Variability in Performance Measures for Assessment of Hypertension Control

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 Heart Journal
Navar-Boggan AM, Shah BR, Boggan JC, et al. Variability in performance measures for assessment of hypertension control. Am Heart J 2013 May; 165(5):823-7. [Supported by grant U19 HS21092.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Transplantation
Thabut G, Munson J, Haynes K, et al. Geographic disparities in access to lung transplantation before and after implementation of the lung allocation score. Am J Transplant 2012 Nov; 12(11):3085-93. [Supported by grant K08 HS18406.] Select to access the abstract.

Arthritis & Rheumatism
Beukelman T, Xie F, Baddley JW, Chen L, Delzell E, Grijalva CG, Mannion ML, Patkar NM, Saag KG, Winthrop KL, Curtis JR. Brief report: incidence of selected opportunistic infections among children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2013 May; 65(5):1384-9. [Supported by grant 1 U18 HS17919-0 and R01 HS18517 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
Levitan EB, Safford MM, Kilgore ML, et al. Assessment tools for unrecognized myocardial infarction: a cross-sectional
analysis of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke population. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2013 Mar 26; 13:23. [Supported by grant K12 HS19465 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

BMJ
Doshi P. Influenza: marketing vaccine by marketing disease. BMJ 2013 May 16; 346:f3037. [Supported by grant T32 HS19488.]

Bone & Joint Journal
Yadeau JT, Goytizolo EA, Padgett DE, et al. Analgesia after total knee replacement: local infiltration versus epidural combined with a femoral nerve blockade: a prospective, randomized pragmatic trial. Bone Joint J 2013 May; 95-B(5):629-35. [Supported by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) grant RFA HS0514.] Select to access the abstract.

Chest
Cooke CR, Watkins TR. Variation in the incidence and timing of acute lung injury: the role of race. Chest 2013 Apr; 143(4):881-2. [Supported by grant K08 HS20673 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Morris AH, Ioannidis JP. Limitations of medical research and evidence at the patient-clinician encounter scale. Chest 2013 Apr; 143(4):1127-35. [Supported by grant HS06594.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Hicks JK, Swen JJ, Thorn CF, Sangkuhl K, Kharasch ED, Ellingrod VL, Skaar TC, Müller DJ, Gaedigk A, Stingl JC. Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium guideline for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genotypes and dosing of tricyclic antidepressants. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2013 May; 93(5):402-8. [Supported by grant R01 HS19818-01 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Epidemiology
Rassen JA, Shelat AA, Franklin JM, et al. Matching by propensity score in cohort studies with three treatment groups. Epidemiology 2013 May; 24(3):401-9. [Supported by grant K01 HS18088 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Levit KR, Friedman B, Wong HS. Estimating inpatient hospital prices from state administrative data and hospital financial reports. Health Serv Res 2013 May 13. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by AHRQ, no funding information given; second and third authors are a former and current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, respectively; uses 2006 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) data for 10 states, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP and HCUPnet Web sites; also uses 2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data; cites AHRQ publication, Transitions between Nursing Homes and Hospitals in the Elderly Population, 2009, HCUP Statistical Brief 141, 2012.] Select to access the abstract.

Inquiry
McMorrow S. Spillover effects of the uninsured: local uninsurance rates and Medicare mortality from eight procedures and conditions. Inquiry 2013 Spring; 50(1):57-70. [Supported by grant R36 HS17384.] Select to access the abstract.

