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and/or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional analyses of SGLT2i and GLP1-RA prescriptions from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020 in the Veterans Health Administration System. The likelihood of prescriptions was examined by the presence or absence of CKD and by predicted risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

RESULTS

Of 1,197,880 adults with T2DM, SGLT2i and GLP1-RA were prescribed to 11% and 8% of patients overall, and to 12% and 10% of those with concomitant CKD, respectively. In adjusted models, patients with severe albuminuria were less likely to be prescribed SGLT2i or GLP1-RA versus nonalbuminuric patients with CKD, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.91 (95% CI 0.89, 0.93) and 0.97 (0.94, 1.00), respectively. Patients with a 10-year ASCVD risk >20% (vs. <5%), had lower odds of SGLT2i use (OR 0.66 [0.61, 0.71]) and GLP1-RA prescription (OR 0.55 [0.52, 0.59]). A 5-year ESKD risk >5%, compared with <1%, was associated with lower likelihood of SGLT2i prescription (OR 0.63 [0.59, 0.67]) but higher likelihood of GLP1-RA prescription (OR 1.53 [1.46, 1.61]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among a large cohort of patients with T2DM, prescription of SGLT2i and GLP1-RA was low in those with CKD. We observed a "risk-treatment paradox," whereby patients with higher risk of adverse outcomes were less likely to receive these therapies.

Performance of EHR classifiers for patient eligibility in a clinical trial of precision screening

BACKGROUND

Validated computable eligibility criteria use real-world data and facilitate the conduct of clinical trials. The Genomic Medicine at VA (GenoVA) Study is a pragmatic trial of polygenic risk score testing enrolling patients without known diagnoses of 6 common diseases: atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer. We describe the validation of computable disease classifiers as eligibility criteria and their performance in the first 16 months of trial enrollment.

METHODS

We identified well-performing published computable classifiers for the 6 target diseases and validated these in the target population using blinded physician review. If needed, classifiers were refined and then underwent a subsequent round of blinded review until true positive and true negative rates ≥80% were achieved. The optimized classifiers were then implemented as pre-screening exclusion criteria; telephone screens enabled an assessment of their real-world negative predictive value (NPV-RW).

RESULTS

Published classifiers for type 2 diabetes and breast and prostate cancer achieved desired performance in blinded chart review without modification; the classifier for atrial fibrillation required two rounds of refinement before achieving desired performance. Among the 1077 potential participants screened in the first 16 months of enrollment, NPV-RW of the classifiers ranged from 98.4% for coronary artery disease to 99.9% for colorectal cancer. Performance did not differ by gender or race/ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Computable disease classifiers can serve as efficient and accurate pre-screening classifiers for clinical trials, although performance will depend on the trial objectives and diseases under study.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation and death in veterans according to frailty status during the SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant surge in the USA: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccination is effective at preventing infection and death in older populations. However, whether vaccination effectiveness is reduced in patients with frailty is unclear. We aimed to compare vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation and death after COVID-19 during the surge of the delta (B.1.617.2) variant of SARS-CoV-2 according to patients' frailty status.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we used data derived from the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) COVID-19 Shared Data Resource, which contains information from the VA National Surveillance Tool, death certificates, and National Cemetery Administration. We included veterans aged 19 years or older who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR or antigen tests between July 25 and Sept 30, 2021, with no record of a previous positive test. Deaths were identified through VHA facilities, death certificates, and National Cemetery Administration data available from VA databases. We also retrieved data including sociodemographic characteristics, medical conditions diagnosed at baseline, frailty score, and vaccination information. The primary outcomes were COVID-19-associated hospitalisations and all-cause deaths at 30 days from testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. The odds ratio (OR) for COVID-19-associated hospitalisation and hazard ratio (HR) for death of vaccinated patients compared with the unvaccinated patients were estimated according to frailty categories of robust, pre-frail, or frail. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated as 1 minus the OR for COVID-19-associated hospitalisation, and 1 minus the HR for death.

Findings

We identified 57 784 veterans (mean age 57·5 years [SD 16·7], 50 642 [87·6%] males, and 40 743 [70·5%] White people), of whom 28 497 (49·3%) were categorised as robust, 16 737 (29·0%) as pre-frail, and 12 550 (21·7%) as frail. There were 2577 all-cause deaths (676 [26·2%] in the vaccinated group and 1901 [73·8%] in the unvaccinated group), and 7857 COVID-19-associated hospitalisations (2749 [35·0%] in the vaccinated group and 5108 [65·0%] in the unvaccinated group) within 30 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-associated hospitalisation within 30 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test was 65% (95% CI 61-69) in the robust group, 54% (48-58) in the pre-frail group, and 36% (30-42) in the frail group. By 30 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, the vaccine effectiveness for all-cause death was 79% (95% CI 74-84) in the robust group, 79% (75-83) in the pre-frail group, and 68% (63-71) in the frail group.

