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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major complication of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Among haemophilic (H) men, HCV is the leading cause of liver disease. Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) reduce HCV viral load, but impact on HCC is unknown.This was a retrospective study of adult H and nonhaemophilic (NH) male discharges, with and without HCC, identified by ICD-10 codes in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, 2016-2018, with DAA availability. Analyses included discharge-level weights to reflect national estimates. Categorical variables were assessed by Rao-Scott chi-square and continuous variables by weighted simple linear regression. HCC correlates were determined by weighted multivariable logistic regression.Among 7,674,969 adult male discharges, 3730 H (.04%) were identified in 2016-2018, of whom 10.06% had HCV and 1.07% had HCC, significantly higher than NH (1.22% and .27%, respectively) all P .001. Annual HCC rates were similar during the 3-year period (2016-2018) in H and NH. Among H, HCC is associated with older age and higher rates of HCV, HBV, NASH, end-stage liver disease, and Charlson comorbidity (CCI), each P .001. Among HCC, H were younger and more likely HIV+, each P .001, but less likely alcoholic (P = .018) or hyperlipidaemic (P = .008) compared to NH. In multivariable regression, risk factors for HCC among H included NASH (OR 21.6), HCV (OR 3.96), CCI (OR1.54), all P .001, while HIV and hyperlipidaemia were protective.From 2016 to 2018, HCC rates did not change significantly in haemophilia discharges. NASH, HCV, and CCI are significant risks for HCC in haemophilia during the DAA-era.

Introduction: Neighborhood-level measures including Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and walkability are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity, higher utilization of health services, and mortality. We sought to understand the impact of these neighborhood-level factors on hospital readmissions and mortality among recently hospitalized depressed and non-depressed individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who enrolled in the NHLBI-funded Hopeful Heart Trial of “blended” collaborative care for HFrEF and co-morbid depression. . Hypothesis: We hypothesized worse ADI and Walk Scores will be associated with increased 12-month incidence of all-cause or cardiac-specific hospital readmission and mortality. Methods: From 3/14-10/17, Hopeful Heart enrolled 756 hospitalized HFrEF patients (EF Results: Of the 756 HFrEF participants (44% female; 73% white; EF: 28.3±9.1% mean; ADI: mean 66.7±23.5; Walk Score: mean 33.4±25.9), the mean PHQ-9 score for both ADI and Walk Score Q4 groups was similar to the Q1-3 groups. Participants in the Q4 group for ADI had a higher incidence of readmission that those in Q1-Q3 (81% -144 out of 178 - versus 70% - 400 out of 572, p=0.004), while those in the Q4 group for Walk Score were readmitted at a similar level to those in Q1-Q3. Those individuals in the top quartile for ADI and Walk Score showed no differences in cardiovascular (CV) mortality (14% incidence, 24 out of 171, for ADI; 14% total incidence, 25 out of 175 for Walk Score) or all-cause mortality (23% total incidence, 171 out of 750, for ADI; 23% total incidence, 175 out of 756 for Walk Score) compared with all other quartiles. Conclusions: Worse ADI but not Walk Score is predictive of higher risk of 12-month hospital readmission, and neither measure is predictive of 12-month CV or all-cause mortality. Further studies are needed to elaborate how area deprivation and other neighborhood factors affect outcomes for individuals with heart failure and design interventions to address these disparities.

Context The symptom burden associated with heart failure (HF) remains high despite improvements in therapy and calls for the integration of palliative care into traditional HF care. Little is also known about how patients with HF perceive palliative care and patient-level characteristics associated with the need for palliative care, which could influence the utilization of palliative care in HF management. Objectives To identify characteristics of HF patients associated with perceived need for palliative care. Methods We analyzed data from the Hopeful Heart Trial, which studied the efficacy of a collaborative care intervention for treating both systolic HF and depression. Palliative care preferences were collected during routine study follow-up. We assessed the association of perceived need for palliative care during study follow-up and baseline data on sociodemographics, clinical measures, and patient-centered outcomes. We then used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to analyze our data. Results Participants were on average 64 years old, male, and reported severe HF symptoms and poor to below average quality of life (. Most had unfavorable impressions of palliative care, but many still perceived a need for palliative care. Factors associated with perceived need for palliative care included depression, non-white race, more severe HF symptoms, and lower mental & physical health-related quality of life. Conclusion HF patients’ beliefs about palliative care may affect utilization of palliative care. Specific characteristics can help identify patients with HF who may benefit from palliative care involvement. Education targeted towards patients with selected attributes may help incorporate palliative care into HF management.

Many neurologic diseases are life limiting and markedly impair patients' quality of life. Growing recommendations in the field recommend that neurologists have primary skills in palliative medicine that will allow them to manage symptoms and discuss end-of-life decisions with patients and families. Previous work has shown that formal palliative care training in neurology residencies is very limited. In this article, we briefly describe a national survey of neurology residents where we assess both the quantity and quality of the teaching they receive in end-of-life care as compared to a common and an uncommon neurologic condition. Based on the gaps we identified, as well as previous studies and recommendations in neuropalliative care, we provide 9 recommendations to help neurology residency programs improve their teaching of primary neuropalliative care skills.

