Publications by authors named "Farah M Chowdhury"
Hypertension is one of the largest modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the United States, and when it occurs during pregnancy, it can lead to serious risks for both the mother and child. There is currently no nationwide or state surveillance system that specifically monitors hypertension among women of reproductive age (WRA). We reviewed hypertension information available in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) health surveys, the Health care Cost and Utilization Project administrative data sets (National Inpatient Sample, State Inpatient Databases, Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, and State Emergency Department Database and the Nationwide Readmissions Database), and the National Vital Statistics System.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This article is a systematic review of the effectiveness of four practices (assay selection, decision point cardiac troponin (cTn) threshold selection, serial testing, and point of care testing) for improving the diagnostic accuracy Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) in the Emergency Department.
Design And Methods: The CDC-funded Laboratory Medicine Best Practices (LMBP) Initiative systematic review method for quality improvement practices was used.
Results: The current ACC/AHA guidelines recommend using cardiac troponin assays with a 99th percentile upper reference limit (URL) diagnostic threshold to diagnose NSTEMI.
Objective: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) among adults with type 2 diabetes using the Short Form (SF)-36 and to obtain pooled estimates of HRQL for subpopulations defined by demographic characteristics, diabetes-related complications, and comorbidities.
Study Design And Methods: We conducted computerized searches of multiple electronic bibliographic databases, and studies in any language were selected in which HRQL was reported among adults with type 2 diabetes using the SF-36. Estimates were combined using a random-effects model.
Objective: To synthesize the cost-effectiveness (CE) of interventions to prevent and control diabetes, its complications, and comorbidities.
Research Design And Methods: We conducted a systematic review of literature on the CE of diabetes interventions recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and published between January 1985 and May 2008. We categorized the strength of evidence about the CE of an intervention as strong, supportive, or uncertain.
Problem: Chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes) are the leading causes of death in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed to increase retinal screening among people with diabetes.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted of multiple electronic bibliographic databases up to May 2005. Studies were included if interventions were used to promote screening for diabetic retinopathy in any language and with any study design.
Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is increasingly used to measure the outcomes of interventions among people with chronic diseases.
Objectives: To assess the effect of interventions for adults with diabetes on HRQL, as measured by the Short Form (SF)-36 questionnaire.
Research Design: The systematic review was conducted using the methods of the Cochrane Collaboration.
Background: The contributions of community health workers (CHWs) in the delivery of culturally relevant programs for hypertension control have been studied since the 1970s. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of CHWs in supporting the care of people with hypertension.
Methods: Computerized searches were conducted of multiple bibliographic electronic databases from their inception until May 2006.