Interpretation

Compared with non-frail patients (pre-frail and robust), those with frailty had lower levels of vaccination protection against COVID-19-associated hospitalisation and all-cause death. Future studies investigating COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness should incorporate frailty assessments and actively recruit older adults with frailty.

Funding

Miami VA Healthcare System Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center.

Higher dietary diversity and better healthy aging: A 4-year study of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between dietary diversity and healthy aging (in terms of mobility performance, physical functions, cognitive functions, and depressive symptoms) among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults by using a nationally representative population-based cohort study.

METHODS

Data from 3213 study participants in the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA) were retrieved for analysis, and all participants were divided into five groups according to the quintile of dietary variety scores (DVSs). In the 4-year follow-up study, multivariate logistic regression models were applied to investigate the associations between DVS subgroups and declines in mobility performance, physical function (activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)), cognitive function and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

In this study, the DVS quintile identified people who were significantly vulnerable in diet quality. Among those in the lowest DVS quintile, the proportions consuming seafood, eggs, and beans/legumes per week were 0.3 %, 7.8 % and 12.6 %, respectively, while among those in the highest DVS quintile, the proportions were 40.2 %, 83.1 %, and 82.7 %, respectively. "Inverse" dose-response associations were observed between the DVS and the risks of decline in mobility performance, physical function (ADLs and IADLs), cognitive function, and depressive symptoms. These risks decreased with the higher DVS quintile group as compared to the lowest DVS quintile group. Even after adjustments for demographics, health behaviors (e.g., physical activity) and comorbidities, participants in the highest DVS quintile group were still associated with the lowest risk of decline in ADLs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.59 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.94], p < 0.05) and IADLs (aOR 0.53 [0.39-0.73], p < 0.01). However, no such association was observed in the risk of worsened mobility performance, cognitive function and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, higher dietary diversity has protective effects in declines in multidimensional outcomes associated with healthy aging, particularly physical (ADL and IADL) functions, among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Intervention studies are needed to confirm the causal relationships between dietary diversity and healthy aging.

The association of a frailty index from laboratory tests and vital signs with clinical outcomes in hospitalized older adults

BACKGROUND

Frailty, a state of vulnerability to stressors resulting from loss of physiological reserve due to multisystemic dysfunction, is common among hospitalized older adults. Hospital clinicians need objective and practical instruments that identify older adults with frailty. The FI-LAB is based on laboratory values and vital signs and may capture biological changes of frailty that predispose hospitalized older adults to complications. The study's aim was to assess the association of the FI-LAB versus VA-FI with hospital and post-hospital clinical outcomes in older adults.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study was conducted on Veterans aged ≥60 admitted to a VA hospital. We identified acute hospitalizations January 2011-December-2014 with 1-year follow-up. A 31-item FI-LAB was created from blood laboratory tests and vital signs collected within the first 48 h of admission and scores were categorized as low (<0.25), moderate (0.25-0.40), and high (>0.40). For each FI-LAB group, we obtained odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) for hospital and post-hospital outcomes using multivariate binomial logistic regression. Additionally, we calculated hazard ratios (HR) and CI for all-cause in-hospital mortality comparing the high and moderate FI-LAB group with the low group.

RESULTS

Patients were 1407 Veterans, mean age 72.7 (SD = 9.0), 67.8% Caucasian, 96.1% males, 47.0% (n = 661), 41.0% (n = 577), and 12.0% (n = 169) were in the low, moderate, and high FI-LAB groups, respectively. Moderate and high scores were associated with prolonged LOS, OR:1.62 (95% CI:1.29-2.03); and 3.36 (95% CI:2.27-4.99), ICU admission, OR:1.40 (95% CI:1.03-1.90); and OR:2.00 (95% CI:1.33-3.02), nursing home placement OR:2.36 (95% CI:1.26-4.44); and 5.99 (95% CI:2.83-12.70), 30-day readmissions OR:1.74 (95% CI:1.20-2.52); and 2.20 (95% CI:1.30-3.74), 30-day mortality OR: 2.51 (95% CI:1.01-6.23); and 8.97 (95% CI:3.42-23.53), 6-month mortality OR:3.00 (95% CI:1.90-4.74); and 6.16 (95% CI:3.55-10.71), and 1-year mortality OR: 2.66 (95% CI:1.87-3.79); and 4.76 (95% CI:3.00-7.54) respectively. The high FI-LAB group showed higher risk of in-hospital mortality, HR:18.17 (95% CI:4.01-80.52) with an area-under-the-curve of 0.843 (95% CI:0.75-0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

High and moderate FI-LAB scores were associated with worse in-hospital and post-hospital outcomes. The FI-LAB may identify hospitalized older patients with frailty at higher risk and assist clinicians in implementing strategies to improve outcomes.

