Relations between QRS|T Angle, Cardiac Risk Factors, and Mortality in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

• Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
• Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
• Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
• Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
• Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
• Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

American Journal of Cardiology
Whang W, Shimbo D, Levitan EB, et al. Relations between QRS|T angle, cardiac risk factors, and mortality in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Am J Cardiol 2012 Apr 1; 109(7):981-7. [Supported in part by grant K12 HS19465 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Epidemiology
Palmsten K, Setoguchi S, Margulis AV, Patrick AR, Hernandez-Diaz S. Elevated risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women with depression: depression or antidepressants? Am J Epidemiol 2012 May 15; 175(10):988-97. [Supported by grant R01 HS18533-01 (to fifth author).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Tiryaki F, Nutescu EA, Hennenfent JA, et al. Anticoagulation therapy for hospitalized patients: patterns of use, compliance with national guidelines, and performance on quality measures. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2011 Jul 1; 68(13):1239-44. [Supported in part by grant U18 HS16973.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Infection Control
Welsh CA, Flanagan ME, Hoke SC, et al, for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital-Acquired Infections Collaborative. Reducing health care-associated infections (HAIs): Lessons learned from a national collaborative of regional HAI programs. Am J Infect Control 2011 Feb; 40(1):29-34. [Supported by contract HHSA 290-2006-0001-31; cites AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, 2008, and Adopting Information Technology to Drive Improvement in Patient Safety: Lessons from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Health Information Technology Grantees, 2009, and the TeamSTEPPS: National Implementation page on AHRQ's TeamSTEPPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Hilligoss B, Cohen MD. The unappreciated challenges of between-unit handoffs: negotiating and coordinating across boundaries. Ann Emerg Med 2012 May 4 [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by Health Services Research Dissertation grant R36 HS18758; cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Health Services Research
Davies EA, Meterko MM, Charns MP, Seibert ME, Cleary PD. Factors affecting the use of patient survey data for quality improvement in the Veterans Health Administration. BMC Health Serv Res 2011 Dec 12; 11:334. [Supported in part by cooperative agreement grant U18 HS16978 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
Saleem JJ, Haggstrom DA, Militello LG, et al. Redesign of a computerized clinical reminder for colorectal cancer screening: a human-computer interaction evaluation. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2011 Nov 29; 11:74. [Supported in part by contract HHSA290-06-00013-3.] Select to access the abstract.

Krist AH, Peele E, Woolf SH, et al. Designing a patient-centered personal health record to promote preventive care. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2011 Nov 24; 11:73. [Supported in part by grants R18 HS17046-01 and R21 HS18811-01; incorporates preventive services that have received an "A" or "B" recommendation from the USPSTF in the interactive preventive health record developed for the study (and based on a conceptual model described in AHRQ-funded article by Krist and Woolf (JAMA, 2011)) and includes a table of data elements necessary to determine applicability of USPSTF recommendations; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence update on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009), targeted, updated systematic review on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008), and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on the Prevention and Chronic Care Program landing page of the AHRQ Web site; cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Sheridan, Woolf, and Harris (Am J Prev Med, 2004) on shared decision making about screening and chemoprevention.] Select to access the abstract.

BMJ Quality and Safety
Graber ML, Kissam S, Payne VL, Meyer AN, Sorensen A, Lenfestey N, Tant E, Henriksen K, et al. Cognitive interventions to reduce diagnostic error: a narrative review. BMJ Qual Saf 2012 Apr 27 [Epub ahead of print. Eighth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety; supported in part by ACTION II contract HHSA290-2006-00001, task order 8; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Autopsy as an Outcome and Performance Measure, 2002, and mentions AHRQ's Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web (Web M&M) as an alternative to autopsies for receiving feedback on clinicians' diagnostic performance; cites AHRQ publication, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Alper SJ, Holden RJ, Scanlon MC, Patel N, Kaushal R, Skibinski K, Brown RL, Karsh BT. Self-reported violations during medication administration in two paediatric hospitals. BMJ Qual Saf 2012 May; 21(5):408-15. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS013610 (last author is principal investigator) and post-doctoral training grant 5 T32 HS000083-11 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Cerebrovascular Diseases
Souza LC, Payabvash S, Wang Y, et al. Admission CT perfusion is an independent predictor of hemorrhagic transformation in acute stroke with similar accuracy to DWI. Cerebrovasc Dis 2012; 33(1):8-15. [Supported by grant R01 HS11392.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Therapeutics
Anderson HD, Pace WD, Libby AM, et al. Rates of 5 common antidepressant side effects among new adult and adolescent cases of depression: a retrospective US claims study. Clin Ther 2012 Jan; 34(1):113-23. [Supported by Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) contract HHSA290-2005-0037-1, task order 4 and Career Development Award grant K12 HS19464; uses six antidepressant groups of interest based on AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness of Second-Generation Antidepressants in the Pharmacologic Treatment of Adult Depression, 2007; acknowledges support from AHRQ project officer Gurvaneet Randhawa (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence).]

