Association of Step Count with Cardiorespiratory Fitness: Results from the Virtual 2-Minute Step Test.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that step count based on a virtual 2-minute step test (2MST) predicts cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Veteran Affairs Medical Centers participating in a randomized trial of functional exercise training delivered by videoconferencing.

Association of chronotropic incompetence with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults with HIV.

Objective: Understanding the physiological drivers of reduced cardiorespiratory fitness in people with HIV (PWH) will inform strategies to optimize healthspan. Chronotropic incompetence is common in heart failure and associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness yet is understudied in PWH. The objective was to determine the prevalence of chronotropic incompetence and its relationship with cardiorespiratory fitness.

Using Active Surveillance to Identify Monoclonal Antibody Candidates Among COVID-19-Positive Veterans in the Atlanta VA Health Care System.

Background: Strategies for optimizing identification and outreach to potential candidates for monoclonal antibody (Mab) therapy for COVID-19 are not clear. Using a centralized, active surveillance system, the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System (AVAHCS) infectious disease (ID) team identified candidates for Mab infusion and provided treatment.

Observations: As part of a quality improvement project from December 28, 2020, to August 31, 2021, a clinical team consisting of ID pharmacists and physicians reviewed each outpatient with a positive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test daily at the AVAHCS.

A telehealth-delivered intervention to extend the veteran HIV treatment cascade for cardiovascular disease prevention: V-EXTRA-CVD study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Veterans living with HIV have up to twice the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) compared to those without HIV. Our study seeks to test a non-physician led virtual self-management implementation strategy to reduce ASCVD risk among people living with HIV (PWH). We aim to conduct a randomized control trial among PWH ( = 300) with a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN) who are enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) clinics, on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), randomized 1:1 to intervention education control for a 12-month duration.

Clinical characteristics and social determinants of health associated with 30-day hospital readmissions of patients with COVID-19.

COVID-19 readmissions are associated with increased patient mortality and healthcare system strain. This retrospective cohort study of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 positive adults (18 years) hospitalized and readmitted within 30 days of discharge from index admission was performed at eight Atlanta hospitals from March to December 2020. The objective was to describe COVID-19 patient-level demographics and clinical characteristics, and community-level social determinants of health (SDoH) that contribute to 30-day readmissions.

Diagnostic and Treatment Monitoring Potential of A Stool-Based Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

A quantifiable, stool-based, () test has potential complementary value to respiratory specimens. Limit of detection (LOD) was determined by spiking control stool. Clinical test performance was evaluated in a cohort with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) ( = 166) and asymptomatic household TB child contacts ( = 105).

T-SPOT.TB Performance in Routine Pediatric Practice in a Low TB Burden Setting.

Background: The T-SPOT.TB, an interferon-gamma release assay, is an indirect test of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Due to sparse and conflicting evidence, the use of interferon-gamma release assay is limited in young and HIV-infected children.