Prognostic value of the veterans affairs frailty index in older patients with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Older patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are a heterogeneous population with varying degrees of frailty. An electronic frailty index such as the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI) can potentially help identify vulnerable patients at high risk of poor outcomes.

METHODS

NSCLC patients ≥65 years old and diagnosed in 2002-2017 were identified using the VA Central Cancer Registry. The VA-FI was calculated using administrative codes from VA electronic health records data linked with Medicare and Medicaid data. We assessed associations between the VA-FI and times to mortality, hospitalization, and emergency room (ER) visit following diagnosis by Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable stratified Cox models. We also evaluated the change in discrimination and calibration of reference prognostic models after adding VA-FI.

RESULTS

We identified a cohort of 42,204 older NSCLC VA patients, in which 55.5% were classified as frail (VA-FI >0.2). After adjustment, there was a strong association between VA-FI and the risk of mortality (HR = 1.23 for an increase of four deficits or, equivalently, an increase of 0.129 on VA-FI, p < 0.001), hospitalization (HR = 1.16 for four deficits, p < 0.001), and ER visit (HR = 1.18 for four deficits, p < 0.001). Adding VA-FI to baseline prognostic models led to statistically significant improvements in time-dependent area under curves and did not have a strong impact on calibration.

CONCLUSION

Older NSCLC patients with higher VA-FI have significantly elevated risks of mortality, hospitalizations, and ER visits following diagnosis. An electronic frailty index can serve as an accessible tool to identify patients with vulnerabilities to inform clinical care and research.

Treating advanced lung cancer in older veterans with comorbid conditions and frailty

Advanced lung cancer is a deadly malignancy that is a common cause of death among Veterans. Significant advancements in lung cancer therapeutics have been made over the past decade and survival outcomes have improved. The Veteran population is older, has more medical comorbidities and frailty compared to the general population. These factors must be accounted for when evaluating patients for treatment and selecting treatment options. This article explores the impact of these important issues in the management of advanced lung cancer. Recent clinical trials leading to the approval of modern therapies will be outlined and treatment outcomes specific to older patients discussed. The impact of key comorbidities that are common in Veterans and their impact on lung cancer treatment will be reviewed. There is no gold standard frailty index for assessment of frailty in patients with advanced lung cancer and the ability to predict tolerability and benefit from systemic therapies. Currently available systemic therapies are associated with higher risk of adverse events and lower potential for clinically meaningful improvement in outcomes. Future research needs to focus on designing better frailty indices and developing novel therapies that are safer and more effective therapies for frail patients, who constitute a considerable proportion of individuals diagnosed with lung cancer.

Identifying Frail Patients by Using Electronic Health Records in Primary Care: Current Status and Future Directions

With the rapidly aging population, frailty, characterized by an increased risk of adverse outcomes, has become a major public health problem globally. Several frailty guidelines or consensuses recommend screening for frailty, especially in primary care settings. However, most of the frailty assessment tools are based on questionnaires or physical examinations, adding to the clinical workload, which is the major obstacle to converting frailty research into clinical practice. Medical data naturally generated by routine clinical work containing frailty indicators are stored in electronic health records (EHRs) (also called electronic health record (EHR) data), which provide resources and possibilities for frailty assessment. We reviewed several frailty assessment tools based on primary care EHRs and summarized the features and novel usage of these tools, as well as challenges and trends. Further research is needed to develop and validate frailty assessment tools based on EHRs in primary care in other parts of the world.

30-day Mortality Following COVID-19 and Influenza Hospitalization Among US Veterans Aged 65 and Older

Background

COVID‐19 and influenza are important sources of morbidity and mortality among older adults. Understanding how outcomes differ for older adults hospitalized with either infection is important for improving care. We compared outcomes from infection with COVID‐19 and influenza among hospitalized older adults.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 30‐day mortality among veterans aged 65+ hospitalized with COVID‐19 from March 1, 2020–December 31, 2020 or with influenza A/B from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2019 in Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS). COVID‐19 infection was determined by a positive PCR test and influenza by tests used in the VA system. Frailty was defined by the claims‐based Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA‐FI). Logistic regressions of mortality on frailty, age, and infection were adjusted for multiple confounders.

Results

A total of 15,474 veterans were admitted with COVID‐19 and 7867 with influenza. Mean (SD) ages were 76.1 (7.8) and 75.8 (8.3) years, 97.7% and 97.4% were male, and 66.9% and 76.4% were white in the COVID‐19 and influenza cohorts respectively. Crude 30‐day mortality (95% CI) was 18.9% (18.3%–19.5%) for COVID‐19 and 4.3% (3.8%–4.7%) for influenza.