For assessing human leukocyte antigen compatibility in deceased donor kidney transplantation, virtual crossmatch is used as an alternative to physical crossmatch and has potential to reduce cold ischemia time. The 2014 United States kidney allocation system prioritized highly sensitized candidates but led to increased shipping of kidneys. Using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we evaluated changes in virtual crossmatch use with the new allocation policy and the impact of virtual crossmatch use on cold ischemia time and transplant outcomes. This was a retrospective cohort study of adult deceased donor kidney recipients in the United States (2011-2018) transplanted with either 9,632 virtual or 71,839 physical crossmatches. Before allocation change, only 9% of transplants were performed relying on a virtual crossmatch. After the 2014 allocation change, this increased by 2.4%/year so that 18% transplants in 2018 were performed with just a virtual crossmatch. There was significant variation in virtual crossmatch use among transplant regions (range 0.7-36%) and higher use was noted among large volume centers. Compared to physical crossmatches, virtual crossmatches were significantly associated with shorter cold ischemia times (mean 15.0 vs 16.5 hours) and similar death-censored graft loss and mortality (both hazard ratios HR 0.99) at a median follow-up of 2.9 years. Thus, our results show that virtual crossmatch is an attractive strategy for shortening cold ischemia time without negatively impacting transplant outcomes. Hence, strategies to optimize use and reduce practice variation may allow for maximizing benefits from virtual crossmatch.

IntroductionCystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting genetic disorder estimated to affect more than 160 000 individuals and their families worldwide. People living with CF commonly experience significant physical and emotional symptom burdens, disruptions to social roles and complex treatment decision making. While palliative care (PC) interventions have been shown to relieve many such burdens in other serious illnesses, no rigorous evidence exists for palliative care in CF. Thus, this study aims to compare the effect of specialist palliative care plus usual CF care vs usual CF care alone on patient quality of life.Methods and analysisThis is a five-site, two-arm, partially masked, randomised superiority clinical trial. 264 adults with CF will be randomly assigned to usual CF care or usual CF care plus a longitudinal palliative care intervention delivered by a palliative care specialist. The trial’s primary outcome is patient quality of life (measured with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative care instrument). Secondary outcomes include symptom burden, satisfaction with care and healthcare utilisation. Outcomes will be measured at 12 months (primary endpoint) and 15 months (secondary endpoint). In addition, we will conduct qualitative interviews with patient participants, caregivers, and palliative care and CF care team members to explore perceptions of the intervention’s impact and barriers and facilitators to dissemination.Ethics and disseminationHuman subjects research ethics approval was obtained from all participating sites, and all study participants gave informed consent. We will publish the results of this trial in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberISRCTN53323164.

BACKGROUND: Clinician-educator (CE) careers in academic medicine are heterogeneous. Expectations for CEs have grown, along with a need to better prepare CEs for these roles. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether advanced education training is associated with productivity and success. DESIGN: We used a sequential mixed methods approach, collecting quantitative survey data and qualitative focus groups data. We developed a three-tiered categorization of advanced training to reflect intensity by program type. PARTICIPANTS: We surveyed CEs in the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) and conducted two focus groups at an SGIM annual meeting. MAIN MEASURES: Primary outcomes were academic productivity (manuscripts, presentations, etc.) and leadership role attainment. Secondary analysis examined the interactive effect of gender and training intensity on these outcomes. KEY RESULTS: A total of 198 completed the survey (response rate 53%). Compared with medium- or low-intensity training, high-intensity training was associated with a greater likelihood of publishing ≥ 3 first- or senior-author manuscripts (adjusted OR 2.6; CI 0.8–8.6; p = 0.002), teaching ≥ 3 lectures/workshops at the regional/national/international level (adjusted OR 5.7; CI 1.5–21.3; p = 0.001), and having ≥ 3 regional/national committee memberships (adjusted OR 3.4; CI 1.0–11.7; p = 0.04). Among participants in the “no training” and “high-intensity training” categories, men were more likely to have ≥ 3 publications (OR 4.87 and 3.17, respectively), while women in the high intensity category had a likelihood similar to men with no training (OR 4.81 vs. OR 4.87). Participants felt the value of advanced training exists not only in content but also in networking opportunities that programs provide. CONCLUSIONS: While opinions were divided as to whether advanced training is necessary to position oneself for education roles, it is associated with greater academic productivity and reduced gender disparity in the publication domain. Institutions should consider providing opportunities for CEs to pursue advanced education training. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11606-020-06049-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The relationship between pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM) and acute pancreatitis (AP) severity has not been established. We assessed the impact of pre-existing DM on AP severity in an international, prospectively ascertained registry. METHODS: APPRENTICE registry prospectively enrolled 1543 AP patients from 22 centers across 4 continents (8 US, 6 Europe, 5 Latin America, 3 India) between 2015 and 2018, and collected detailed clinical information. Pre-existing DM was defined a diagnosis of DM prior to AP admission. The primary outcome was AP severity defined by the Revised Atlanta Classification (RAC). Secondary outcomes were development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: Pre-existing DM was present in 270 (17.5%) AP patients, of whom 252 (93.3%) had type 2 DM. Patients with pre-existing DM were significantly (p

