Septicemia in patients with ESRD is associated with decreased hematocrit and increased use of erythropoietin.

Septicemia, a common complication in chronic dialysis patients, may be an important factor in erythropoietin (EPO) hyporesponsiveness, because it is a form of inflammation. The quantitative impact of septicemia on EPO requirements has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to analyze patterns of EPO use and levels of anemia among patients who had ESRD and were hospitalized with septicemia.

Hospitals' compliance with prophylaxis guidelines for venous thromboembolism.

Purpose: A study was conducted to evaluate compliance with the Sixth American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy guidelines for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitals.

Methods: Using the HealthFacts database, hospitalized patients, age 40 years or more, with medical conditions at risk for VTE (surgical, trauma, and acute spinal injury patients) were identified. Hospital admissions on or after January 1, 2001, and concluded by March 31, 2005, were included if they met any of the following conditions as defined in the ACCP Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy guidelines: patients at risk of VTE medical conditions, major orthopedic surgery, general surgery, gynecological surgery, urologic surgery, trauma, neurosurgery, and acute spinal cord injury.

Development and validation of a preference weight multiattribute health outcome measure for rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To develop and validate multiattribute measures for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to report health states and estimate preference weights.

Methods: Survey materials were mailed to 748 patients. Factor analysis, an item response theory-based model, and an internal consistency test were used to identify attributes and evaluate items.

Revalidation of the original Cedars-Sinai health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis questionnaire.

Objective: To assess the psychometric characteristics of the original 33-item Cedars-Sinai Health-Related Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis Questionnaire (O-CSHQ-RA) and 11-item CSHQ-RA Short Form (SF) using a representative population of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from 55 sites across the United States.

Methods: Data were from a 24-week multicenter, open-label, single-arm study of 312 RA patients receiving anakinra. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to indicate the internal consistency.

Mortality differences among organisms causing septicemia in hemodialysis patients.

Septicemia is a serious problem in hemodialysis patients because it can lead to life-threatening complications and a persistently elevated risk of death. Most analyses have not examined whether there are differences in mortality risk among the organisms that cause these episodes of septicemia. This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of first septicemia hospitalizations during the first year of hemodialysis.

PTH and the risks for hip, vertebral, and pelvic fractures among patients on dialysis.

Background: Few investigations have described fracture risk and its relation to disorders in calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) metabolism in the end-stage renal disease population.

Methods: Laboratory values for Ca, P, and PTH were obtained from Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study (DMMS) Waves 1 to 4. Additional data available from the US Renal Data System were used to determine the incidence and associated costs of hip, vertebral, and pelvic fractures in 9,007 patients with nonmissing laboratory values and Medicare as primary payor.

Measuring preference weights for American college of rheumatology response criteria for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To estimate weights for health states comprising American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response and different levels of adverse events associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments.

Methods: A survey was mailed to 748 patients with RA from southern California. In addition to several questionnaires commonly used for patients with RA, patients were instructed to evaluate 10 hypothetical health states, in which they could have an ACR response and/or adverse events due to new treatments, with a visual analog scale (VAS).

Clinical and economic outcomes of Staphylococcus aureus septicemia in ESRD patients receiving hemodialysis.

Background: Serious infections are a common problem in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The purpose of this study is to identify clinical and economic consequences of hospitalizations for septicemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus in hemodialysis patients with ESRD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data obtained from the US Renal Data System to determine lengths of stay and Medicare paid costs for index hospitalizations and episodes of care for patients with ESRD hospitalized with septicemia caused by S aureus.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating protein therapy and the decline of renal function: a retrospective analysis of patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background/aims: Previous studies have hinted at possible associations between anemia and progression of renal disease. The study objective was to determine whether treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins (ESPs) can curb the rate of decline in renal function in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Observational, before/after analysis using electronic medical records from the Veterans Administration (VA).

Coerced treatment for methamphetamine abuse: differential patient characteristics and outcomes.

Policymakers have responded to the increase in the prevalence of methamphetamine (MA) use and the associated social costs (such as crime and child abuse and neglect) by mandating a growing number of MA users to substance abuse treatment via the criminal justice system (CJS) and/or child protective service (CPS) agencies. However, empirical evidence remains sparse about treatment outcomes specifically for MA users who report that their treatment admission occurred under such pressures. This analysis uses natural history interview data from 350 clients treated for MA use in Los Angeles County to examine clients' self-reported CJS/CPS pressure to enter treatment, comparing background and treatment characteristics and selected treatment outcomes across groups defined by existence of such perceived pressure and source of pressure.

Meta-analysis: angiotensin-receptor blockers in chronic heart failure and high-risk acute myocardial infarction.

Background: The role of angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) in treating patients with chronic heart failure and high-risk acute myocardial infarction (MI) has been controversial, and recent clinical trials provide more information on this topic.

Purpose: To quantify the effect of ARBs when compared with placebo (with and without background angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors) and ACE inhibitors on all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalizations in patients with chronic heart failure and high-risk acute MI.

Data Sources: Data from original research published through 13 November 2003.