Combining cohorts, the odds ratio for 30‐day mortality from COVID‐19 (versus influenza) was 6.61 (5.74–7.65). There was a statistically significant interaction between infection with COVID‐19 and frailty, but there was no significant interaction between COVID‐19 and age.

Separating cohorts, greater 30‐day mortality was significantly associated with older age (p: COVID‐19: <0.001, Influenza: <0.001) and for frail compared with robust individuals (p for trend: COVID‐19: <0.001, Influenza: <0.001).

Conclusion

Mortality from COVID‐19 exceeded that from influenza among hospitalized older adults. However, odds of mortality were higher at every level of frailty among those admitted with influenza compared to COVID‐19. Prevention will remain key to reducing mortality from viral illnesses among older adults.

Impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on incidence of hospitalization and adverse events following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A nationwide, retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies evaluated the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine safety or compared adverse events following vaccination to those from infection. Limited data about the impact of prior infection on post-vaccine adverse events are available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on outcomes shortly after vaccination using a longitudinal design.

METHODS

Nationwide, multicenter, retrospective cohort study of hospitalization, death, and pre-specified adverse event rates among Veterans who received mRNA vaccines within the Veterans Health Administration between 12/11/2020 and 8/31/2021. Daily incidence rates were compared before and after vaccine doses, stratified by history of microbiologically-confirmed SARS-CoV-2.

RESULTS

3,118,802 patients received a first dose and 2,979,326 a second, including 102,829 with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Daily incident hospitalization rates were unchanged before and after the second dose among patients without previous infection (28.8/100,000 post-dose versus 28.6/100,000 pre-dose, p = 0.92). In previously-infected patients, the hospitalization rate increased above baseline one day following vaccination (158.2/100,000 after dose 2 versus 57.3/100,000 pre-dose, p < 0.001), then returned to baseline. Chart review indicated vaccine side effects, such as fever, constitutional symptoms, weakness, or falls, as the definite (39%) or possible (18%) cause of hospitalization. Affected patients had mean age 75, and 90% had at least one serious comorbidity. Hospitalizations were brief (median 2 days), with rapid return to baseline health. Worse baseline health among previously-infected patients prevented conclusions about mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-dose mRNA vaccine regimens are safe in a population with many comorbidities. Transient increased risks of hospitalization were identified among patients with prior SARS-CoV-2, absolute risk ∼1:1000. Findings support additional study regarding the optimal dosing schedule in this population.

FUNDING

None.

Contemporary Analysis of Electronic Frailty Measurement in Older Adults with Multiple Myeloma Treated in the National US Veterans Affairs Healthcare System

Simple Summary

Geriatric and frailty assessment are recommended for all older adults with cancer undergoing systemic therapy, but assessments remain difficult to scale. The aim of this study was to use an electronic frailty index based on data from administrative claims and electronic health records—the Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI-10)—to estimate frailty and its impact on older United States (US) military veterans treated for multiple myeloma (MM) throughout the national VA Healthcare System. We found frailty to be prevalent and strongly associated with mortality and hospitalizations—independently of age, race, and MM stage. We also showed that changing the way in which the VA-FI-10 is measured affects its classification of frailty for individual veterans but not its association with mortality. These findings support the VA-FI-10’s use in research investigating outcomes in frail veterans treated with contemporary MM therapies. We provide further insights into the VA-FI-10’s potential use in clinical practice.

Abstract

Electronic frailty indices based on data from administrative claims and electronic health records can be used to estimate frailty in large populations of older adults with cancer where direct frailty measures are lacking. The objective of this study was to use the electronic Veterans Affairs Frailty Index (VA-FI-10)—developed and validated to measure frailty in the national United States (US) VA Healthcare System—to estimate the prevalence and impact of frailty in older US veterans newly treated for multiple myeloma (MM) with contemporary therapies. We designed a retrospective cohort study of 4924 transplant-ineligible veterans aged ≥ 65 years initiating MM therapy within VA from 2004 to 2017. Initial MM therapy was measured using inpatient and outpatient treatment codes from pharmacy data in the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. In total, 3477 veterans (70.6%) were classified as frail (VA-FI-10 > 0.2), with 1510 (30.7%) mildly frail (VA-FI-10 > 0.2–0.3), 1105 (22.4%) moderately frail (VA-FI-10 > 0.3–0.4), and 862 (17.5%) severely frail (VA-FI-10 > 0.4). Survival and time to hospitalization decreased with increasing VA-FI-10 severity (log-rank p-value < 0.001); the VA-FI-10 predicted mortality and hospitalizations independently of age, sociodemographic variables, and measures of disease risk. Varying data sources and assessment periods reclassified frailty severity for a substantial portion of veterans but did not substantially affect VA-FI-10’s association with mortality. Our study supports use of the VA-FI-10 in future research involving older veterans with MM and provides insights into its potential use in identifying frailty in clinical practice.