Comparison of Theater Medical Data Store and Reportable Medical Event Records to Theater Animal Bite Reports Submissions, 2018-2019.

Introduction: This analysis evaluates potential reporting discrepancies of the DD2341 Form (Report of Animal Bite-Potential Rabies Exposure) submitted to a forward-deployed Rabies Advisory Board to the Theater Medical Data Store (TMDS) and Reportable Medical Event (RME) systems to identify reporting gaps that can lead to improved best practices that ensure documentation of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) of potential rabies exposures into service members (SMs) electronic medical records.

Materials And Methods: The project compares the number of Service Member animal exposure DD2341 reports submitted to the Camp Arifjan, Kuwait Rabies Advisory Board to in-theater treatment electronic records at the same forward deployed locations from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019 recorded in the TMDS and RME databases. Records included active duty and reserve SM deployed to six countries in the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.

The COVID-19 Army Rapid Assessment Tool (CARAT) for Management of COVID-19 in the Deployed Setting.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unique challenges within the austere clinical setting, and the time between patient presentation and deterioration is a critical opportunity for intervention. In some cases, this may be a life-saving transfer to a higher level of care. US Central Command (CENTCOM) has provided valuable guidance for COVID-19 management in the operational environment,1 and has proposed the National Early Warning System 2 (NEWS2) scoring tool as a useful adjunct to gauging illness severity.

States With Prescription Drug Monitoring Mandates Saw A Reduction In Opioids Prescribed To Medicaid Enrollees.

Prescription drug monitoring programs are promising tools to use in addressing the prescription opioid epidemic, yet prescribers' participation in these state-run programs remained low as of 2014. Statutory mandates for prescribers to register with their state's program, use it, or both are believed to be effective tools to realize the programs' full potential. Our analysis of aggregate Medicaid drug utilization data indicates that state mandates for prescriber registration or use adopted in 2011-14 were associated with a reduction of 9-10 percent in population-adjusted numbers of Schedule II opioid prescriptions received by Medicaid enrollees and amounts of Medicaid spending on these prescriptions.

Joint Utility Estimators in Substance Use Disorders.

Background: Although co-occurring conditions are common with substance use disorders (SUDs), estimation methods for joint health state utilities have not yet been tested in this context.

Objectives: To compare joint health state utility estimators in SUD to inform economic evaluation.

Methods: We conducted two Internet-based surveys of US adults to collect community perspective standard gamble utilities for SUD and common co-occurring conditions.

Quality of life as an outcome of opioid use disorder treatment: A systematic review.

Background And Aims: The recent opioid epidemic has prompted renewed interest in opioid use disorder treatment, but there is little evidence regarding health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) outcomes in treatment programs. Measuring HRQoL represents an opportunity to consider outcomes of opioid use disorder treatment that are more patient-centered and more relevant to overall health than abstinence alone. We conducted a systematic literature review to explore the extent to which the collection of HRQoL by opioid treatment programs is documented in the treatment program literature.

Active opioid use does not attenuate the humoral responses to inactivated influenza vaccine.

Background: Influenza vaccination is recommended for vulnerable individuals, including active drug users, to prevent influenza complications and decrease influenza spread. Recent studies suggest that opioids negatively regulate immune responses in experimental models, but the extent to which opioid use will affect the humoral responses to influenza vaccine in humans is unknown. This information is critical in maximizing vaccination efforts.

High prevalence of colon adenomas in end-stage kidney disease patients on hemodialysis undergoing renal transplant evaluation.

The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on hemodialysis (HD) undergoing kidney transplant evaluation are at higher risk for colonic neoplasia than the general population. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with ESKD who underwent a first screening colonoscopy while undergoing kidney transplant evaluation. Data were collected on the prevalence of adenomatous polyps and advanced adenomas in 70 patients with ESKD and 70 controls, undergoing their first screening colonoscopy, matched for age, gender, and endoscopist.

Measuring benefits of opioid misuse treatment for economic evaluation: health-related quality of life of opioid-dependent individuals and their spouses as assessed by a sample of the US population.

Aims: To understand how the general public views the quality of life effects of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder on an individual and his/her spouse, measured in terms used in economic evaluations.

Design: Cross-sectional internet survey of a US population-representative respondent panel conducted December 2013-January 2014.

Setting: United States.

Impact of Illicit Drug Use on Health-Related Quality of Life in Opioid-Dependent Patients Undergoing HIV Treatment.

Objective: To assess the impact of illicit drug use on health-related quality of life (health utility) among opioid-dependent HIV-infected patients.

Design: Secondary analyses of data from the Buprenorphine-HIV Evaluation and Support cohort of HIV-infected patients with opioid dependence in 9 US HIV clinics between 2004 and 2009. Health status [short form-12 (SF-12)], combination antiretroviral treatment (ART) status, CD4 cell count, hepatitis C virus antibody status, current drug use, and demographics were assessed at the initial visit and quarterly follow-up visits until 1 year.

Health-Related Quality of Life in HIV-Infected and At-Risk Women: The Impact of Illicit Drug Use and Hepatitis C on a Community Preference Weighted Measure.

Purpose: To assess the impact of illicit drug use and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with HIV or at risk for HIV infection.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Women's Interagency Health Study (WIHS) of women with HIV (n = 2508) and at high risk of HIV infection (n = 889) in the US. A Short-Form-6D (SF-6D) HRQoL measure derived from the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV (MOS-HIV) questionnaire, HIV infection status, CD4 cell count (a measure of immune status), antiretroviral treatment, current illicit drug use (heroin and/or cocaine), and HCV status were assessed at a recent study visit.

Trends in hospitalization for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in New York City, 1997-2006: data from New York State's Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System.

Objective: To describe trends in hospitalizations with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection in New York City over 10 years and to explore the demographics and comorbidities of patients hospitalized with CA-MRSA infections.

Design: Retrospective analysis of hospital discharges from New York State's Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database from 1997 to 2006.

Patients: All patients greater than 1 year of age admitted to New York hospitals with diagnosis codes indicating MRSA who met the criteria for CA-MRSA on the basis of admission information and comorbidities.