Donglan Zhang

Agent-Based Modeling of Chronic Diseases: A Narrative Review and Future Research Directions.

The United States is experiencing an epidemic of chronic disease. As the US population ages, health care providers and policy makers urgently need decision models that provide systematic, credible prediction regarding the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases to improve population health management and medical decision-making. Agent-based modeling is a promising systems science approach that can model complex interactions and processes related to chronic health conditions, such as adaptive behaviors, feedback loops, and contextual effects. This article introduces agent-based modeling by providing a narrative review of agent-based models of chronic disease and identifying the characteristics of various chronic health conditions that must be taken into account to build effective clinical- and policy-relevant models. We also identify barriers to adopting agent-based models to study chronic diseases. Finally, we discuss future research directions of agent-based modeling applied to problems related to specific chronic health conditions.

Hyperlipidemia and Medical Expenditures by Cardiovascular Disease Status in US Adults

Background: Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), affecting 73.5 million American adults. Information about health care expenditures associated with hyperlipidemia by CVD status is needed to evaluate the economic benefit of primary and secondary prevention programs for CVD. Methods: The study sample includes 48,050 men and nonpregnant women ≥18 from 2010 to 2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. A 2-part econometric model was used to estimate annual hyperlipidemia-associated medical expenditures by CVD status. The estimation results from the 2-part model were used to calculate per-capita and national medical expenditures associated with hyperlipidemia. We adjusted the medical expenditures into 2012 dollars. Results: Among those with CVD, per person hyperlipidemia-associated expenditures were

Prevalence and Medical Costs of Chronic Diseases Among Adult Medicaid Beneficiaries

1105 [95% confidence interval (CI),

Assessing the role of access and price on the consumption of fruits and vegetables across New York City using agent-based modeling

877–

Agent-based modeling of chronic diseases

1661] per year, leading to an annual national expenditure of

A cohort study assessing the sustainable long-term effectiveness of a childhood-obesity intervention in China

15.47 billion (95% CI,

Preventive Dental Checkups and Their Association With Access to Usual Source of Care Among Rural and Urban Adult Residents

5.23–

Medical Expenditures Associated With Hypertension in the U.S., 2000–2013

27.75 billion). Among people without CVD, per person hyperlipidemia-associated expenditures were

Nutrition Label Use and Sodium Intake in the U.S.

856 (95% CI,

A Systematic Review of Economic Evidence on Community Hypertension Interventions

596–