Estimates of complications of medical care in the adult US population.
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BACKGROUND: Total US population estimates of complications of medical care have relied on extrapolations of state-specific estimates. Generalizability is suspect because findings are limited by geographical location or time. We describe the relationship between the annual prevalence of complications of medical care (CM) and socio-demographic characteristics in the adult US population. METHODS: We used data from the National Health Interview Surveys, annual nationwide surveys of the resident, civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the United States. The main outcome of interest was self-reported conditions from CMs (ICD-9 996-999) and activity limitations that arise from such events. Univariate estimates and multivariably adjusted models accounting for selected socio-demographic characteristics and health status were derived. RESULTS: A total of 618,167 reports of conditions from 313,438 subjects 18 years and older from 1987 to 1994 were examined. In 1987, 830,386 adults reported complications of medical care, increasing by about 40% to 1,174,089 adults in 1994. Based on an extrapolation to the US adult population, rates increased by 25% from 558 to 678 per 100,000 during the same period. One-third reported onset a year prior to the interview; two-thirds visited a doctor six months prior; half experienced limitation in major activities; a quarter reported limitation in personal care activities. In the two weeks preceding the interview, complications of medical care caused an average of 1.72 days of restricted activity, 0.79 days spent in bed, and 0.58 days of work lost. Race modified the age-specific risk of these complications. CONCLUSIONS: Complications of medical care impose heavier morbidity than previously considered with some indication that socio-demographic variables modify the risk for injuries. (+info)
Impact of poorly controlled hypertension on healthcare resource utilization and cost.
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between blood pressure (BP) control and utilization and cost of healthcare resources. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective database study of managed care patients in New Mexico from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We stratified 1000 hypertensive patients into categories based on average and maximum BP. Antihypertensive medication use and cost, number of physician visits, and interval between hypertension-related physician visits were determined. RESULTS: Medication costs increased progressively across all BP categories from lowest to highest, and higher average systolic BP (SBP) was significantly correlated with increased cost (P < .001). There were significant correlations between higher maximum BP and greater number of hypertension-related physician visits (P < .001). Mean number of visits for BP groups was 5.5 for patients with a maximum diastolic BP (DBP) < 85 mm Hg and 10.0 for those with a maximum DBP > or = 100 mm Hg (P < .001). Patients with a maximum SBP > or = 180 mm Hg averaged 9.7 visits, whereas those with a maximum SBP < 120 mm Hg averaged 4.1 visits (P < .001). Both SBP and DBP were significantly correlated with time to next visit (P < .001). Mean visit intervals ranged from 44 days for patients with an SBP < 85 mm Hg to 25 days for those with an SBP > or = 180 mm Hg (P < .001). A similar association was found between DBP and visit interval. CONCLUSIONS: Poor control of hypertension is associated with higher drug costs and more physician visits. Aggressive treatment might help reduce managed care costs and resource utilization. (+info)
Randomised controlled trial of self management leaflets and booklets for minor illness provided by post.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of providing information by post about managing minor illnesses. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Six general practices. PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 4002 patients from the practice registers. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomised to receive one of three kinds of leaflet or booklet endorsed by their general practitioner: control (surgery access times), booklet, or summary card. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attendance with the 42 minor illnesses listed in the booklet. Perceived usefulness of leaflets or booklets, confidence in managing illness, and willingness to wait before seeing the doctor. RESULTS: 238 (6%) patients did not receive the intervention as allocated. Of the remaining 3764 patients, 2965 (79%) had notes available for review after one year. Compared with the control group, fewer patients attended commonly with the minor illnesses in the booklet group (>/=2 consultations a year: odds ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 0.99) and the summary card group (0.83; 0.72 to 0.96). Among patients who had attended with respiratory tract infections in the past year there was a reduction in those attending in the booklet group (0.81; 0.62 to 1.07) and summary card group (0.67; 0.51 to 0.89) compared with the control group. The incidence of contacts with minor illness fell slightly compared with the previous year in the booklet (incidence ratio 0.97; 0.84 to 1.13) and summary card groups (0.93; 0.80 to 1.07). More patients in the intervention groups felt greater confidence in managing illness (booklet 32%, card 34%, control 12%, P<0.001), but there was no difference in willingness to wait score (all groups mean=32, P=0.67). CONCLUSION: Most patients find information about minor illness provided by post useful, and it helps their confidence in managing illness. Information may reduce the number attending commonly with minor illness, but the effect on overall contacts is likely to be modest. These data suggest that posting detailed information booklets about minor illness to the general population would have a limited effect. (+info)
Characteristics of patients with herpes zoster on presentation to practitioners in France.
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There have been many epidemiological studies of chickenpox but only a few of herpes zoster. We report data from an observational study, conducted in France during a 1-year period, of 9038 patients who presented with acute herpes zoster (n = 8103) or postherpetic neuralgia (PHN; n = 935) at the office practices of 4635 general practitioners or dermatologists. The incidence of herpes zoster in France was found to be similar to that in the literature: from 1.4 to 4.8 cases per 1000 population per year. The patient profiles and clinical patterns were delineated, as well as the management decisions made according to the type of treating physician. The impact of herpes zoster on quality of life was evaluated on the basis of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (MOS SF 36) scale, which is widely used for assessing quality of life in the field of health. This study provides reference data on the substantial deterioration in quality of life associated with herpes zoster and PHN. (+info)
The impact of managed care on children's access, satisfaction, use, and quality of care.