Investigative Radiology
Lim RP, Winchester PA, Bruno MT, Xu J, Storey P, McGorty K, Sodickson DK, Srichai MB. Highly accelerated single breath-hold noncontrast thoracic MRA: evaluation in a clinical population. Invest Radiol 2013 Mar; 48(3):145-51. [Supported by grant K12 HS19473 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Peterson PN, Varosy PD, Heidenreich PA, et al. Association of single- vs dual-chamber ICDs with mortality, readmissions, and complications among patients receiving an ICD for primary prevention. JAMA 2013 May 15; 309(19):2025-34. [Supported by grant K08 HS19814-01 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Pediatrics
Edwards JD, Houtrow AJ, Vasilevskis EE, et al. Multi-institutional profile of adults admitted to pediatric intensive care units. JAMA Pediatr 2013 May; 167(5):436-43. [Supported by grant K08 HS17716 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Devoe JE, Gold R. Community of solution for the U.S. health care system: lessons from the U.S. educational system. J Am Board Fam Med. 2013 May-Jun; 26(3):323-6. [Supported by grants K08 HS16181 and R01 HS18569.]  Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Mohammed N, Jiang X, Chen R, Fung BC, Ohno-Machado L. Privacy-preserving heterogeneous health data sharing. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2013 May 1; 20(3):462-9. [Supported by grant R01 HS19913 (to second and fifth authors).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Buscher A, Latini DM, Hartman C, et al. Utility of a partner communication scale and a personal meaning scale in newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 2013 Mar-Apr; 24(2):126-34. [Supported by grant U18 HS16093.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Biomedical Informatics
Vawdrey DK, Hripcsak G. Publication bias in clinical trials of electronic health records. J Biomed Inform 2013 Feb; 46(1):139-41. [Supported by grant R03 HS18250.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
Lyles CR, Schillinger D, Lopez A, Handley M, Ratanawongsa N, Sarkar U. Safety events during an automated telephone self-management Support Intervention. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2013 May 1; 7(3):596-601. [Supported by grants R18 HS17261 and 1 R03 HS20684-01 and by grant K08 HS17594 (to sixth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
Press VG, Arora VM, Shah LM, Lewis SL, Charbeneau J, Naureckas ET, Krishnan JA. Teaching the use of respiratory inhalers to hospitalized patients with asthma or COPD: a randomized trial. J Gen Intern Med 2012 Oct; 27(10):1317-25. [Supported by grant HS16967 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Medical Economics
Sullivan SD, Carlson JJ, Hansel RN. Comparative effectiveness research in the United States: a progress report. J Med Econ 2013; 16(2):295-7. [Supported by Scholars in Comparative Effectiveness Research and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research grants K12 HS19482 and K12 HS21686 (to second and third authors).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Urology
Patel AR, Prasad SM, Shih YC, et al. The association of the human development index with global kidney cancer incidence and mortality. J Urol 2012 Jun; 187(6):1978-83. [Supported by grant R01 HS18535.] Select to access the abstract.

Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation
Rizk DV, Gutierrez O, Levitan EB, et al. Prevalence and prognosis of unrecognized myocardial infarctions in chronic kidney disease. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2012 Sep; 27(9):3482-8. [Supported by grant K12 HS19465 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Chua KP, Schuster MA, McWilliams JM. Differences in health care access and utilization between adolescents and young adults with asthma. Pediatrics 2013 May; 131(5):892-901. [Supported by grant 5 T32 HS00063-17 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Charach A, Carso P, Fox S, et al. Interventions for preschool children at high risk for ADHD: a comparative effectiveness review. Pediatrics 2013 May; 131(5):e1584-e1604. [Third author was a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness at the time of publication.]  Select to access the abstract.

Vascular Health and Risk Management
Levitan EB, Gamboa C, Safford MM, et al. Cardioprotective medication use and risk factor control among US adults with unrecognized myocardial infarction: the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Vasc Health Risk Manag 2013; 9:47-55. [Supported by grant K12 HS19465 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Tom JO, Mangione-Smith R, Grossman DC, et al. Well-child care visits and risk of ambulatory care-sensitive hospitalizations. Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(5):354-60. [Cites data from AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site; gives definition of ambulatory care-sensitive hospitalizations from AHRQ publication, Using Administrative Data to Monitor Access, Identify Disparities, and Assess Performance of the Safety Net. Appendix B: Ambulatory Care Sensitive Hospitalizations, as published on AHRQ's Archive Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Child Health Care Quality Toolbox: Established Health Care Quality Measures—HEDIS: Health Employer Data and Information Set, as published on the AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Selden (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Pediatrics, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Ratner J, Mullins CD, Buesching DP, et al. Pragmatic clinical trials: US payers' views on their value. Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(5):e158-e165. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and the AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

McAna JF, Crawford AG, Novinger BW, et al. A predictive model of hospitalization risk among disabled Medicaid enrollees. Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(5):e166-e174. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Tunis, Stryer, and Clancy (second and third authors are former AHRQ center director and the AHRQ director, respectively) (JAMA, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Internal Medicine
Keenan JD, Emerson PM, Gaynor BD, et al. Adult mortality in a randomized trial of mass azithromycin for trachoma. JAMA Intern Med 2013 May 13; 173(9):821-3. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Ray et al. (N Engl J Med, 2012).]