Objectives Residents must be trained in skills for interprofessional collaboration and team-based care in the outpatient setting, and successful models are needed to achieve this aim. A longitudinal curriculum was developed to enhance residents' knowledge of interprofessional team members' roles, residents' attitudes toward team-based care, and patient referrals to team members. Methods Postgraduate year 1 through postgraduate year 3 internal medicine residents with continuity clinic at a large hospital-based practice received the curriculum. Residents with continuity clinic at another site did not receive the curriculum and served as controls. Intervention residents attended five small-group conferences during the course of 1 year, each dedicated to a specific interprofessional discipline: pharmacy, psychology, diabetes/nurse education, social work, and case management. Conferences involved interactive, case-based discussions of patients who benefit from an interprofessional approach. Control and intervention residents were surveyed with pre- and posttests. The rates of patient referrals to interprofessional team members were assessed. Results Seventy-one residents received the curriculum. Intervention residents' knowledge of team members' names and roles, indications for patient referral, and communication methods improved after curriculum implementation. Attitudes toward team-based care did not change but were positive at baseline. Following curriculum implementation, new patient referrals increased for the pharmacist (0.1-1/100 patient visits, P = 0.015) and psychologist (1.1-2.2/100 patient visits, P = 0.032). Conclusions Case-based interprofessional conferences improved residents' knowledge regarding interprofessional care and increased referrals to team members. This curriculum addresses barriers to team-based care experienced by residents in continuity clinic and is adaptable to other clinic settings.

Background The National Academies of Sciences report Improving Diagnosis in Healthcare highlighted the need for better training in medical decision-making, but most medical schools lack formal education in clinical reasoning. Methods We conducted a pseudo-randomized and controlled study to evaluate the impact of a clinical reasoning curriculum in an internal medicine clerkship. Students in the intervention group completed six interactive online modules focused on reasoning concepts and a skills-based workshop. We assessed the impact of the curriculum on clinical reasoning knowledge and skills and perception of education by evaluating: (1) performance on a clinical reasoning concept quiz, (2) demonstration of reasoning in hospital admission notes, and (3) awareness of attending physician utilization of clinical reasoning concepts. Results Students in the intervention group demonstrated superior performance on the clinical reasoning knowledge quiz (67% vs. 54%, p Conclusions Exposure to a clinical reasoning curriculum was associated with superior reasoning knowledge and superior written demonstration of clinical reasoning skills by third-year medical students on an internal medicine clerkship.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy may be particularly burdensome near the end of life, as patients “accumulate” medications to treat and prevent multiple diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between polypharmacy, symptom burden, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced, life-limiting illness (clinician-estimated, 1 month–1 year). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of baseline data from a trial of statin discontinuation. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with advanced, life-limiting illness. MAIN MEASURES: Polypharmacy was assessed by summing the number of non-statin medications taken regularly or as needed. Symptom burden was assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (range 0–90; higher scores indicating greater symptom burden) and QOL was assessed using the McGill QOL Questionnaire (range 0–10; higher scores indicating better QOL). Linear regression models assessed associations between polypharmacy, symptom burden, and QOL. KEY RESULTS: Among 372 participants, 47% were age 75 or older and 35% were enrolled in hospice. The mean symptom score was 27.0 (standard deviation (SD) 16.1) and the mean QOL score was 7.0 (SD 1.3). The average number of non-statin medications was 11.6 (SD 5.0); one-third of participants took ≥ 14 medications. In adjusted models, higher polypharmacy was associated with higher symptom burden (coefficient 0.81; p

Background Inability to advance to an oral diet, or oral feeding intolerance, is a common complication in patients with acute pancreatitis associated with worse clinical outcomes. The factors related to oral feeding intolerance are not well studied. Objective We aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of oral feeding intolerance in acute pancreatitis. Methods Patients were prospectively enrolled in the Acute Pancreatitis Patient Registry to Examine Novel Therapies in Clinical Experience, an international acute pancreatitis registry, between 2015 and 2018. Oral feeding intolerance was defined as worsening abdominal pain and/or vomiting after resumption of oral diet. The timing of the initial feeding attempt was stratified based on the day of hospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess for independent risk factors/predictors of oral feeding intolerance. Results Of 1233 acute pancreatitis patients included in the study, 160 (13%) experienced oral feeding intolerance. The incidence of oral feeding intolerance was similar irrespective of the timing of the initial feeding attempt relative to hospital admission day (p = 0.41). Patients with oral feeding intolerance were more likely to be younger (45 vs. 50 years of age), men (61% vs. 49%), and active alcohol users (44% vs. 36%). They also had higher blood urea nitrogen (20 vs. 15 mg/dl; p, Key Summary Current knowledge on this subject Oral feeding intolerance is a relatively common complication of acute pancreatitis.Oral feeding intolerance results in longer hospitalization and frequent readmissions. What is new in this study The incidence of oral feeding intolerance is similar irrespective of the timing of the initial feeding attempt.Oral feeding intolerance is independently associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome at 48 h and nonbiliary etiology.

