Association of Monoclonal Gammopathy with Progression to ESKD among US Veterans.

Background And Objectives: Whether patients with monoclonal protein are at a higher risk for progression of kidney disease is not known. The goal of this study was to measure the association of monoclonal protein with progression to ESKD.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: This was a retrospective cohort study of 2,156,317 patients who underwent serum creatinine testing between October 1, 2000 and September 30, 2001 at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, among whom 21,898 had paraprotein testing within 1 year before or after cohort entry.

Racial differences in the evaluation and treatment of hepatitis C among veterans: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: We examined the association between race and hepatitis C virus (HCV) evaluation and treatment of veterans in the Northwest Network of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Methods: In our retrospective cohort study, we used medical records to determine antiviral treatment of 4263 HCV-infected patients from 8 VA medical centers. Secondary outcomes included specialty referrals, laboratory evaluation, viral genotype testing, and liver biopsy.

Time to discontinuation and self-discontinuation of olanzapine and risperidone in patients with schizophrenia in a naturalistic outpatient setting.

Background: Although efficacy of antipsychotic medications is well documented, their effectiveness in real-world practice is less robust. We examined the effectiveness of olanzapine and risperidone in schizophrenia in a naturalistic setting.

Methods: We used an electronic medical records database at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center to conduct a retrospective study of all new outpatient medication trials of olanzapine (n = 221) and risperidone (n = 274) over a 2-year period beginning January 1999 in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Complications and antireflux medication use after antireflux surgery.

Background & Aims: Although antireflux surgery is increasingly common, few studies have assessed the associated complications and health care use after surgery. The aim of this study was to estimate postoperative complications and continued use of antireflux medications and to identify predictors of complications.

Methods: Through a review of the Department of Veterans Affairs administrative databases, all patients undergoing antireflux surgery from October 1, 1990, through January 29, 2001, were identified.