Epidemiology
Gagne JJ, Rassen JA, Walker AM, et al. Active safety monitoring of new medical products using electronic healthcare data: selecting alerting rules. Epidemiology 2012 Mar; 23(2):238-46. [Supported by grant 1 K01 HS18088 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Family Medicine
Kruse RL, Koopman RJ, Wakefield BJ, et al. Internet use by primary care patients: where is the digital divide? Fam Med 2012 May; 44(5):342-7. [Supported by grant R18 HS17035.]

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Tsai CL, Lee WY, Hanania NA, et al. Age-related differences in clinical outcomes for acute asthma in the United States, 2006-2008. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012 May; 129(5):1252-8.e1. [Supported in part by grant R03 HS20722; uses 2006-2008 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data, HCUP Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) in conjunction with AHRQ's Comorbidity Software," citing Overview of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), Comorbidity Software, Version 3.7, and Hierarchical Modeling using HCUP Data, HCUP Methods Series Report 2007-01, 2007, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; briefly describes/mentions the HCUP State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) and the HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Huybrechts KF, Rothman KJ, Brookhart MA, et al. Variation in antipsychotic treatment choice across US nursing homes. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2012 Feb; 32(1):11-17. [Supported by grant HS17918.] Select to access the abstract.

Gaynes BN, Dusetzina SB, Ellis AR, et al. Treating depression after initial treatment failure: directly comparing switch and augmenting strategies in STAR*D. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2012 Feb; 32(1):114-19. [Supported by DEcIDE contract 290-2005-00401; acknowledges the receipt of other AHRQ funding by all authors except the fifth (Farley JF).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy
Malone DC, Saverno KR. Evaluation of a wireless handheld medication management device in the prevention of drug-drug interactions in a Medicaid population. J Manag Care Pharm 2012 Jan-Feb; 18(1):33-45. [Supported by grant U18 HS10385-05; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Kaushal et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2003) on the effects of computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems on medication safety, prepared by the University of California San Francisco-Stanford Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC).] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Ray WA, Murray KT, Hall K, et al. Azithromycin and the risk of cardiovascular death. N Engl J Med 2012 May 17; 366(20):1881-90. [Supported in part by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) cooperative agreement grant HS10384.] Select to access the abstract.

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
Lee E, Teschemaker AR, Johann-Liang R, et al. Off-label prescribing patterns of antidepressants in children and adolescents. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2012 Feb; 21(2):137-44. [Supported by grant 1 R24 HS11673.] Select to access the abstract.

Preventing Chronic DiseaseWilliams CD, Whitley BM, Hoyo C, et al. Dietary calcium and risk for prostate cancer: a case-control study among US veterans. Prev Chronic Dis 2012 Jan; 9:E39. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS00079.] Select to access the abstract.

Proceedings of the 2012 Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology Research Conference
Zodet MW, Hill SC, Zuvekas SH. Evaluating an alternative data source for editing MEPS drug prices. Proc 2012 Fed Comm Stat Methodol Res Conf 2012 Jan 10-12; Online. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Pharmacy Component (MEPS-PC) data; summarizes previous AHRQ-authored evaluations of MEPS prescription drug data by Hill, Zuvekas, and Zodet (Inquiry, 2011) and Zodet, Hill, and Miller (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (AHRQ Work Pap, 2010); cites AHRQ publication, Outpatient Prescription Drugs: Data Collection and Editing in the 1996 MEPS, MEPS Methodology Report 12, 2001.] Select to access the abstract (PDF file; Plugin Software Help).