Introduction: Neighborhood factors such as walkability and proximity to stores, parks, and public transportation have been associated with obesity, diabetes, and physical activity level as well as hospital readmission rates. Among individuals with systolic heart failure (HF), reducing hospital readmissions is challenging, but little is known on the role of neighborhood factors on hospital readmissions in this population. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that better walk scores and less deprivation would be associated with a lower readmissions in HF patients. Methods: We screened hospitalized patients with systolic HF (EF≤45%) and NYHA class II-IV symptoms for depression at 8 Pittsburgh-area hospitals as part of the Hopeful Heart Study (R01 HL114016) and included patients who screened positive for depression and remained depressed when re-contacted by telephone 2 weeks after discharge. We classified neighborhoods using the validated neighborhood Walk Score®and Area Deprivation Index for each patient’s address at study entry (both 0-100 scales), and assessed readmissions for 12 months following each patient’s enrollment. We then compared the ADI and Walk Score of individuals who were readmitted vs. those who were not. Results: Final analysis included 629 depressed patients with systolic HF (43% female, 75% white, 86% HTN, 52% DM). Overall, 73.1% of individuals were readmitted at least once, and readmitted and not readmitted patients had similar walk scores (34.1±25.2 vs. 32.2±27.0, p = 0.40) and ADI (66.6±23.1 vs. 64.2±22.7, p=0.50) as those who were not readmitted. Table 1. Conclusions: Among depressed patients with systolic HF, Walk Score and ADI were associated with not associated with readmission rates. Further research is warranted to determine how neighborhood factors adversely impact individual with co-morbid depression and systolic HF. Further analyses are ongoing to determine if individual components of the Walk Score and ADI contribute to differences in readmission.

Introduction: Neighborhood factors have been associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.. Among These neighborhood factors also impact physical functioning and access to resources. In individuals with heart failure (HF), who require a significant access to care and physical activity, these neighborhood factors may impact mortality. Data are limited evaluating the association of neighborhood and mortality in HF. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that better walk scores and less deprivation would be associated with a lower mortality in individuals with systolic HF. Methods: We screened hospitalized patients with systolic HF (EF≤45%) and NYHA class II-IV symptoms for depression at 8 Pittsburgh-area hospitals as part of the Hopeful Heart Study (R01 HL114016) and included patients who screened positive for depression and remained depressed when re-contacted by telephone 2 weeks after discharge. We classified neighborhoods using the validated Walk Score®and Area Deprivation Index for each patient’s address at study entry (both 0-100 scales), and assessed all-cause and cardiovascular mortality over a 12 month period post-enrollment. Mortality (top quartile vs. all others) was compared between ADI and Walk Score groups with adjustment for clinical covariates using Kaplan Meier survival analysis. Results: Final analysis included 629 depressed patients with systolic HF (43 % female, 75 % white, 86% HTN, 52% DM). There was no significant difference In mortality when comparing individuals in the top quartile of Walk Score (p = 0.381) or ADI (p = 0.379) to all others (Figure 1). Conclusions: Among depressed patients with systolic HF, there was no significant association between neighborhood factors including Walk Score or ADI and mortality. Further research is warranted to determine how neighborhood factors adversely impact individual with co-morbid depression and systolic HF. Further analyses are ongoing to determine if individual components of the Walk Score and ADI contribute to differences in mortality.

Introduction Significant gaps remain in the training of health professionals regarding the care of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). Although curricula have been developed at the undergraduate medical education level, few materials address the education of graduate medical trainees. The purpose of this curriculum was to develop case-based modules targeting internal medicine residents to address LGBT primary health care. Methods We designed and implemented a four-module, case-based, interactive curriculum at one university's internal medicine residency program. The modules contained facilitator and learner guides and addressed four main content areas: understanding gender and sexuality; performing a sensitive history and physical examination; health promotion and disease prevention; and mental health, violence, and reproductive health. Knowledge, perceived importance, and confidence were assessed before and after each module to assess curricular effectiveness and acceptability. General medicine faculty delivered these modules. Results Perceived importance of LGBT topics was high at baseline and remained high after the curricular intervention. Confidence significantly increased in many areas, including being able to provide resources to patients and to institute gender-affirming practices (p < .05). Knowledge improved significantly on almost all topics (p < .0001). Faculty felt the materials gave enough preparation to teach, and residents perceived that the faculty were knowledgeable. Discussion This resource provides an effective curriculum for training internal medicine residents to better understand and feel confident addressing LGBT primary health care needs. Despite limitations, this is an easily transferable curriculum that can be adapted in a variety of curricular settings.

