The Medical Home, Preventive Care Screenings, and Counseling for Children: Evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

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

Academic Pediatrics
Romaire MA, Bell JF. The medical home, preventive care screenings, and counseling for children: evidence from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Acad Pediatr 2010 Sep-Oct; 10(5):338-45. [Supported by grant 2 T32 HS13853-06 (principle investigator is Diane P. Martin); uses 2004-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, citing Survey Background, 2009, as published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; sites articles by Beal, Hernandez, and Doty (J Gen Intern Med, 2009 and Bethell et al. (Pediatrics, 2004), which use MEPS data and Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study Child Survey (CAHPS®) data (Bethell et al); cites AHRQ-funded article by Ma, Wang, and Stafford (J Adolesc Health, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Daudelin DH, Sayah AJ, Kwong M, et al. Improving use of prehospital 12-lead ECG for early identification and treatment of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2010 May; 3(3):316-23. [Supported in part by grant UC1 HS15124; first, third, fourth, seventh, eight, and last authors have received previous AHRQ support.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Memtsoudis SG, Hughes A, Ma Y, et al. Increased in-hospital complications after primary posterior versus primary anterior cervical fusion. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2010 Sep 9. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by Center for Education and Research in Therapeutics (CERTs) grant RFA HS00514; uses 1998-2006 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, HCUP Comorbidity Software, Version 3.5, 2009, and administrative data from AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2008, Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2006, 2008, and Publications from the HCUP Databases, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Powell ES, Khare RK, Courtney DM, et al. Volume of emergency department admissions for sepsis is related to inpatient mortality: results of a nationwide cross-sectional analysis. Crit Care Med 2010 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship grants T32 HS00078 and F32 HS17876-01 (to first and second authors); uses 2007 HCUP NIS) data, citing AHRQ's HCUP Web site; uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Elixhauser, Steiner, and Fraser (researchers in and director of AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively) (Health Aff, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Hawaii Medical Journal
Holman RC, Christensen KY, Belay ED, Steiner CA, et al. Racial/ethnic differences in the incidence of Kawasaki syndrome among children in Hawaii. Hawaii Med J 2010 Aug; 69(8):194-7. [Fourth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses 1996-2006 HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data for Hawaii, citing HCUP State Inpatient Database Documentation, 2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ-sponsored Hospital Inpatient Data, 1996-2006, 2008; acknowledges support from the Hawai'i Health Information Corporation, an HCUP participant.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Chen J, Einstein AJ, Fazel R, et al. Cumulative exposure to ionizing radiation from diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac imaging procedures: a population-based analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010 Aug 24; 56(9):702-11. [Supported in part by Career Development Award grant 1 K08 HS18781-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Nephrology Nursing Journal
Richard CJ, Engebretson J. Negotiating living with an arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis. Nephrol Nurs J 2010 Jul-Aug; 37(4):363-74; quiz, 375. [Supported in part by grant 1 R36 HS10826.] Select to access the abstract.

Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal
Marín HA, Díaz-Toro E. The effect of the smoke-free workplace policy in the exposure to secondhand smoke in restaurants, pubs, and discos in San Juan, Puerto Rico. P R Health Sci J 2010 Sep; 29(3):279-85. [Supported in part by grant 1 R24 HS14060-02 (to the Department of Health of Puerto Rico through the Tobacco Control Office (CDC PRQ Grant).] Select to access the abstract.

Vaccine
Yen C, Steiner CA, Barrett M, et al. Racial disparities in diarrhea-associated hospitalizations among children in five US States, before and after introduction of rotavirus vaccine. Vaccine 2010 Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print. Second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses 2000-2008 HCUP SID data for California, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, and South Carolina; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Curns, Steiner, et al. (J Infect Dis, 2010), Fischer, Viboud, Parashar, Malek, Steiner, et al. (J Infect Dis, 2007), and Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), which use HCUP data from various components for various; acknowledges support of "HCUP state partners". Also go to AHRQ-funded article by Lansdorp-Vogelaar et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

Academic Pediatrics
Simpson LA, Schuster MA, Rosenbaum S. Health reform and beyond: delivering results for children. Acad Pediatr 2010 Sep-Oct; 10(5):287-88. [First author is former AHRQ deputy director.]

Gadomski A, Wissow LS, Slade E, et al. Training clinicians in mental health communication skills: impact on primary care utilization. Acad Pediatr 2010 Sep-Oct; 10(5):346-52. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Chan, Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence), and Homer (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Charlot M, Ahlehoff O, Norgaard ML, et al. Proton-pump inhibitors are associated with increased cardiovascular risk independent of clopidogrel use: a nationwide cohort study. Ann Intern Med 2010 Sep 21; 153(6):378-86. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ray et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010), Ho et al. (JAMA, 2009), Rassen et al. (JAMA, 2009), and Schneeweiss et al. (Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

de Aquino Lima JP, Brophy JM. Conflicting evidence: what's a clinician to do? Ann Intern Med 2010 Sep 21; 153(6):413-15. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Ray et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010) and Ho et al. (JAMA, 2009); comments on article by Charlot et al. cited above.]

