Meta-analysis of Censored Adverse Events.

Meta-analysis is a powerful tool for assessing drug safety by combining treatment-related toxicological findings across multiple studies, as clinical trials are typically underpowered for detecting adverse drug effects. However, incomplete reporting of adverse events (AEs) in published clinical studies is frequently encountered, especially if the observed number of AEs is below a pre-specified study-dependent threshold. Ignoring the censored AE information, often found in lower frequency, can significantly bias the estimated incidence rate of AEs.

Association of reported sleep disturbances with objectively assessed mild cognitive impairment among adults in the United States.

Background: Sleep is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by both duration and quality. Various sleep disturbances have been associated with mild cognitive impairment, but the role of specific disturbances in mild cognitive impairment pathophysiology remains unclear. This study investigated the associations between distinct sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment in adults aged 50 and older using nationally representative data.

Stress Due to Inflation and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression Among Working-Age Adults in the United States.

Inflation generates stress, which may lead to high rates of anxiety and depression. Given the recent surge and subsequent decline in the inflation rate in the United States, the prevalence of stress due to inflation may vary, as well as its relationship with anxiety and depression. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of stress due to inflation and its association with anxiety and depression over time among working-age adults in the United States.

The Financial Impact of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes on Patients in the United States in 2022.

Objective: To determine the financial impact of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) on patients in the United States by examining the medical expenses incurred by patients.

Patients And Methods: We used a convenience sample approach and disseminated a self-reported survey questionnaire to individuals with EDS via patient advocacy organizations and support groups across the country, social media, and health professionals from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The survey focused on the out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred by patients.

Prevalence of cancer risk behaviors by county-level persistent poverty.

Background: Cancer mortality rates are substantially higher in persistent poverty US counties compared to non-persistent poverty US counties. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cancer risk behaviors by persistent poverty.

Methods: Counties with poverty rates of ≥ 20 % between 1990 and 2017-21 were classified as 'persistent poverty' (n = 318), and others were classified as 'non-persistent poverty' (n = 2801).

Association of Marijuana Use With Psychological Distress Among Adults in United States.

Purpose: Determine the association of marijuana use with serious psychological distress (SPD) among adults aged 18 years or older using a large, nationally representative sample of US households.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2021.

Real-world neoadjuvant and adjuvant Trastuzumab-containing regimen patterns and their association with survival among patients with operable HER2-positive breast cancer from 2007 to 2021.

Purpose: Chemotherapy in combination with trastuzumab is the standard neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (BC). Assessing the regimens administered to patients with HER2-positive BC in the real world is lacking. We evaluated neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimen patterns among HER2-positive BC patients (2007 to 2021) identified in a health insurance claims database.

Predicting serious postoperative complications and evaluating racial fairness in machine learning algorithms for metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Background: Predicting the risk of complications is critical in metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS).

Objectives: To develop machine learning (ML) models to predict serious postoperative complications of MBS and evaluate racial fairness of the models.

Setting: Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) national database, United States.

Preparing for the Transition to Academic Practice: A Graduate Medical Education Elective.

Residents and fellows as educators (RFAE) programs typically focus on clinical teaching skills in single departments, which may not be sustainable for those with limited trainees or faculty. To determine the feasibility and value of a 2-week interdepartmental RFAE elective for advanced teaching skill development and transition to practice as clinician educators. Facilitated discussion, simulation, and critiqued peer presentations developed participants' skills in teaching, curriculum design, professional development, and scholarship.

Bayesian Learning of Personalized Longitudinal Biomarker Trajectory.

This work concerns the effective personalized prediction of longitudinal biomarker trajectory, motivated by a study of cancer targeted therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Continuous monitoring with a confirmed biomarker of residual disease is a key component of CML management for early prediction of disease relapse. However, the longitudinal biomarker measurements have highly heterogeneous trajectories between subjects (patients) with various shapes and patterns.

Characterising incident opioid use among incident users of prescription sedative hypnotics: A national cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate co-prescribing of sedatives hypnotics and opioids.

Design: Retrospective study evaluating the association of patient characteristics and comorbidities with coprescribing.

Setting And Participants: Using the national Merative MarketScan Database between 2005 and 2018, we identified patients who received an incident sedative prescription with or without subsequent, incident opioid prescriptions within a year of the sedative prescription in the USA.