Background Physical and emotional burdens impair quality of life (QoL) in many adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Palliative care (PC) improves QoL in other serious illnesses, yet the full array of palliative needs amenable to PC are unknown in CF. Methods We surveyed 164 adults with CF using the Supportive Care Needs Survey 34 (SCNS-34) to assess unmet PC needs across five domains, the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) to assess symptom burden, and the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire—Revised (CFQ-R) to assess CF-specific QoL. We assessed associations between SCNS-34 domain scores and respondent characteristics, including symptom burden and FEV1. Results Median age was 29 years; 56% of respondents were male. Median FEV1 was 57% predicted. 78% of respondents reported ≥1 unmet PC need; physical and daily living (72%) and psychological (66%) needs were most prevalent. Symptom burden was correlated with all SCNS-34 domains scores, and strongly correlated with the physical (r = 0.79) and psychological (r = 0.72) domain scores. FEV1 was moderately inversely correlated with the physical domain score (r = −0.41). Forty-four of the 45 inverse correlations between SCNS-34 domain scores and CFQ-R domain scores were significant. Patient-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with higher scores in five and four SCNS-34 domains, respectively. Conclusions Adults with CF have substantial unmet PC needs. Patient-reported symptom burden is more strongly associated with reporting unmet PC needs than FEV1. Routine screening of unmet PC needs, using tools such as the SCNS-34, may enable CF care teams to optimize the provision of primary and specialist PC.

Objective We developed a curriculum to increase internal medicine interns’ proficiency in sexual history taking and sexually transmitted illness (STI) counseling. Methods The 4-h curriculum included didactics and interactive components, and was evaluated with matched pre- and post-surveys. Results Twenty-one interns completed the curriculum. Mean knowledge score improved from 59% to 76% from pre- to post-curriculum (P = 0.004). Median comfort score (Likert scale 1–5) with obtaining a sexual history improved from 3.8 [IQR 3.0, 4.0] to 3.8 [IQR 3.6, 4.6] and 3.8 [IQR 3.6, 4.0] to 4.1 [IQR 3.9, 4.8] for male (P = 0.05) and female patients (P = 0.007), respectively. Median frequency score for obtaining a sexual history improved from 2.9 [IQR 2.7, 3.0] to 3.1 [IQR 2.8, 3.4] and 3.2 [IQR 2.8, 3.7] to 3.4 [IQR 3.2, 4.0] for male (P = 0.16) and female patients (P = 0.008), respectively. Pre- and post- curriculum, interns reported significantly higher comfort and frequency in obtaining sexual histories from female vs. male patients. Post- curriculum, interns reported significantly higher comfort with positive STI counseling. Practice implications Our curriculum improved interns’ knowledge and comfort in sexual history taking and STI counseling. Future interventions should address sex disparities in sexual history taking.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major complication of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCV is the leading cause of liver disease in hemophilia population and was acquired with their first transfusion. While direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are effective in HCV eradication, its impact on preventing HCC remains unclear. Few data on HCC in hemophilia after DAA are available. We undertook an observational study to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for HCC in hemophilia since the introduction of DAAs. Methods: We conducted an observational study including adult male discharges in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016-2018. Status of hemophilia (H) and non-hemophilia (NH), HCV, HCC, and other relevant medical conditions were identified using ICD-10 codes. Analysis included NIS-provided discharge-level weights to reflect national estimates. Categorical and continuous variables were assessed by Rao-Scott Chi-Square and weighted simple linear regression, respectively. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine HCC risk factors. Variables included were age, race, HCV, HIV, alcoholism, smoking, obesity, hyperlipidemia (HLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), substance abuse, transfusion, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Results: In total, 7,674,969 adult male discharges, including 3,370 with H (0.04%), were identified between 2016 and 2018. Between 2016 and 2018, the diagnosis rates of HCV were 10.06% (95%CI 8.97%-11.26%) in H vs. 1.22% (95%CI 1.19%-1.25%) in NH, and the rates of HCC were 1.07% (95%CI 0.76%-1.51%) in H vs. 0.27% (95%CI 0.26%-0.28%) in NH. The diagnosis rates of HCV and HCC were similar in 2016, 2017 and 2018, for both H and NH populations. Compared with H without HCC, H with HCC were older (58.6 vs. 50.9 years-old, p Conclusion: From 2016 to 2018, the rate of HCC did not significantly decrease in discharges with hemophilia in the NIS database. Chronic HCV infection remains a significant risk factor of HCC in hemophilia despite availability of DAA therapy. NASH and Charlson comorbidity contribute to HCC risk, while HIV and hyperlipidemia appear protective. Disclosures Ragni: Takeda Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BioMarin Pharmaceutical: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bioverativ (Sanofi): Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spark Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam (Sanofi): Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; University of Pittsburgh: Research Funding.

Objectives/Hypothesis To establish normative values for phonatory aerodynamic measurements in connected speech across adult ages and gender. Study Design Prospective data collection across group design. Methods One hundred fifty adults aged >18 years without voice complaints were stratified into three equal-age groups (group 1 [ages 18–39 years]; group 2 [ages 40–59 years], and group 3 [ages 60 + years]) and two equal-gender groups (male and female) resulting in 25 participants in each category. Participants read the first four sentences of the Rainbow Passage at comfortable pitch and loudness to obtain a connected speech sample. The following dependent variables were analyzed: breath number, reading passage duration, mean phonatory airflow, inspiratory airflow duration, and expiratory airflow duration. Results A gender effect was found for mean phonatory airflow, with males showing significantly greater phonatory airflow than females during connected speech (P