Resuscitation
Govindarajan P, Lin L, Landman A, et al. Practice variability among the EMS systems participating in Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES). Resuscitation 2012 Jan; 83(1):76-80. [Supported in part by Career Development Award grant K08 HS17965-02 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Sociology of Health and Illness
Waitzkin H, Yager J, Santos R. Advancing the business creed? The framing of decisions about public sector managed care. Sociol Health Illn 2012 Jan; 34(1):31-48. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS09703 and 1 R03 HS13251.] Select to access the abstract.

Systematic Reviews
Chang SM, Slutsky J. Debunking myths of protocol registration. Syst Rev 2012 Feb 9; 1(1):4. [Authors are researcher in and director of, respectively, AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence; discusses AHRQ's EPC Program and systematic review protocol registration process, citing AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site, AHRQ-authored articles by Slutsky, Atkins, Chang, and Collins Sharp and Whitlock, Lopez, Chang, et al. (both in J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program, and AHRQ draft publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2012, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Urology
Hubert KC, Kokorowski PJ, Huang L, et al. Durability of antireflux effect of ureteral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux: findings on long-term cystography. Urology 2012 Mar; 79(3):675-9. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS19485 (to first author). Also refer to AHRQ-funded article by Sobieraj et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Neumann I, Rada G, Claro JC, et al. Oral direct factor Xa inhibitors versus low-molecular-weight heparin to prevent venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):710-19. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Guyatt, Oxman, Kunz, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2011) and Zhan, Kaczmarek, Loyo-Berrios, Sangl (first and fourth authors are, respectively, researchers in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) et al. (J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded article by Bradburn et al. (Stat Med, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Petersen LA, Simpson K, Sorelle R, et al. How variability in the institutional review board review process affects minimal-risk multisite health services research. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):728-35. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Public Health
Greenberg BL, Glick M. Screening for unidentified increased systemic disease risk in a dental setting. Am J Public Health 2012 May 17 [Epub ahead of print. Comments on article by Strauss et al. (Am J Public Health, 2012), which uses 2008 MEPS data, and compares findings with those from earlier study by Glick and Greenberg (J Am Dent Assoc, 2005).]

Archives of Internal Medicine
Jena AB, Chandra A, Lakdawalla D, et al. Outcomes of medical malpractice litigation against US physicians. Arch Intern Med 2012 May 14 [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-funded article by Studdert et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).]

Albrich WC, Dusemund F, Bucher B, et al. Effectiveness and safety of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy in lower respiratory tract infections in "real life": an international, multicenter poststudy survey (ProREAL). Arch Intern Med 2012 May 14; 172(9):715-22. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Aujesky et al. (Clin Infect Dis, 2009) and Fine et al. (N Engl J Med, 1997).]

Marcotte L, Seidman J, Trudel K, et al. Achieving meaningful use of health information technology: a guide for physicians to the EHR incentive programs. Arch Intern Med 2012 May 14; 172(9):731-6. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Simon et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2007).]

BMJ
Little to choose between second generation antidepressants. BMJ 2011 Dec 17; 343(7836):1240. [Summarizes AHRQ-funded updated meta-analysis by Gartlehner et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2011) on the comparative benefits and harms of second-generation antidepressants for treating major depressive disorder (prepared by the RTI International-University of North Carolina EPC under contract 290-2007-10056-I task order 2), which updates AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness of Second-Generation Antidepressants in the Pharmacologic Treatment of Adult Depression, 2007).]

Prochaska JJ, Hilton JF. Risk of cardiovascular serious adverse events associated with varenicline use for tobacco cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2012 May 12; 344(7856):e2856. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008; acknowledges that second author is coinvestigator on five non-related randomised controlled trials funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