The Affordable Care Act and income-based disparities in health care coverage and spending among nonelderly adults with cancer.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) significantly reduced uninsured individuals and improved financial protection; however, escalating costs of cancer treatment has led to substantial out-of-pocket expenses, causing severe financial and mental health distress for individuals with cancer. Mixed evidence on the ACA's ongoing impact highlights the necessity of assessing health-spending changes across income groups for informed policy interventions. In our nationally representative survey evaluating the early- and long-term effects of the ACA on nonelderly adult patients with cancer, we categorized individuals-based income subgroups defined by the ACA for eligibility.

Characteristics and variations in young adults with cutaneous melanoma: A national cancer database analysis.

Background And Objectives: Many cancers in young adulthood differ in terms of biology, histologic variation, and prognosis compared to cancer in other older age groups. Differences in cutaneous melanoma among young adults compared to other older age groups, as well as between sexes in young adults are not well studied.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma between 2004 and 2017.

Association between Medicaid Expansion and Cutaneous Melanoma Diagnosis and Outcomes: Does Where You Live Make a Difference?

Background: Early detection and standardized treatment are crucial for enhancing outcomes for patients with cutaneous melanoma, the commonly diagnosed skin cancer. However, access to quality health care services remains a critical barrier for many patients, particularly the uninsured. Whereas Medicaid expansion (ME) has had a positive impact on some cancers, its specific influence on cutaneous melanoma remains understudied.

Opioid Overdose Hospitalizations During COVID-19: The Experience of Pennsylvania.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic placed extreme burden on hospitals, while opioid overdose is another challenging public health issue. This study aimed to examine the trends and outcomes of opioid overdose hospitalizations in Pennsylvania during 2018 to 2021.

Design: We identified opioid overdose hospitalizations in the state of Pennsylvania using the state-wide hospital discharge database (PHC4) 2018 to 2021.

Stress Due to Inflation: Changes over Time, Correlates, and Coping Strategies among Working-Age Adults in the United States.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual US inflation rate increased from 1.2% in July 2020 to 8% in July 2022. It has since declined to 3.

Predicting operative time for metabolic and bariatric surgery using machine learning models: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Predicting operative time is essential for scheduling surgery and managing the operating room. This study aimed to develop machine learning (ML) models to predict the operative time for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) and to compare each model.

Methods: The authors used the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database between 2016 and 2020 to develop ML models, including linear regression, random forest, support vector machine, gradient-boosted tree, and XGBoost model.

Ethnic Disparities in Patient-Centered Communication with Healthcare Providers: A Comparison of Non-Hispanic Asians and Non-Hispanic Whites.

Background: Patient-centered communication (PCC) is an important metric related to patient health outcomes. Non-Hispanic Asian (NHA) individuals reported lower PCC scores with healthcare providers than individuals of other races and ethnicities. We aim to determine the ethnic disparities in PCC and further investigate the association between PCC, individual's confidence in obtaining health-related information (health literacy), and confidence in taking care of themselves (health self-efficacy) among NHA in comparison to the Non-Hispanic White (NHW) population.

Cost Effectiveness of Zanubrutinib Versus Ibrutinib in Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background: While the efficacy and safety of zanubrutinib have been established in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the evidence on cost effectiveness is still lacking.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia from the commercial payer perspective in the USA.

Methods: A partitioned survival model was developed based on survival curves from the phase III ALPINE trial.

Productivity Loss Among Opioid and Benzodiazepine Users in the United States: A Medical Expenditure Panel Survey From 2010 to 2019.

Objective: The aim of the study is to estimate the association between productivity losses and the use of prescription opioids and benzodiazepines among employed US adults with painful conditions.

Methods: Using Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (2010-2019), we used two-part (logistic regression and generalized linear model with zero-truncated negative binomial link) model to compare missed workdays due to illness or injury among employed adults with a painful condition.

Results: Of the eligible sample of 57,413 working US individuals, 14.

Hospital- and county-level characteristics explain geographic variability in prices of cancer-related procedures: Implications for policy and interventions.

Background: Healthcare costs in the U.S. are high and variable, which can hinder access and impact health outcomes across communities.

REAP-2: An interactive quantitative tool for robust and efficient dose-response curve estimation.

REAP-2 is an interactive dose-response curve estimation tool for Robust and Efficient Assessment of drug Potency. It provides user-friendly dose-response curve estimation for studies and conducts statistical testing for model comparisons with a redesigned user interface. We also make a major update of the underlying estimation method with penalized beta regression, which demonstrates great reliability and accuracy in dose estimation and uncertainty quantification.