Publications by authors named "Lauren A Williams"
The principal nature-based solution for offsetting relative sea-level rise in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta is the unabated delivery, dispersal, and deposition of the rivers' ~1 billion-tonne annual sediment load. Recent hydrological transport modeling suggests that strengthening monsoon precipitation in the 21st century could increase this sediment delivery 34-60%; yet other studies demonstrate that sediment could decline 15-80% if planned dams and river diversions are fully implemented. We validate these modeled ranges by developing a comprehensive field-based sediment budget that quantifies the supply of Ganges-Brahmaputra river sediment under varying Holocene climate conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Confounding by indication is a serious threat to comparative studies using real world data. We assessed the utility of automated data-adaptive analytic approach for confounding adjustment when both claims and clinical registry data are available.
Methods: We used a comparative study example of carotid artery stenting (CAS) vs.
Objective: To describe adolescents' sleep on school and weekend nights using multiple methods and to examine the links between sleep variability, quality, and duration with diabetes indicators.
Methods: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (N = 65, mean age = 15.0, 52.
Rationale: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a cornerstone of treatment for patients with severe exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where it has been shown to reduce the need for intubation, hospital length of stay, and mortality. Despite high-quality evidence and strong recommendations in clinical guidelines, use of NIV varies widely across hospitals.
Objectives: To identify approaches used by hospitals that have been successful in implementing NIV to treat patients with severe exacerbations of COPD.
Rationale: Cannabis is commonly used by humans to relieve stress.
Objectives And Methods: Here, we evaluate the potential of intraperitoneally (i.p.
Background: Effectiveness of carotid artery stenting (CAS) relative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) among Medicare patients has not been established. We compared effectiveness of CAS versus CEA among Medicare beneficiaries.
Methods And Results: We linked Medicare data (2000-2009) to the Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Registry (2005-2008) and the National Cardiovascular Data Registry's (NCDR) Carotid Artery Revascularization and Endarterectomy Registry (2006-2008/2009).
Background: Clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy of carotid artery stenting (CAS) relative to carotid endarterectomy when performed by physicians with demonstrated proficiency. It is unclear how CAS performance may be influenced by the diversity in CAS and non-CAS provider volumes in routine clinical practice.
Methods And Results: We linked Medicare claims to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' CAS Database (2005-2009).
Enhanced evaluation data initiates a collaborative out-of-school time food sponsors work group.
J Public Health Manag Pract
December 2016
Background: Philadelphia's Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Out-of-School Time (OST) Initiative led by the Health Promotion Council developed 10 Healthy Living Guidelines for Out-of-School Time Programs to support a healthy environment for Philadelphia youth in 200 OST programs. Health Promotion Council participated in an enhanced cross-site evaluation with the national Robert Wood Johnson Foundation evaluator during the final year of funding to learn more about food and nutrition in the OST setting, and to share data and engage the OST food providers.
Methods: A plate waste study measured the quantity and nutrition composition of meals served to youth compared to food not eaten.
Background And Purpose: After the 2005 National Coverage Determination to reimburse carotid artery stenting (CAS) for Medicare beneficiaries, the number of CAS procedures increased and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) decreased. We evaluated trends in surgeons' past-year CEA case-volume and 30-day mortality after CEA, and their association before and after the National Coverage Determination.
Methods: In a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing CEA (2001-2008) and CAS (2005-2008) using Medicare data, we described yearly trends of CEA and CAS rates, patient characteristics, and 30-day mortality after CEA.
Importance: Despite increased carotid artery stenting (CAS) dissemination following the 2005 National Coverage Determination, to our knowledge, periprocedural and long-term outcomes have not been described among Medicare beneficiaries.
Objective: To describe the incidence of outcomes during and after the periprocedural period among Medicare beneficiaries undergoing CAS.
Design, Setting, And Participants: Observational study with a mean follow-up time of approximately 2 years among 22,516 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries at least 66 years old undergoing CAS (2005-2009) who were linked to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' CAS database.
Objective: To assess the potential contribution of unmeasured general health status to patient selection in assessments of the clinical effectiveness of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Linked data from an ICD registry, heart failure registry, and Medicare claims data for ICDs implanted in 2005 through 2009.
Background: Linking patient registries with administrative databases can enhance the utility of the databases for epidemiological and comparative effectiveness research. However, registries often lack direct personal identifiers, and the validity of record linkage using multiple indirect personal identifiers is not well understood.
Methods And Results: Using a large contemporary national cardiovascular device registry and 100% Medicare inpatient data, we linked hospitalization-level records.