COVID-19 Pandemic and Quality of Care and Outcomes of Acute Stroke Hospitalizations: the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program.

Introduction: Studies documented significant reductions in emergency department visits and hospitalizations for acute stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic. A limited number of studies assessed the adherence to stroke performance measures during the pandemic. We examined rates of stroke hospitalization and adherence to stroke quality-of-care measures before and during the early phase of pandemic.

Defect-free care trends in the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, 2008-2018.

Background: In an effort to improve stroke quality of care and patient outcomes, quality of care metrics are monitored to assess utilization of evidence-based stroke care processes as part of the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program (PCNASP). We aimed to assess temporal trends in defect-free care (DFC) received by stroke patients in the PCNASP between 2008 and 2018.

Methods: Quality of care data for 10 performance measures were available for 849,793 patients aged ≥18 years who were admitted to a participating hospital with a clinical diagnosis of stroke between 2008 and 2018.

Sodium in Store and Restaurant Food Environments - Guam, 2015.

Compared with the United States overall, Guam has higher mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and stroke (1). Excess sodium intake can increase blood pressure and risk for cardiovascular disease (2,3). To determine the availability and promotion of lower-sodium options in the nutrition environment, the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) conducted an assessment in September 2015 using previously validated tools adapted to include sodium measures.

Prevalence of Excess Sodium Intake in the United States - NHANES, 2009-2012.

Hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, occurs among 29% of U.S. adults, and lowering excess sodium intake can reduce blood pressure (1-3).

Effects of total-body digital photography on cancer worry in patients with atypical mole syndrome.

Importance: Cancer worry about developing melanoma in at-risk patients may affect one's quality of life and adherence to screening. Little is known about melanoma-related worry in patients with atypical mole syndrome (AMS).

Objectives: To quantify levels and elucidate predictors of worry related to developing melanoma in patients with AMS and to determine whether total-body digital photography (TBDP) in pigmented lesion clinics (PLCs) reduces worry.