JAMA Pediatrics
Rogowski JA, Staiger D, Patrick T, et al. Nurse staffing and NICU infection rates. JAMA Pediatr 2013 May; 167(5):444-50. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Russell, Green, Steiner (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Pediatrics, 2007) and AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

McAteer JP, LaRiviere CA, Drugas GT, et al. Influence of surgeon experience, hospital volume, and specialty designation on outcomes in pediatric surgery. JAMA Pediatr 2013 May; 167(5):468-75. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Hannan et al. (Pediatrics, 1998) and Smik et al. (Pediatrics, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA Surgery
Drolet BC, Sangisetty S, Tracy TF, et al. Surgical residents' perceptions of 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty hour regulations. JAMA Surg 2013 May; 148(5):427-33. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Landrigan et al. (Pediatrics, 2008, and N Engl J Med, 2004) and Fletcher et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2004, and JAMA, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

New England Journal of Medicine
Iglehart JK. Expanding the role of advanced nurse practitioners—risks and rewards. N Engl J Med 2013 May 16; 368(20):1935-41. [Cites AHRQ publication, Primary Care Workforce Facts and Stats 3: Distribution of the U.S. Primary Care Workforce, 2012, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]

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

Annals of Internal Medicine
Moyer VA. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 14. [Epub ahead of print. Updates USPSTF 2004 recommendations on this topic, based on AHRQ comparative effectiveness review Screening, Behavioral Counseling, and Referral in Primary Care to Reduce Alcohol Misuse, 2012, and associated USPSTF-sponsored systematic review by Jonas et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012).] Select to access the abstract.

Screening and behavioral counseling to reduce alcohol misuse: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 14. [Epub ahead of print. Summarizes updated USPSTF recommendations on this topic, based on article by Moyer cited above in this section.]

Internal Medicine News
Moon MA. USPSTF: screen all patients aged 15-65 years for HIV. Intern Med News 2013 May 15; 46(9):1, 7. [Discusses USPSTF updated recommendations on screening for HIV (Ann Intern Med, 2013).]

Pediatrics
Corriveau SK, Drake EE, Kellams AL, Rovnyak VG. Evaluation of an office protocol to increase exclusivity of breastfeeding. Pediatrics 2013 May; 131(5):942-50. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence reviews by Chung et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008) on interventions in primary care to promote breastfeeding and by Guise et al. (Ann Fam Med, 2003) on the effectiveness of primary care-based interventions to promote breastfeeding.] Select to access the abstract.

Maguire JL, Salehi L, Birken CS, et al. Association between total duration of breastfeeding and iron deficiency. Pediatrics 2013 May; 131(5):e1530-e1537. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia—Including Iron Supplementation for Children and Pregnant Women, as published on the USPSTF Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC)-Related Articles

Ohio Nurses
Ackley M. AHRQ report identifies 22 proven safety strategies. Ohio Nurs 2013 May-Jun; 14-15. [Summarizes findings from AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Making Health Care Safer II: An Updated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices, 2013, and provides Web site links to associated AHRQ publications and products.]

Pediatrics
Nakamura MM, Harper MB, Jha AK. Change in adoption of electronic health records by US children's hospitals. Pediatrics 2013 May; 131(5):e1563-e1575. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on the impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California EPC.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Ananthakrishnan AN, McGinley EL. Weekend hospitalizations and post-operative complications following urgent surgery for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013 May; 37(9):895-904. [Uses 2007 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, as accessed 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.

American Journal of Managed Care
Hudson DL, Karter AJ, Fernandez A, et al. Differences in the clinical recognition of depression in diabetes patients: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE). Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(5):344-52. [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.

Kern LM, Dhopeshwarker RV, Edwards A, et al. Patient experience over time in patient-centered medical homes. Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(5):403-10. [Uses AHRQ's Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) analytical guidelines, citing CAHPS Clinician & Group Surveys and What's Available for the CAHPS Clinician & Group Surveys—Clinician & Group Survey and Reporting Kit, 2006, both published on AHRQ's CAHPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Goodman RM. Emergency department use associated with primary care office management. Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(5):e185-e196. [Uses AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) to update the list of ICD-9 codes used in the study.] Select to access the abstract.

Dall TM, Blanchard TD, Gallo PD, et al. The economic impact of Medicare Part D on congestive heart failure. Am J Manag Care 2013 May; 19(6 Suppl):S97-S100. [Uses 2006-2010 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Medicine
Akbaraly T, Sabia S, Hagger-Johnson G, et al. Does overall diet in midlife predict future aging phenotypes? A cohort study. Am J Med 2013 May; 126(5):411-19. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Chikwe J, Cavallaro P, Itagaki S, et al. National outcomes in acute aortic dissection: influence of surgeon and institutional volume on operative mortality. Ann Thorac Surg 2013 May; 95(5):1563-9. [Uses 2003-2008 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Harris DD, Detke LA. The role of flooring as a design element affecting patient and healthcare worker safety. HERD 2013 Spring; 6(3):95-119. [Reviews findings from AHRQ publications, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses, 2008, Telephone-based Coaching Does Not Reduce Rate of Falls or Fall-Related Injuries, But Prompts Changes in Hospital Processes that May Lead to Future Improvement, 2008, and 10 Patient Safety Tips for Hospitals, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