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of managed care on children's access, satisfaction, use, and quality of care using nationally representative household survey data. DATA SOURCE: The 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). STUDY DESIGN: Bivariate and multivariate analyses are used to detect independent effects of managed care on access, satisfaction, utilization, and quality of pediatric health services. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Data were obtained from rounds 1, 2, and 3 of the 1996 MEPS. MEPS collects data on health care use, insurance, access, and satisfaction, along with basic demographic and health status information for a representative sample of the U. S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. Our sample consists of 5,995 children between the ages of 0 and 17. FINDINGS: Among the 18 outcome indicators examined, the bivariate analysis revealed only three statistically significant differences between children enrolled in managed care and children in traditional health plans: children enrolled in managed care were more likely to receive physician services, more likely to have access to office-based care during evening or weekend hours, and less likely to report being very satisfied with overall quality of care. However, after controlling for confounding factors, none of these differences remained statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that there are no statistically significant differences in self-reported outcomes for children enrolled in managed care and traditional health plans. This conclusion is provisional, however, because of limitations in the data set. (+info)
Opportunities for improving the care of patients with chronic renal insufficiency: current practice patterns.
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There are between 2 and 13 million Americans with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recent reports suggest that their treatment is currently suboptimal. To further investigate this issue, patterns of practice for the treatment of patients with CKD who were enrolled in a large health maintenance organization in New Mexico were analyzed. Among the >200,000 patients who were enrolled in the health maintenance organization between 1994 and 1997, a cohort of 1658 patients who exhibited at least two gender-specific, elevated creatinine concentrations (Cr), separated by at least 90 d, were identified. The proportions of patients with Cr values of <2.0, 2.0 to 2.9, 3.0 to 3.9, and > or =4.0 mg/dl were 73, 17, 3, and 7%, respectively. The majority of patients were treated by a primary care physician until Cr values reached 3.0 mg/dl, at which time a nephrologist was consulted. Care tended to be transferred to the nephrologist when the Cr reached 4.0 mg/dl. Only 7.4% of patients received erythropoietin (EPO). Use of EPO increased as Cr increased. EPO was unlikely to be prescribed unless the patient had visited a nephrologist. Fewer than one half of all patients with CKD and fewer than 20% of patients with CKD with Cr values of > or =4.0 mg/dl received an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI). Nephrologists were not more likely to prescribe ACEI than were primary care physicians. Diabetic patients were more likely to receive ACEI than were nondiabetic patients, but ACEI use was quite low even among diabetic patients with CKD. The average number of hospitalizations per patient-year increased as Cr increased and was more than twice as high for patients with Cr values of > or =4.0 mg/dl, compared with those with Cr values of <2.0 mg/dl. The reasons for hospitalization were more likely to be related to comorbidities than to CKD itself, however. There are many opportunities to improve the care of patients with CKD. Better adherence to practices known to be of clinical benefit for patients with CKD not only will improve patient outcomes but also may reduce the costs of care. Providers, policy-makers, and payers should view CKD as a major public health problem and initiate innovative programs to address this growing patient population. (+info)
Frequency of attendance in general practice and symptoms before development of chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.
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BACKGROUND: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) research has concentrated on infective, immunological, and psychological causes. Illness behaviour has received less attention, with most research studying CFS patients after diagnosis. Our previous study on the records of an insurance company showed a highly significant increase in illness reporting before development of CFS. AIM: To investigate the number and type of general practitioner (GP) consultations by patients with CFS for 15 years before they develop their condition. DESIGN OF STUDY: Case-control study in 11 general practices in Devon. SETTING: Forty-nine patients with CFS (satisfying the Centers for Disease Control criteria), 49 age, sex, and general practice matched controls, and 37 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were identified from the general practices' computerised databases. METHOD: The number of general practice consultations and symptoms recorded in three five-year periods (quinquennia) were counted before development of the patients' condition. RESULTS: The median number of consultations was significantly higher for CFS patients than that of matched controls in each of the quinquennia: ratios for first quinquennium = 1.88, P = 0.01; second quinquennium = 1.70, P = 0.005; last quinquennium = 2.25, P < 0.001. More CFS patients than controls attended for 13 of the 18 symptoms studied. Significant increases were found for upper respiratory tract infection (P < 0.001), lethargy (P < 0.001), and vertigo (P = 0.02). Similar results were found for CFS patients when compared with MS. CONCLUSIONS: CFS patients consulted their GP more frequently in the 15 years before development of their condition, for a wide variety of complaints. Several possibilities may explain these findings. The results support the hypothesis that behavioural factors have a role in the aetiology of CFS. (+info)
Frequent attenders in general practice: a retrospective 20-year follow-up study.
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We describe a 20-year retrospective study of 58 patients with a cross-matched control group in one practice, who initially attended more than 12 times in 1975. The study establishes that frequent attendance is not consistent; the majority of high-attending patients in general practice revert over a short period of time to a normal consulting pattern. Diseases, rather than patients, appear to dictate high consulting rates. Consistent high attendance is largely owing to multiple pathology. (+info)