Association of Continuous Glucose Monitor Receipt and Diabetes Care Provider Type: A Cohort Study of West Virginia Medicaid Beneficiaries With Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of West Virginia Medicaid (WVM) beneficiaries with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with a WVM administrative claim for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) supplies by whether they received medical care from a board-certified endocrinologist.

Methods: A total of 1494 WVM beneficiaries aged 20-64 with T1D were retrospectively followed from May 2018 to April 2020. The sample consisted of 2 groups: those receiving medical care from board-certified endocrinologists and those receiving medical care from other providers.

The Impact of the Flint Water Crisis on Fertility.

Flint switched its public water source in April 2014, increasing exposure to lead and other contaminants. We compare the change in the fertility rate and in health at birth in Flint before and after the water switch to the changes in other cities in Michigan. We find that Flint fertility rates decreased by 12 % and that overall health at birth decreased.

Glaucoma, Alzheimer disease and other dementia: a longitudinal analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) or other dementia in patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in a nationally representative longitudinal sample of elderly persons.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study (January 1, 1994-December 31, 2007) used Medicare 5% claims data. We identified beneficiaries aged 68+ years who had at least two claims with diagnoses of OAG and no Alzheimer or other dementia in 1994, using a 3-year look-back period between 1991 and 1993 (n = 63,235) and beneficiaries matched on age, sex, race, and Charlson index without a diagnosis of OAG throughout the observational period (n = 63,235), using propensity score matching.

Ocular complications after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in Medicare patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine longitudinal rates of ocular complications after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a nationally representative longitudinal sample.

Design: Retrospective, longitudinal case-control study.

Methods: Using the Medicare 5% claims database, diagnoses of neovascular AMD and anti-VEGF injections of ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or pegaptanib were identified from International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology procedure codes.

Severe adverse events after cataract surgery among medicare beneficiaries.

Purpose: To determine rates and risk factors associated with severe postoperative complications after cataract surgery and whether they have been changing over the past decade.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Participants: A total of 221 594 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent cataract surgery during 1994-2006.

Alcohol consumption in early adulthood and schooling completed and labor market outcomes at midlife by race and gender.

Objectives: We assessed the relation of alcohol consumption in young adulthood to problem alcohol consumption 10 years later and to educational attainment and labor market outcomes at midlife. We considered whether these relations differ between Blacks and Whites.

Methods: We classified individuals on the basis of their drinking frequency patterns with data from the 1982 to 1984 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (respondents aged 19-27 years).

Risk of glaucoma among patients with benign essential blepharospasm.

Purpose: Debate exists whether intraocular pressure fluctuation is a risk factor for glaucoma. Patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) experience intermittent, ultra-short-term intraocular pressure elevations from frequent blinking and spastic eyelid closure. This article explores the development of incident glaucoma after BEB diagnosis.

Receipt of care and reduction of lower extremity amputations in a nationally representative sample of U.S. Elderly.

Objective: To determine effectiveness of receipt of care from podiatrist and lower extremity clinician specialists (LEC specialists) on diabetes mellitus (DM)-related lower extremity amputation.

Data Sources: Medicare 5 percent sample claims, 1991-2007.

Study Design: Individuals with DM-related lower extremity complications (LECs) were followed 6 years.

One-year outcomes after retinal detachment surgery among medicare beneficiaries.

Purpose: To determine longitudinal rates of second retinal detachment operation and postoperative adverse outcomes after retinal detachment surgery in a nationally representative sample of older Americans.

Design: Retrospective, longitudinal cohort analysis.

Methods: A total of 9216 Medicare beneficiaries were identified from the Medicare 5% sample who were diagnosed with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and underwent primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckle, pneumatic retinopexy, or laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy alone.

Effects of receipt of guideline-recommended care on onset of diabetic retinopathy and its progression.

Objective: To determine whether persons in a community setting diagnosed with diabetes who received recommended patterns of care experience improved vision outcomes over a 3-year time period.

Design: Retrospective, longitudinal, cohort analysis.

Participants: Persons diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), with no prior diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy (DR; n = 5989) from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (1992-2004).