Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Is Not a Sentinel Event for Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: Given ongoing debate about the suggested association, the primary objective was to determine if idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) was a sentinel event for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in adults.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Setting: United States MarketScan administrative health claims database.

CHEER National Study of Chronic Rhinosinusitis Practice Patterns: Disease Comorbidities and Factors Associated with Surgery.

Objectives (1) Describe national patterns of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) care across academic and community practices. (2) Determine the prevalence of comorbid disorders in CRS patients, including nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. (3) Identify demographic, clinical, and practice type factors associated with endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Does an Otolaryngology-Specific Database Have Added Value? A Comparative Feasibility Analysis.

Objectives: There are multiple nationally representative databases that support epidemiologic and outcomes research, and it is unknown whether an otolaryngology-specific resource would prove indispensable or superfluous. Therefore, our objective was to determine the feasibility of analyses in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) databases as compared with the otolaryngology-specific Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research (CHEER) database.

Study Design: Parallel analyses in 2 data sets.

Variation in the Use of Vestibular Diagnostic Testing for Patients Presenting to Otolaryngology Clinics with Dizziness.

Objective: We used a national otolaryngology practice-based research network database to characterize the utilization of vestibular function testing in patients diagnosed with dizziness and/or a vestibular disorder.

Study Design: Database review.

Setting: The Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research (CHEER) practice-based research network of academic and community providers

Subjects And Methods: Dizzy patients in the CHEER retrospective database were identified through ICD-9 codes; vestibular testing procedures were identified with CPT codes.

Tonsillectomy Bleed Rates across the CHEER Practice Research Network: Pursuing Guideline Adherence and Quality Improvement.

Objectives: (1) Compare postoperative bleeding in the CHEER network (Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research) among age groups, diagnoses, and practice types. (2) Report the incidence of bleeding by individual CHEER practice site based on practice guidelines.

Study Design: Retrospective data collection database review of the CHEER network based on ICD-9 and CPT codes related to tonsillectomy patients.

Thyroid Disease and Surgery in CHEER: The Nation's Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Practice-Based Network.

Objectives: (1) Describe thyroid-related diagnoses and procedures in Creating Healthcare Excellence through Education and Research (CHEER) across academic and community sites. (2) Compare management of malignant thyroid disease across these sites. (3) Provide practice-based data related to flexible laryngoscopy vocal fold assessment before and after thyroid surgery based on the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation's clinical practice guidelines.

Ménière's Disease: A CHEER Database Study of Local and Regional Patient Encounter and Procedure Patterns.

Objective: (1) Integrate practice-based patient encounters using the Dartmouth Atlas Medicare database to understand practice treatments for Ménière's disease (MD). (2) Describe differences in the practice patterns between academic and community providers for MD.

Study Design: Practice-based research database review.