Quality improvement (QI) plays a vital role in practice management, patient care, and reimbursement. The authors implemented a 3-year longitudinal curriculum that combined QI didactics, intervention development, and implementation at university-based, community-based, and Veterans Administration–based practices. Highlights included Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle format, team-based collaboration to brainstorm interventions, interdisciplinary QI council to select and plan interventions, system-wide intervention implementation across entire clinic populations with outcome monitoring, and intervention modifications based on challenges. A pre–post survey assessed residents’ confidence in QI skills and interdisciplinary team participation, while quarterly quality data assessed patient outcomes. All 150 internal medicine residents participated. Confidence in QI and interdisciplinary team participation improved significantly ( P < .001). Patient outcomes improved for 6 of 9 targeted projects and were sustained at 1 year. This curriculum is a systems-based innovation designed to improve patient care and encourage interdisciplinary teamwork and can be adopted by residencies seeking to improve engagement in QI.

Although patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience many symptoms and impaired quality of life, little is known about existential distress. This multivariable logistic regression evaluated the relationship between symptom burden and five existential needs representing existential distress in 164 adults with CF. Eleven percent of participants reported no symptom burden, 61% mild burden, and 28% moderate/severe burden. The most prevalent existential needs were fears about CF worsening (50%) and uncertainty about the future (39%). Participants with moderate/severe symptom burden were likelier to report needing support with all five needs than participants with no or mild burden. For each six-point increase in burden, there was an increased odds of reporting need for support with learning to feel in control, feelings about death and dying, fears about CF worsening, uncertainty about the future, and concerns about worries of others. CF-specific palliative care support based on these prevalent unmet existential needs should be developed and provided.

Supplemental material, SUPPLEMENTARY_EXHIBITS for A Longitudinal Ambulatory Quality Improvement Curriculum That Aligns Resident Education With Patient Outcomes: A 3-Year Experience by Natasha Parekh, Elena Lebduska, Erika Hoffman, Amar Kohli, David Demoise, Kwonho Jeong, Scott Rothenberger, Gary S. Fischer, Carla Spagnoletti and Jaishree Hariharan in American Journal of Medical Quality

Objective The objective was to determine the occurrence of, and the factors associated with, diastolic hypotension and troponin elevation or electrocardiogram (ECG) ST-segment changes in a convenience sample of children with moderate to severe asthma receiving continuous albuterol nebulization. Methods This was a prospective, descriptive study in a pediatric emergency department and an intensive care unit of a tertiary academic center. Fifty children with moderate to severe asthma (clinical asthma score > 8) who received 10 to 15 mg/hour continuous albuterol for >2 hours between June 5, 2007, and February 4, 2008, were approached. Hourly diastolic blood pressures were recorded. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and ECG tracings were obtained following the first 2 hours of albuterol and then subsequently every 12 hours while receiving continuous albuterol. Main outcome measures were: 1) incidence of diastolic hypotension, 2) incidence of troponin elevation, and 3) incidence of ECG ST-depression. Results Fifty patients were enrolled. Thirty-three (66%) patients developed diastolic hypotension during the first 6 hours of continuous albuterol. Diastolic blood pressure declined from baseline at 1–6 hours (p < 0.01 vs. baseline). Twelve patients (24%) had elevated cTnI, 15 patients (30%) had ST-segment change, four patients (8%) had both, and 23 patients (46%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 32 to 60) had either a cTnI elevation or an ECG ST-segment change. Troponin elevation and diastolic hypotension were not associated (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.6 to 2.3). Conclusions In a subset of children with moderate to severe asthma, diastolic hypotension, troponin elevation, and ECG ST-segment change occur during administration of continuous albuterol. Future studies are necessary to determine the clinical significance of these findings.

Background Video review of surgical skills is an educational modality that allows trainees to reflect on self-performance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether resident and attending assessments of a resident's laparoscopic performance differ and whether video review changes assessments. Methods Third-year surgery residents were invited to participate. Elective laparoscopic procedures were video recorded. The Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills evaluation was completed immediately after the procedure and again 7 to 10 days later by both resident and attending. Scores were compared using t tests. Results Nine residents participated and 76 video reviews were completed. Residents scored themselves significantly lower than the faculty scores both before and after video review. Resident scores did not change significantly after video review. Conclusions Attending and resident self-assessment of laparoscopic skills differs and subsequent video review does not significantly affect Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills scores. Further studies should evaluate the impact of video review combined with verbal feedback on skill acquisition and assessment.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has well-established benefits for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but is highly underutilized. Little is known about transportation, access to care, and other neighborhood barriers that may contribute to this underutilization. We examined

Graduate medical education curricula that provide training on LGBT healthcare are limited. The purpose of this study was to create and evaluate an LGBT curriculum for internal medicine (IM) residents.The implicit association test (IAT) measuring implicit bias toward gay individuals was administered as part of a needs assessment. The curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary team, with objectives derived from the Association of American Medical Colleges' curricular recommendations and the Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. Surveys assessed residents' perceptions of the importance of primary care for LGBT patients, and their knowledge of and confidence in providing primary care to LGBT patients. Faculty also rated the usability of the curricular materials.The IAT showed a slight preference for straight people compared with gay people, with an average "D score" of 0.27 ± 0.42. The importance of receiving education about the primary care of LGB patients was rated as high across the pre- to postsurveys. Knowledge improved with participation in the curriculum (average overall score: 42% pre- vs. 66% postsurvey, p 0.0001). Participants' confidence in their ability to provide information to LGBT patients about resources for community engagement and to implement gender-neutral practices in their clinics increased significantly (p 0.05).This curriculum pilot demonstrated an improvement in IM residents' knowledge of and confidence in providing care to LGBT patients. Our results suggest that curricular materials can be developed by experts in LGBT health and utilized effectively by nonexpert faculty to increase residents' knowledge and confidence regarding LGBT healthcare.