Health Data Management
Gardner E. Danger. EHRs can replace one set of medical errors with another. Health Data Manag 2010 Aug; 18(8):30-4. [Mentions Geisinger Health System's application for an AHRQ grant to test its Hazard Manager database with 15 other institutions" and AHRQ's collaboration "with the FDA, VA and other federal agencies to develop a common format for reporting I.T.-related patient safety events and unsafe conditions", and quotes William Munier, M.D., director of AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.]

Military Medicine
Murray JS. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center: simulation on the cutting edge. Mil Med 2010 Sep; 175(9):659-63. [Notes that AHRQ and other organizations "promote the use of simulation as an educational tool for enhancing safety in patient care"; cites AHRQ publication, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

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

Academic Pediatrics
Regalado M, Larson K, Wissow LS, et al. Factors associated with discipline counseling for parents of infants and young children. Acad Pediatr 2010 Sep-Oct; 10(5):353-9. [Cites article by Lawrence (J Gen Intern Med, 1990) on the diffusion of USPSTF recommendations.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Lin K, Sharangpani R. Screening for testicular cancer: an evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med 2010 Sep 21; 153(6):396-9. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships and supports the USPSTF program; updates the evidence review on screening for testicular cancer to support revision of the USPSTF's 2004 recommendations statement, Screening for Testicular Cancer, 2004; cites Screening for Testicular Cancer in Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 1996.] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Welch HG. Screening mammography—a long run for a short slide? N Engl J Med 2010 Sep 23; 363(13):1276-8. [Mentions USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations; cites related AHRQ-funded article by Mandelblatt et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2009). Also go to AHRQ-funded article by Lansdorp-Vogelaar et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2010) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Academic Pediatrics
Kumar D, Sanders L, Perrin EM, et al. Parental understanding of infant health information: health literacy, numeracy, and the Parental Health Literacy Activities Test (PHLAT). Acad Pediatr 2010 Sep-Oct; 10(5):309-16. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review on literacy and health outcomes (J Gen Intern Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Lansdorp-Vogelaar I, Kuntz KM, Knudsen AB, et al. Stool DNA testing to screen for colorectal cancer in the Medicare population: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Ann Intern Med 2010 Sep 21; 153(6):368-77. [Supported by grants HHSP 233200700123P, HHSP 233200700196P, and HHSP 233200700350P; acknowledges support from Chuck Shih "for interpreting the CMS cost data", and from William Lawrence and Kim Wittenberg "for contextual and administrative assistance, respectively" (all are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence); cites AHRQ-sponsored technology assessment reports by Zauber et al., Cost-effectiveness of DNA Stool Testing to Screen for Colorectal Cancer: Report to AHRQ and CMS from the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) for MISCAN and SimCR Models, 2007, and van Ballegooijen et al., A Comparison of the Cost-effectiveness of Fecal Occult Blood Tests with Different Test Characteristics in the Context of Annual Screening in the Medicare Population, 2003; cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Alsheikh-Ali AA, Kitsios GD, Balk EM, et al. The vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque: scope of the literature. Ann Intern Med 2010 Sep 21; 153(6):387-95. [Supported by contract 290-02-0022; based on technical brief, Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque, 2010, prepared by the Tufts Evidence Practice Center (EPC), which expanded on the EPC's report Vulnerable Plaques: A Brief Review of the Concept and Proposal Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Canadian Medical Association Journal
Hanley DA, Cranney A, Jones G, et al. Vitamin D in adult health and disease: a review and guideline statement from Osteoporosis Canada. CMAJ 2010 Sep 7; 182(12):E610-18. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health, 2007, prepared by University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center (UO-EPC) under contract 290-02-0021.]

Community Practitioner
Spencer RL, Greatrex-White S, Fraser DM. Practice improvement, breastfeeding duration and health visitors. Community Pract 2010 Sep; 83(9):19-22. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes in Developed Countries, 2007.]

Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Thikkurissy S, Rawlins JT, Kumar A, et al. Rapid treatment reduces hospitalization for pediatric patients with odontogenic-based cellulitis. Am J Emerg Med 2010 Jul; 28(6):668-72. [Uses 2006 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
LaPar DJ, Bhamidipati CM, Mery CM, et al. Primary payer status affects mortality for major surgical operations. Ann Surg 2010 Sep; 252(3):544-550; discussion 550-1. [Uses 2003-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2003-2007, and AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report No. 2007-03, 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Bennett KM, Scarborough JE, Pappas TN, et al. Patient socioeconomic status is an independent predictor of operative mortality. Ann Surg 2010 Sep; 252(3):552-7; discussion 557-8. [Uses 2001-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publication, Creations of New Race-Ethnicity Codes and Socioeconomic Status (SES) Indicators for Medicare Beneficiaries, 2008; cites AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Geriatrics
Kapoor A, Labonte AJ, Winter MR, et al. Risk of venous thromboembolism after total hip and knee replacement in older adults with comorbidity and co-occurring comorbidities in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2003-2006). BMC Geriatr 2010 Sep 17; 10(1):63. [Uses 2003-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites articles by Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005), Dominick et al. (Arthritis Rheum, 2005), Southern et al. (Med Care, 2004), and others, all using AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Miller (JAMA, 2003); cites AHRQ Research Findings article, Patient Safety and Quality: Not Adjusting for Pre-existing Health Problems May Have Exaggerated the Number of Deaths Due to Medical Injury, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites article by Romano et al. (Health Serv Res, 2009), which uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Marelli A, Gauvreau K, Landzberg M, et al. Sex differences in mortality in children undergoing congenital heart disease surgery: a United States population-based study. Circulation 2010 Sep 14; 122(11 Suppl):S234-S240. [Uses 2000, 2003, and 2006 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Endocrinology
Grossman R, Mukherjee D, Chaichana KL, et al. Complications and death among elderly patients undergoing pituitary tumour surgery. Clin Endocrinol 2010 Sep; 73(3):361-8. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2009.] Select to access the abstract.

Emerging Infectious Diseases
Feinstein LB, Holman RC, Yorita Christensen KL, et al. Trends in hospitalizations for peptic ulcer disease, United States, 1998-2005. Emerg Infect Dis 2010 Sep; 16(9):1410-18. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998-2005, and Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2005, 2007, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Head and Neck
Kim EY, Eisele DW, Goldberg AN, et al. Neck dissections in the United States from 2000 to 2006: volume, indications, and regionalization. Head Neck 2010 Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000, 2004, and 2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2006.] Select to access the abstract.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Ananthakrishnan AN, McGinley EL, Saeian K, et al. Temporal trends in disease outcomes related to Clostridium difficile infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010 Sep 7. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998, 2004, and 2007 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report No. 2007-03, 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (Eff Clin Pract, 2002) and articles by Ricciardi et al. (Dis Colon Rectum, 2009), Ananthakrishnan, McGinley, and Binion (Gut, 2008), and Nguyen et al. (Am J Gastroenterol, 2008), which use HCUP NIS data for various years.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
Wang Z, Bhattacharyya T. Trends in incidence of subtrochanteric fragility fractures and bisphosphonate use among the US elderly, 1996-2007. J Bone Miner Res 2010 Sep 2. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1996-2007 HCUP NIS and MEPS data, citing AHRQ publication, Final 1999 NIS Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report No. 2002-2, 2002, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Dhir M, Smith LM, Ullrich F, et al. Pre-operative nomogram to predict risk of peri-operative mortality following liver resections for malignancy. J Gastrointest Surg 2010 Sep 8. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Kohn GP, Nikfarjam M. The effect of surgical volume and the provision of residency and fellowship training on complications of major hepatic resection. J Gastrointest Surg 2010 Sep 8. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1998-2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002 and 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Frayne SM, Chiu VY, Iqbal S, et al. Medical care needs of returning veterans with PTSD: their other burden. J Gen Intern Med 2010 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), citing Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-9-CM, 2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Neurosurgery
Qureshi AI, Vazquez G, Tariq N, et al. Impact of International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial results on treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in the United States. J Neurosurg 2010 Jul 23. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2002 and 2004-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites articles by Timaran et al. (J Vasc Surg, 2009) and McPhee et al. (J Vasc Surg, 2008), both of which use 2005 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
Raval MV, Lautz T, Reynolds M, et al. Dollars and sense of interval appendectomy in children: a cost analysis. J Pediatr Surg 2010 Sep; 45(9):1817-25. [Uses 2006 HCUP KID data, citing Overview of the Kid's Inpatient Database (KID), 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, and Introduction to the HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2006, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites articles by Lander, Lu, and Shah (Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 2008), Merenstein (Pediatrics, 2005), and Zhao, Wong, and Arguelles (Clin Ther, 1999), which use HCUP KID and/or NIS data for various years.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Perinatology
Aly H, Bianco-Batlles D, Mohamed MA, et al. Mortality in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a study of the United States National Database. J Perinatol 2010 Aug; 30(8):553-7. [Uses 1997-2004 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Ovbiagele B. National sex-specific trends in hospital-based stroke rates. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2010 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ's HCUP Web site and AHRQ publication, Hospital Stays for Stroke and Other Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2005, HCUP Statistical Brief No. 51, 2008, as cited on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Trauma
Osen HB, Bass RR, Abdullah F, et al. Rapid discharge after transfer: risk factors, incidence, and implications for trauma systems. J Trauma 2010 Sep; 69(3):602-6. [Uses 2000-2004 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators Win QI software, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2000-2001, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ publication Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.2, 2007, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Vascular Surgery
Vouyouka AG, Egorova NN, Salloum A, et al. Lessons learned from the analysis of gender effect on risk factors and procedural outcomes of lower extremity arterial disease. J Vasc Surg 2010 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2007 SID data for New York, New Jersey, and Florida.] Select to access the abstract.

