Trends in Time Spent Viremic Among Persons Newly Diagnosed With HIV in San Francisco.

Objective: To examine trends in time spent viremic and initiation into antiretroviral treatment (ART) among persons newly diagnosed with HIV in San Francisco.

Methods: Using HIV surveillance data, we included persons diagnosed with HIV during 2012-2020, a San Francisco resident at HIV diagnosis, alive 12 months after HIV diagnosis, and had ≥2 viral load tests within 12 months after diagnosis. Percent person-time spent (pPT) >200, pPT >1500, and pPT >10,000 copies per milliliter was calculated during the 12 months after HIV diagnosis.

Provider and Patient Determinants of Generic Levothyroxine Prescribing: An Electronic Health Records-Based Study.

Background: Despite the availability of generic levothyroxine products for more than a decade, uptake of these products is poor.

Objective: We sought to evaluate determinants of generic prescribing of levothyroxine.

Methods: In a cross-sectional analysis of electronic health records data between 2010 and 2013, we identified adult patients with a levothyroxine prescription from a primary-care physician (PCP) or endocrinologist.

Estimating Generic Drug Use with Electronic Health Records Data from a Health Care Delivery System: Implications for Quality Improvement and Research.

Background: Generic drug use in the outpatient setting is typically measured with adjudicated pharmacy claims; however, not all delivery systems have access to these data for their clinical populations.

Objective: To develop an algorithm to estimate generic drug use in an outpatient setting using electronic health records (EHR) data.

Methods: Twenty-five therapeutic classes were chosen with the potential for low generic use that were prescribed to managed care beneficiaries in a health care system in Northern California.

First Trimester Hemoglobin A1c Prediction of Gestational Diabetes.

Objective The objective of this study is to examine whether a first trimester hemoglobin A1c (A1C) of 5.7 to 6.4% predicts an abnormal second trimester oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Dyslipidemia in Special Ethnic Populations.

This article reviews racial/ethnic differences in dyslipidemia-prevalence of dyslipidemia, its relation to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality rates, response to lipid-lowering agents, and lifestyle modification. Asian Indians, Filipinos, and Hispanics are at higher risk for dyslipidemia, which is consistent with the higher CHD mortality rates in these groups. Statins may have greater efficacy for Asians, but the data are mixed.

Engaging South Asian women with type 2 diabetes in a culturally relevant exercise intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: We examined the efficacy of a culturally relevant exercise program in improving glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among South Asian women with type 2 diabetes, compared with usual care.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled 8-week pilot study of Bollywood dance among South Asian women with type 2 diabetes. The intervention consisted of 1 h Bollywood dance classes offered twice per week.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Gestational Diabetes Prevalence and Contribution of Common Risk Factors.

Background: The White House, the American Heart Association, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have all recently acknowledged the need to disaggregate Asian American subgroups to better understand this heterogeneous racial group. This study aims to assess racial/ethnic differences in relative contribution of risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among Asian subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese), Hispanics, non-Hispanic blacks, and non-Hispanic whites.

Methods: Pregnant women in 2007-2012 were identified through California state birth certificate records and linked to the electronic health records in a large mixed-payer ambulatory care organisation in Northern California (n = 24 195).

Dyslipidemia in special ethnic populations.

This article reviews racial/ethnic differences in dyslipidemia-prevalence of dyslipidemia, its relation to coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke mortality rates, response to lipid-lowering agents, and lifestyle modification. Asian Indians, Filipinos, and Hispanics are at higher risk for dyslipidemia, which is consistent with the higher CHD mortality rates in these groups. Statins may have greater efficacy for Asians, but the data are mixed.

Comparative effectiveness of early versus delayed metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of early versus delayed initiation of metformin in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We identified 2925 new users of metformin with type 2 diabetes between 2005 and 2012 in the electronic health records of an integrated health system in Northern California. Patients were matched 1:1 on the propensity for receiving early treatment (defined as ≤6 months from first evidence of diabetes).

Patient and provider characteristics associated with colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening among Asian Americans.

Background: Routinely recommended screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers can significantly reduce mortality from these types of cancer, yet screening is underutilized among Asians. Surveys rely on self-report and often are underpowered for analysis by Asian ethnicities. Electronic health records (EHR) include validated (as opposed to recall-based) rates of cancer screening.

Relation between hemoglobin a(1c) and outcomes in heart failure patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the general population, elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) increases the risk for developing heart failure (HF). However, in patients with established HF, the association of HbA(1c) level with outcomes is not well established. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between HbA(1c) and outcomes in patients with HF with and without DM.