BMJ Quality and Safety
Aboumatar HJ, Thompson D, Wu A, et al. Development and evaluation of a 3-day patient safety curriculum to advance knowledge, self-efficacy and system thinking among medical students. BMJ Qual Saf 2012 May; 21(5):416-22. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Battles (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) and Shea (Acad Med, 2001); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Newman-Toker and Pronovost (JAMA, 2009), Pronovost et al. (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2006), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Hartnell N, Mackinnon N, Sketris I, et al. Identifying, understanding and overcoming barriers to medication error reporting in hospitals: a focus group study. BMJ Qual Saf 2012 May; 21(5):361-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Jeffe et al. (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2004) and (Bates et al. (JAMA, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Lawton R, McEachan RR, Giles SJ, et al. Development of an evidence-based framework of factors contributing to patient safety incidents in hospital settings: a systematic review. BMJ Qual Saf 2012 May; 21(5):369-80. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Kaplan, Battles, et al. (Transfusion, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Hsiao and Shiffman (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2009), Holzmueller et al. (J Am Med Inform Assoc, 2005), Wu, Pronovost, and Morlock (J Crit Care, 2002), and others.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Shaw LJ, Veledar E, Wenger NK. Response to letters regarding article, "Comparative effectiveness of exercise electrocardiography with or without myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography in women with suspected coronary artery disease: results from the What Is the Optimal Method for Ischemia Evaluation in Women (WOMEN) Trial." Circulation 2012 May 15; 125(19):e934-e935. [Mentions the AHRQ-sponsored Randomized Evaluation of Patients with Stable Angina Comparing Utilization of Diagnostic Examinations (RESCUE) trials as an example of "growing interest on the part of funding agencies to embark on similar diagnostic trials."]

Family Medicine
Green MJ, Masters R, James B, et al. Do gifts from the pharmaceutical industry affect trust in physicians? Fam Med 2012 May; 44(5):325-31. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Safran et al. (Med Care, 1998).]

Healthcare Financial Management
Landman JH. No satisfaction? Measuring people's satisfaction with a product or service—or anything, for that matter—is never easy. Healthc Financ Manage 2012 May; 66(5):142-3. [Mentions AHRQ's Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).]

Journal of Environmental Health
Pugh KH, Zarus GM. The burden of environmental disease in the United States. J Environ Health 2012 May; 74(9):30-4. [Recommends conducting "a more in-depth study" using MEPS data to "estimate the prevalence and dollar cost" of the conditions reviewed.]

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles

American Family Physician
Lin KW. Do electronic health records improve processes and outcomes of preventive care? Am Fam Physician 2012 May 15; 85(10):956-7. [Author is former AHRQ researcher; notes improvements in provision of USPSTF-recommended screening through use of clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) for multiple preventive services.]

Heidelbaugh JJ, Tortorello M. The adult well male examination. Am Fam Physician 2012 May 15; 85(10):964-71. [Notes that the primary source of applicable preventive care guidelines is the USPSTF, citing USPSTF A-Z Topic Guide, 2012, and USPSTF recommendation statements, Screening for Osteoporosis, 2011, Screening for Testicular Cancer, 2011, Screening for Depression in Adults, 2009, Counseling and Interventions to Prevent Tobacco Use and Tobacco-Caused Disease in Adults and Pregnant Women, 2009, Screening for Skin Cancer, 2009, Screening for Illicit Drug Use, 2008, Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2008, Screening for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Using Spirometry, 2008, Screening for Lipid Disorders in Adults, 2008, Screening for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, 2008, Screening for Colorectal Cancer, 2008, Screening for High Blood Pressure (Reaffirmation Recommendation), 2007, Screening for HIV, 2005, Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, 2005, Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse, 2004, Screening for Syphilis Infection, 2004, and Screening for Obesity in Adults, 2003, all published on the USPSTF web site; cites USPSTF-sponsored systematic review on behavioral counseling to prevent sexually transmitted infections (Ann Intern Med, 2008), evidence review on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2011), evidence summary on screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using spirometry (Ann Intern Med, 2008), and evidence update on benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen screening for prostate cancer and associated AHRQ-funded systematic review by Wilt et al. on the comparative effectiveness and harms of treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer (both in Ann Intern Med, 2008); uses USPSTF, AHRQ, and AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) as data sources.] Select to access the abstract.

Imperiale TF, Ransohoff DF. Risk for colorectal cancer in persons with a family history of adenomatous polyps: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):703-9. [Includes USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008) in list of applicable recommendations for screening persons who have family members with adenomas, noting the lack of USPSTF lacks recommendations in this area; cites AHRQ guideline synthesis of World Gastroenterology Organisation guideline Colorectal Cancer Screening, 2007, as published on AHRQ's NGC Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Napoli C, Crudele V, Soricelli A, et al. Primary prevention of atherosclerosis: a clinical challenge for the reversal of epigenetic mechanisms? Circulation 2012 May 15; 125(19):2363-73. [Cites USPSTF evidence synthesis, Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events: An Update of the Evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2009.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Family Practice
George P, Farrell TW, Griswold MF. Hearing loss: help for the young and old: two simple questions; one for parents of newborns, one for older patients can improve hearing loss identification. Hearing aid troubleshooting tips can help you overcome 6 common patient objections. J Fam Pract 2012 May; 61(5):268-74. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on universal newborn screening and associated USPSTF-sponsored updated systematic review by Nelson et al. (Pediatrics, 2008).]