To characterize geographic variability of generic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) medications in order to improve drug price transparency and improve patient access to affordable medication sources. This is of interest because BPH is one of the most common chronic diseases in men and contributes to individual healthcare cost. Medical therapy is the main treatment modality for BPH, burdening patients with lifelong medication expenses which may impact adherence and subsequent outcomes. With an aging population, this is compounded by many older individuals requiring multiple daily medications.All pharmacies within a 25-mile radius of our institution were identified and classified as chain, wholesale or independent. The out-of-pocket price for a 30-day supply of tamsulosin (0.4 mg), finasteride (5 mg), oxybutynin (5 mg TID), and oxybutynin 10 mg XL were obtained using a scripted telephone survey. Multivariable linear regression assessed the association between census-tract level demographic and socioeconomic factors and disparate generic out-of-pocket drug-pricing.The response rate was 93% with 255 pharmacies across 173 census tracts providing data. By pharmacy type, there was up to 5.5-fold variation in median out-of-pocket drug prices for the most common BPH medications. Demographic and socioeconomic factors were not significantly associated with generic BPH drug price variation.The out-of-pocket price of generic medications for BPH varies significantly between pharmacies in a geographically-confined area. This study highlights the need for quality improvement initiatives that empower patients to price-compare and improve drug price transparency.

Introduction Patient safety is recognized as an important part of pediatric resident education. There is a lack of published safety curricula targeting pediatric residents. A local needs assessment showed that while residents felt safety was an important part of their current and future jobs, they did not feel prepared to apply safety principles to their future careers or participate in a root cause analysis (RCA). Methods This curriculum was delivered to senior-level pediatric and multiple-board residents during five monthly, hour-long, multidisciplinary sessions. Sessions covered systems-based thinking, terminology, the second victim phenomenon, RCA, and medication errors, while providing feedback on recent event reports filed by residents. Resident knowledge, attitudes, and reporting behavior were evaluated prior to and following the curriculum. Results Attendees showed statistically significant improved safety attitudes and preparedness to apply safety to their future endeavors; conversely, there were no significant changes in nonattendees. There were no significant changes in knowledge scores or event reporting. Answers to qualitative questions identified learning about the reporting process, RCAs, and follow-up on filed event reports as valuable parts of the curriculum. Residents desired more time to debrief about safety events. Discussion The curriculum succeeded in engaging residents in patient safety and making them feel prepared for future practice. Residents showed a dissonance between their intentions to report and their actual reporting behaviors, the reasons for which require further exploration. Residents desired a forum to deal with the emotions involved in errors. This curriculum is easily transferable to other institutions with minor modifications.

Purpose: Patient safety has been identified by the ACGME, ABP, and safety experts as an important topic for resident medical education. Despite this, there are few published safety curricula targeting pediatric residents. We created an innovative patient safety curriculum for senior-level pediatric and multi-board residents. We aim to improve residents’ knowledge of patient safety principles, their comfort in applying these principles to future practice, their satisfaction with safety education, and rates of resident event reporting. Methods: The curriculum was delivered in five one-hour long, monthly sessions. Session topics were selected …

Background In total knee arthroplasty (TKA) periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), irrigation and debridement (I&D) with component retention is a treatment option with a wide variation in reported failure rates. The purpose of this study was to determine failure rates, outcomes, and factors that predict failure in I&D for TKA PJI. Methods A multicenter observational study of patients with a TKA PJI and subsequently undergoing an I&D with retention of components was conducted. The primary outcome was failure rate of I&D, where failure was defined as any subsequent surgical procedures. Results Two hundred sixteen cases of I&D with retention of components performed on 206 patients met inclusion criteria. The estimated long-term failure rate at 4 years was 57.4%. Time-to-event analyses revealed that the median survival time was 14.32 months. Five-year mortality was 19.9%. Multivariable modeling revealed that time symptomatic and organism were independent predictors of I&D failure. Culture-negative status had a higher hazard for failure than culture-positive patients. When primary organism and time symptomatic were selected to produce an optimized scenario for an I&D, the estimated failure rate was 39.6%. Conclusion I&D with retention of components has a high failure rate, and there is a high incidence of more complex procedures after this option is chosen. The patient comorbidities we investigated did not predict I&D success. Our results suggest that I&D has a limited ability to control infection in TKA and should be used selectively under optimum conditions.