Indes JE, Mandawat A, Tuggle CT, et al. Endovascular procedures for aorto-iliac occlusive disease are associated with superior short-term clinical and economic outcomes compared with open surgery in the inpatient population. J Vasc Surg 2010 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2004-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2004-2007, and HCUP Summary Statistics Report, NIS 2004-2007, HCUP Data Quality Reports, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites article by Quan et al. (Med Care, 2005), which uses Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Spangler EL, Dillavou ED, Smith KJ. Cost-effectiveness of guidelines for insertion of inferior vena cava filters in high-risk trauma patients. J Vasc Surg 2010 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Uses HCUP data, citing HCUPnet: National and Regional Estimates on Hospital Use for All Patients from the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Eggli Y, Halfon P, Meylan D, et al. Surgical safety and hospital volume across a wide range of interventions. Med Care 2010 Sep 8. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2004 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2004, 2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Elixhauser, Steiner, and Fraser (Health Aff, 2003); explains rationale for not using patient safety indicators as outcome measures, citing AHRQ publication, AHRQ Quality Indicators-Patient Safety Indication (PSI) Composite Measure, 2008, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Neurocritical Care
Khatri R, Tariq N, Vazquez G, et al. Outcomes after nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage at hospitals offering angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm: a national level analysis in the United States. Neurocrit Care 2010 Sep 14. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2005-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ's HCUP Web site and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Spencer JD, Schwaderer A, McHugh K, et al. Pediatric urinary tract infections: an analysis of hospitalizations, charges, and costs in the USA. Pediatr Nephrol 2010 Aug 14. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2006 HCUP KID data and AHRQ's Clinical Classification Software (CCS), citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database, 2008, and Clinical Classification Software (CCS) for ICD-10, 2000, 2003, and 2006, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Mohamed MA, Nada A, Aly H. Day-by-day postnatal survival in very low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 2010 Aug; 126(2):e360-6. [Uses 1998-1999, 2001-2002, and 2004 HCUP NIS and 1997, 2000, and 2003 KID data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2000-2001, and Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database, 2000 and 2003, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Seminars in Perinatology
Gregory KD, Fridman M, Korst L. Trends and patterns of vaginal birth after cesarean availability in the United States. Semin Perinatol 2010 Aug; 34(4):237-43. [Uses 2000, 2003, and 2005 HCUP NIS data, citing Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project: Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Spine
Ong KL, Villarraga ML, Lau E, et al. Off-label use of bone morphogenetic proteins in the United States using administrative data. Spine 2010 Sep 1; 35(19):1794-1800. [Uses 2002-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Stroke
Hoh BL, Chi YY, Waters MF, et al. Effect of weekend compared with weekday stroke admission on thrombolytic use, in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, hospital charges, and length of stay in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database, 2002 to 2007. Stroke 2010 Aug 19. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2002-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Alshekhlee A, Mohammadi A, Mehta S, et al. Is thrombolysis safe in the elderly? analysis of a national database. Stroke 2010 Sep; 41(9):2259-64. [Uses 2000-2006 HCUP NIS data; cites article by Dubinsky and Lai (Neurology, 2006), which uses 1999-2002 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Innovation
Hollenbeck BK, Hollingsworth JM, Dunn RL, et al. Ambulatory surgery center market share and rates of outpatient surgery in the elderly. Surg Innov 2010 Aug 5. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2006 HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD) for Florida, citing Introduction to the HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD), 2010, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

World Journal of Surgery
Colombo B, Singla A, Li Y, et al. Current trends and short-term outcomes of live donor nephrectomy: a population-based analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. World J Surg 2010 Sep 1. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data, utilizing methods described in articles by Csikesz et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2008) and Eppsteiner et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2008), both of which use 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data. Also go to articles by Romaire and Bell (Acad Pediatr, 2010), Memtsoudis et al. (Clin Orthop Relat Res, 2010), Powell et al. (Crit Care Med, 2010), Holman et al. (Hawaii Med J, 2010), and Yen et al. (Vaccine, 2010) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles] Select to access the abstract.