Campos-Outcalt D. The latest recommendations from the USPSTF. J Fam Pract 2012 May; 61(5):278-82. [Summarizes seven USPSTF recommendation statements finalized in 2011, including Screening for Cervical Cancer, 2012, Ocular Prophylaxis for Gonococcal Ophthalmia Neonatorum, 2011, Screening for Visual Impairment in Children Ages 1 to 5 Years, 2011, Screening for Osteoporosis, 2011, Screening for Testicular Cancer, 2011, and Screening for Bladder Cancer in Adults, 2011, all published on the USPSTF Web site and listed in Table 1, 2012 "USPSTF recommendations on screening for cervical cancer," and Table 2, "7 USPSTF recommendations finalized in 2011"; describes the new USPSTF review procedure requiring public comment on all draft recommendations and supporting evidence reports and gives applicable Web site addresses.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Pediatrics
Flaherman VJ, Kuzniewicz MW, Escobar GJ, et al. Total serum bilirubin exceeding exchange transfusion thresholds in the setting of universal screening. J Pediatr 2012 May; 160(5):796-800.e1. [Mentions USPSTF recommendations on universal bilirubin screening, citing USPSTF-sponsored systematic review by Trikalinos et al. (Pediatrics, 2009) on screening for bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates (performed by the Tufts EPC under contract 290-020022).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Martínez ME, Jacobs ET, Baron JA, et al. Dietary supplements and cancer prevention: balancing potential benefits against proven harms. J Natl Cancer Inst 2012 May 16; 104(10):732-9. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on routine vitamin supplementation to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease (Ann Intern Med, 2003) and USPSTF-sponsored updated meta-analysis on vitamin D with or without calcium supplementation for prevention of cancer and fractures (Ann Intern Med, 2011); cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements and Prevention of Chronic Disease, 2006, prepared by the John Hopkins University EPC under contract 290-02-0018.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Vascular Surgery
Ferket BS, Grootenboer N, Colkesen EB, et al. Systematic review of guidelines on abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. J Vasc Surg 2012 May; 55(5):1296-1304.e4. [Uses AHRQ's NGC and USPSTF Web sites to identify applicable guidelines and includes USPSTF recommendations on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (Ann Intern Med, 2005) as one of seven guidelines selected for comparative analysis; cites associated systematic evidence review by Fleming et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Rhodes KV. Taking a fresh look at routine screening for intimate partner violence: what can we do about what we know? Mayo Clin Proc 2012 May; 87(5):419-23. [Cites USPSTF recommendations in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, second edition, 1996; cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review on screening women and elderly adults for family and intimate partner violence (Ann Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

MMWR: Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human papillomavirus-associated cancers—United States, 2004-2008. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Apr 20; 61(15):258-61. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Cervical Cancer, 2012, as published on the USPSTF Web site.]

Urologe A
Recker F. [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation or "throwing the baby out with the bath water"). Urologe A 2012 Jan; 51(1):74-6. [Discusses updated USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer.]

West Virginia Medical Journal
John C, Neal W. Screening children for hyperlipidemia by primary care physicians in West Virginia. W V Med J 2012 May-Jun; 108(3):30-5. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for lipid disorders in children (Pediatrics, 2007) and USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Lipid Disorders in Adults, 2008, as published on USPSTF Web site.]

Clark K, Weir C. A review of depression prevention in primary care. W V Med J 2012 May-Jun; 108(3):64-8. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening for depression in adults (Ann Intern Med, 2002).]

Davisson L. Rational care or rationing care? Updates and controversies in women's prevention. W V Med J 2012 May-Jun; 108(3):70-6. [Discusses and compares with recommendations from other organizations various USPSTF prevention recommendations for women, including updated 2009 recommendations on screening for breast cancer, associated evidence update by Nelson et al., and related AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (all in Ann Intern Med, 2009), and updated 2012 cervical cancer screening recommendations (citing 2011 draft recommendations as published on the USPSTF Web site), updated 2009 USPSTF recommendations on aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, 2008 recommendations on lipid disorders in adults, and 2004 recommendations on screening for ovarian cancer (which the author notes are in the process of being updated), all accessed from the USPSTF A-Z Topic Guide on the USPSTF Web site.]