To establish normative values for phonatory aerodynamic measurements in connected speech across adult ages and gender.Prospective data collection across group design.One hundred fifty adults aged18 years without voice complaints were stratified into three equal-age groups (group 1 [ages 18-39 years]; group 2 [ages 40-59 years], and group 3 [ages 60 + years]) and two equal-gender groups (male and female) resulting in 25 participants in each category. Participants read the first four sentences of the Rainbow Passage at comfortable pitch and loudness to obtain a connected speech sample. The following dependent variables were analyzed: breath number, reading passage duration, mean phonatory airflow, inspiratory airflow duration, and expiratory airflow duration.A gender effect was found for mean phonatory airflow, with males showing significantly greater phonatory airflow than females during connected speech (P .001). Number of breaths was significantly greater for group 3 than group 2 (P .001) and group 1 (P .001). Duration, and inspiratory and expiratory airflow durations were all significantly greater for group 3 (P .001) than group 2 (P .001) than group 1 (P .001).This study provides normative data for phonatory aerodynamics in adult connected speech. Significant age and gender effects were observed. Laryngoscope, 128:909-914, 2018.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) is commonly used to measure patients' perception of vocal handicap. Clinical consensus has previously defined clinically meaningful improvement as a decrease ≥5. This study determines the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for VHI-10 in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) using anchor-based methodology. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort questionnaire analysis. METHODS Two hundred eighty-one UVFP patients completed the VHI-10 on two consecutive visits (within 3 months). At the follow-up visit, patients answered an 11-point Global Rating of Change Questionnaire (GRCQ) scored from -5 to +5. Relationship between the GRCQ and change in VHI-10 was quantified using analysis of variance, and MCID for the VHI-10 was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS Overall mean VHI-10 change was -3.71 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.89) and mean GRCQ was 1.37 (SD = 2.51). Average interval between measurements was 1.73 months (SD = 0.83). Mean changes in VHI-10 scores were -7.45, -0.53, and +4.40 for patients whose GRCQ scores indicated improvement, no change, and worsening, respectively. Differences between mean scores were statistically significant (P < .001). Area under the ROC curve was 0.80, demonstrating the classification accuracy of VHI-10 change scores. A VHI-10 change of -4 was determined to be the optimal threshold that discriminated between improvement and no improvement (sensitivity and specificity 0.62 and 0.88, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The MCID for improvement in VHI-10 in UVFP patients is a decrease of 4. This information improves understanding of patients' response to treatment and allows comparison between different treatments. Future research should determine MCID for VHI-10 across all voice disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 128:1419-1424, 2018.

Background and objectives: Inpatient pediatric care is increasingly provided by pediatric hospitalists. This, in addition to changes in resident duty hour restrictions, has led to the creation of new models of care for inpatient pediatric patients. The objective of this study was to compare traditional outcome measures between a pediatric hospitalist-only service and a more traditional academic service in which care was provided by pediatric hospitalists, residents, and medical students. Attending physicians on the hospitalist-only service had an average of 1.7 years of post-residency experience compared to an average 16 years of experience for those working on the traditional academic service.Methods: This retrospective cohort study (hospitalist-only v. teaching service) used electronic medical records data of patients (n=1,059) admitted to a quaternary care, academic, children’s hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania with diagnoses of bronchiolitis, viral syndrome, and gastroenteritis from July 2011 to June 2014. Primary outcome measures included length of stay, hospital costs, and readmission rates.Results: Patients with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis admitted to the hospitalist-only service had a significantly higher severity-of-illness-score than those admitted to the teaching service. A decreased length of stay and lower hospital costs were seen for patients admitted to the hospitalist-only service; however, these differences did not reach a level of statistical significance.Conclusion: There were no statistically significant differences in the outcome measures of patients with common pediatric illnesses admitted to a hospitalist-only versus a teaching hospitalist service. The model of a hospitalist-only service staffed by recent residency graduates may provide an efficient and effective model of care as patients admitted to this service had similar outcome measures to those patients cared for by more-experienced attending physicians.

ContextPatients living with cystic fibrosis (CF) report impaired quality of life. Little is known about unmet supportive care needs among adults living with CF and how they are associated with demographic characteristics.ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to identify associations between demographic variables and unmet supportive care needs regarding anxiety, sadness, pain and uncertainty about the future of living with CF.MethodsWe recruited 165 adults with CF from a single academic medical centre to complete a brief demographic survey and the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS-34), a validated self-reported needs assessment that measures the prevalence of and preferences for support for 34 needs that commonly occur in patients with serious illness.ResultsApproximately half of the participant sample was male, with a median age of 29 years, varying income levels and a range of lung disease severity. We found statistically significant associations between insufficient income and increased odds of reporting need for support regarding anxiety (OR: 6.48; 95% CI 2.08 to 20.2), sadness (OR: 6.15; 95% CI 2.04 to 18.5), pain (OR: 7.06; 95% CI 2.22 to 22.4) and worries surrounding uncertainty about the future (OR: 3.43; 95% CI 1.18 to 9.99).ConclusionAdults with CF report significant unmet needs for support in several physical and emotional domains. Many of these domains were associated with demographic characteristics, most notably, income. Our findings underscore the importance of developing treatment approaches that are sensitive to patient demographics when addressing unmet supportive care needs among adults with CF.