Impact of Inhaled Epoprostenol in Patients on COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can progress to critical illness and the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Variability in clinical presentation has led to 2 distinct theoretical classifications of COVID-19 ARDS based on different phenotypical presentations. The first of which follows closely to traditional ARDS presenting as severe hypoxemia with markedly reduced lung compliance, whereas the second presents as severe hypoxemia with preserved to high lung compliance.

Publishing protocols for partnered research.

Published scientific protocols are advocated as a means of controlling bias in research reporting. Indeed, many journals require a study protocol with manuscript submission. However, publishing protocols of partnered research (PPR) can be challenging in light of the research model's dynamic nature, especially as no current reporting standards exist.

Correlates of repeat lipid testing in patients with coronary heart disease.

Importance: Understanding the frequency and correlates of redundant lipid testing could identify areas for quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency of cholesterol care in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Objective: To determine the frequency and correlates of repeat lipid testing in patients with CHD who attained low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals and received no treatment intensification.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We assessed the proportion of patients with LDL-C levels of less than 100 mg/dL and no intensification of lipid-lowering therapy who underwent repeat lipid testing during an 11-month follow-up period.

Frequency and correlates of treatment intensification for elevated cholesterol levels in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Although current performance measures define low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels <100 mg/dL in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as good quality, they provide a snapshot and do not address whether treatment intensification was performed to manage elevated LDL-C levels.

Methods: We determined the proportion of patients with CVD (n = 22,888) with LDL-C <100 mg/dL and the proportion with uncontrolled LDL-C levels (≥100 mg/dL) who received treatment intensification within the 45-day follow-up in a Veterans Affairs Network. We evaluated facility, provider, and patient correlates of treatment intensification.