Goldberg TH. Preventive services for older adults: recommendations and Medicare coverage. W V Med J 2012 May-Jun; 108(3):82-7. [Discusses the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provision requiring coverage of routine preventive services graded A or B by the USPSTF (listing Medicare-covered items in Table 1, "Summary of Medicare Covered Preventive Services"), citing USPSTF A or B Recommendations as published on the USPSTF Web site, USPSTF-sponsored narrative review on risk factors and other epidemiologic considerations for cervical cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2011), USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008), USPSTF recommendations on screening for prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008), and USPSTF recommendation statements Screening for Osteoporosis, 2011, Screening for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Adults, 2008, Screening for Glaucoma, 2005, and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening, 2005, all published on the USPSTF Web site.]

Yousef GM, Sovani P, Devabhaktuni S, et al. Screening mammograms in Alzheimer's disease patients. W V Med J 2012 May-Jun; 108(3):92-5. [Discusses USPSTF recommendations on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009). Also refer to articles by Krist et al. (BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, 2011) and Chang and Slutsky (Syst Rev, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Sobieraj DM, Lee S, Coleman CI, et al. Prolonged versus standard-duration venous thromboprophylaxis in major orthopedic surgery: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):720-7. [Supported by contract 290-2007-10067-I and based on AHRQ research review, Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery, 2012 (performed by the University of Connecticut/Hartford Hospital EPC under the same contract); uses study quality assessment methods in AHRQ draft publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2011, as published on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site, and AHRQ-authored article by Owens D, Lohr K, Atkins (former AHRQ researcher) et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Brown K, Harbour R, Petrie J. Evaluation of guidelines on diabetes medication. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):752. [Comments on AHRQ-sponsored systematic review by Bennett et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) on the evaluation of guideline recommendations on oral medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus, prepared by the John Hopkins University under contract 290-02-0018.]

Giaccari A, Giorda CB, Riccardi G, et al. Evaluation of guidelines on diabetes medication. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):752-3. [Comments on AHRQ-sponsored systematic review by Bennett et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) on the evaluation of guideline recommendations on oral medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus, prepared by the John Hopkins University under contract 290-02-0018.]

Bennett WL, Odelola OA, Wilson LM. Evaluation of guidelines on diabetes medication. Ann Intern Med 2012 May 15; 156(10):753 [Author reply to comments by Brown et al. and Giaccari et al. cited above in this section; discusses use of AHRQ's NGC and other databases to perform updated searches; cites AHRQ-sponsored systematic review by Bolen et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007) on the comparative effectiveness and safety of oral medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus, prepared by the John Hopkins University EPC under contract 290-02-0018. Also refer to articles by Graber et al. (BMJ Qual Saf, 2012), Anderson et al. (Clin Ther, 2012), and Malone and Saverno (J Manag Care Pharm, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and article by Martínez et al. (J Natl Cancer Inst, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Medicine
McCarren M, Goldman S. Research leadership and investigators: gender distribution in the federal government. Am J Med 2012 May 9 [Epub ahead of print. Uses public data on the first two levels of AHRQ leadership positions, citing Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Organization Chart, 2011, as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Stein PD, Matta F. Thrombolytic therapy in unstable patients with acute pulmonary embolism: saves lives but underused. Am J Med 2012 May; 125(5):465-70. [Uses 1999-2008 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1998-2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites article by Stein et al. cited below in this section.] Select to access the abstract.