Health Policy Resources Center Research Brief (American Dental Association)
Wall T, Nasseh K. Dental-related emergency department visits on the increase in the United States. Health Policy Res Cent Res Brief 2013 May; online. [Uses 2000-2010 MEPS data, citing AHRQ-authored article by Macek, Manski, Vargas, and Moeller (second and fourth authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Health Serv Res, 2002); also uses AHRQ's CCS, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ publication, Emergency Department Visits for Dental-Related Conditions, 2009, HCUP Statistical Brief 143, 2012.]

JAMA Internal Medicine
Choma NN, Vasilevskis EE, Sponsler KC, et al. Effect of the ACGME 16-hour rule on efficiency and quality of care: duty hours 2.0. JAMA Intern Med 2013 May 13; 173(9):819-21. [Uses AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs), citing Patient Safety Indicators Overview on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site.]

JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Sun GH, Auger KA, Aliu O, et al. Posttonsillectomy hemorrhage in children with von Willebrand disease or hemophilia. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013 Mar; 139(3):245-9. [Uses 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data, citing Introduction to the HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) 2009, 2011, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Medical Economics
Yin H, Radican L, Kong SX. A study of regional variation in the inpatient cost of lower extremity amputation among patients with diabetes in the United States.  J Med Econ 2013; 16(6):820-7. [Uses 2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nutrition
Alfred T, Ben-Shlomo Y, Cooper R, et al. Genetic variants influencing biomarkers of nutrition are not associated with cognitive capability in middle-aged and older adults. J Nutr 2013 May; 143(5):606-12. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Nylund CM, Goudie A, Garza JM, et al. Venous thrombotic events in hospitalized children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2013 May; 56(5):485-91. [Uses 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data, citing Introduction to the HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) 2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Gopaldas RR, Dao TK, Caron NR, et al. Predictors of in-hospital complications after pericardiectomy: a nationwide outcomes study. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013 May; 145(5):1227-33. [Uses 1998-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Launer H, Nguyen DV, Cooke DT. National Perioperative outcomes of pulmonary lobectomy for cancer in the obese patient: a propensity score matched analysis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013 May; 145(5):1312-18. [Uses 2002-2007 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Obirieze AC, Kisat M, Hicks CW, et al. State-by-state variation in emergency versus elective colon resections: room for improvement. J Traum Acute Care Surg 2013 May: 74(5):1286-91. [Uses 2005-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS),  as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.]

NBER Working Paper Series
Baicker K, Chernew M, Robbins J. The spillover effects of Medicare managed care: Medicare Advantage and hospital utilization. NBER Work Pap Series 2013 May; online. [Uses 1999-2009 HCUP SID data for Florida, New York, California, Arizona, and Massachusetts, AHRQ's PSIs, and AHRQ's Prevention Quality Indicators; cites AHRQ publication, Population Characteristics: 2003 MEPS HC-064:P7R3/P8R1.]

Obesity Surgery
Shin JH, Worni M, Castleberry AW, et al. The application of comorbidity indices to predict early postoperative
outcomes after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a nationwide comparative analysis of over 70,000 cases. Obes Surg 2013 May; 23(5):638-49. [Uses 2001 and 2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, 2006, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; also uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998) and 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.

Stein PD, Matta F. Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis following bariatric surgery. Obes Surg 2013 May; 23(5):663-8. [Uses 2007-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) aspublished on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Parkinsonism and Related Disorders
Bhattacharjee S, Sambamoorthi U. Co-occurring chronic conditions and healthcare expenditures associated with Parkinson's disease: A propensity score matched analysis. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2013 Aug; 19(8):746-50. [Uses MEPS data, as accessed on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Di Guglielmo MD, Plesnick J, Greenspan JS, et al. A new model to decrease time-to appointment wait for gastroenterology evaluation. Pediatrics 2013 May; 131(5):e1633-e1638. [Uses AHRQ's CAHPS, as accessed on AHRQ's CAHPS Web site, as a guide for the study's questionnaires.] Select to access the abstract.

Transplantion Infectious Diseases
Pant C, Anderson MP, O'Connor JA, Marshall CM, Deshpande A, Sferra TJ. Association of Clostridium difficile infection with outcomes of hospitalized solid organ transplant recipients: results from the 2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Transpl Infect Dis 2012 Oct; 14(5):540-7. [Uses 2009 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992). Also refer to article by Levit, Friedman, and Wong (Health Serv Res, 2013) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.