Stein PD, Matta F, Keyes DC, et al. Impact of vena cava filters on in-hospital case fatality rate from pulmonary embolism. Am J Med 2012 May; 125(5):478-84. [Uses 1999-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1998-2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Bonow RO, Ganiats TG, Beam CT, et al. ACCF/AHA/AMA-PCPI 2011 performance measures for adults with heart failure: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Performance Measures and the American Medical Association-Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement. Circulation 2012 May 15; 125(19):2382-2401. [Reviews data on feasibility, reliability, and exception reporting available from implementation of a subset of the 2005 measures, citing AHRQ-funded project, Cardio-Hit Phase II, RFA: HS07-002: Ambulatory Safety and Quality Program: Enabling Quality Measurement through Health Information Technology (EQM), as published on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Heart Surgery Forum
Vassileva CM, Boley T, Markwell S, et al. Mitral valve repair is underused in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Heart Surg Forum 2011 Dec; 14(6):E376-9. [Uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP Quality Control Procedures and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2010, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Inquiry
Guy GP Jr, Adams EK, Atherly A. Public and private health insurance premiums: how do they affect the health insurance status of low-income childless adults? Inquiry 2012 Spring; 49(1):52-64. [Uses 2000-2008 MEPS Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Hudson, Selden, and Banthin (first and second authors are current researchers and last author is former researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Inquiry, 2005).]

Ashby J, Juarez DT, Berthiaume J, et al. The relationship of hospital quality and cost per case in Hawaii. Inquiry 2012 Spring; 49(1):65-74. [Uses as an outcome dimension patient satisfaction as measured by HCAHPS survey data as reported on the Hospital Compare Web site.]

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Hernandez-Boussard T, McDonald KM, Morton JM, et al. Determinants of adverse events in vascular surgery. J Am Coll Surg 2012 May; 214(5):788-97. [Uses 2005-2009 HCUP NIS data, AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), citing AHRQ publications, AHRQ Quality Indicator: Risk Adjustment Coefficients for the PSI, Version 4.1, 2010, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators, Version 4.1, 2009, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.2, 2008, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches, Vol. 1: Assessment, 2008, Patient Safety Indicators Overview, 2008 (as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site), and AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data—The Patient Safety Indicators, Structured Abstract, 2002; cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2007; cites several AHRQ-authored articles using AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Masoomi H, Kang CY, Chaudhry O, et al. Predictive factors of early bowel obstruction in colon and rectal surgery: data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2006-2008. J Am Coll Surg 2012 May; 214(5):831-7. [Uses 2006-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Cardiac Surgery
Vassileva CM, Swong MN, Boley TM, et al. Influence of systemic lupus erythematosus on procedure selection and outcomes of patients undergoing isolated mitral valve surgery. J Card Surg 2012 Jan; 27(1):29-33. [Uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research
Hartung DM, Guise JM, Fagnan LJ, et al. Role of practice-based research networks in comparative effectiveness research. J Compar Effect Res 2012 Jan; 1(1):45-55. [Uses the AHRQ PBRN Resource Center Listserv of primary care networks to field a survey for PBRN directors on their perspectives on comparative effectiveness research; notes that the "USA laid the foundation for a coordinated CER effort with the creation of the Effective Health Care Program" within AHRQ; gives the definition of practice-based research networks from AHRQ's PBRN Web site, notes the number of PBRNs registered with the AHRQ PBRN Resource Center as obtained from AHRQ's PBRN Portal Web site, and describes AHRQ's PBRN Master Contract Program.]

Journal of Pain
Gaskin DJ, Richard P. The economic costs of pain in the United States. J Pain 2012 May 16 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2008 MEPS-HC data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Cohen et al. (Inquiry, 1996-1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Vassileva CM, Shabosky J, Boley T, et al. Tricuspid valve surgery: The past 10 years from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2012 May; 143(5):1043-9. [Uses 1999-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Urology
Yu HY, Hevelone ND, Lipsitz SR, et al. Hospital volume, utilization, costs and outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. J Urol 2012 May; 187(5):1632-8. [Uses 2008 HCUP NIS data, Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, and Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) in conjunction with HCUP Comorbidity Software Version 3.6, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2011, and Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, 2011, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Vascular Surgery
Jim J, Owens PL, Sanchez LA, et al. Population-based analysis of inpatient vascular procedures and predicting future workload and implications for training. J Vasc Surg 2012 May; 55(5):1394-1400.e1. [Uses 1997-2008 HCUP NIS data; second author is former AHRQ researcher.] Select to access the abstract.

Obesity
Heraclides AM, Chandola T, Witte DR, et al. Work stress, obesity and the risk of type 2 diabetes: gender-specific bidirectional effect in the Whitehall II study. Obesity 2012 Feb; 20(2):428-33. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ. Also refer to articles by Zodet, Hill, and Zuvekas (Proc Fed Comm Stat Methodol Res Conf, 2012) and Tsai et al. (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and article by Heidelbaugh and Tortorello (Am Fam Physician, 2012) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.