Maureen Canavan

Variation In Health Outcomes: The Role Of Spending On Social Services, Public Health, And Health Care, 2000–09

Although spending rates on health care and social services vary substantially across the states, little is known about the possible association between variation in state-level health outcomes and the allocation of state spending between health care and social services. To estimate that association, we used state-level repeated measures multivariable modeling for the period 2000-09, with region and time fixed effects adjusted for total spending and state demographic and economic characteristics and with one- and two-year lags. We found that states with a higher ratio of social to health spending (calculated as the sum of social service spending and public health spending divided by the sum of Medicare spending and Medicaid spending) had significantly better subsequent health outcomes for the following seven measures: adult obesity; asthma; mentally unhealthy days; days with activity limitations; and mortality rates for lung cancer, acute myocardial infarction, and type 2 diabetes. Our study suggests that broadening the debate beyond what should be spent on health care to include what should be invested in health-not only in health care but also in social services and public health-is warranted.

From Here to JUPITER Identifying New Patients for Statin Therapy Using Data From the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background—Guidelines for statin use currently focus on patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein levels. Recent findings from the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER), however, indicate that statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk is also effective among older persons with at-goal low-density lipoprotein but elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. We estimate the size of and describe this new population for whom statin therapy may now be indicated based on JUPITER’s findings. Methods and Results—Using data from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we estimate that 57.9% of older adults (men ≥50 years and women ≥60 years), or 33 547 000 (95% CI, 32 217 000 to 34 877 000) Americans, are currently taking a statin (24.4%) or indicated for statin therapy (33.5%). In addition, we estimate that 19.2%, or 11 144 000 (95% CI, 10 053 000 to 12 235 000), may become newly eligible for statin therapy. This includes 8 071 000 (13.9%; 95% CI, 7 173 000 to 8 969 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein <130 mg/dL (ie, those meeting “strict” JUPITER criteria) and an additional 3 073 000 (5.3%; 95% CI, 2 404 000 to 3 743 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein of 130 to 160 mg/dL for whom JUPITER’s findings might reasonably be extended. Thus, ≈80% of older persons may now have an indication for statin therapy. Compared with those who would continue to have no indication for statin therapy, the JUPITER group was more likely to be female, to be older, and to have obesity, hypertension, and the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions—JUPITER’s findings have the potential to impact treatment recommendations for ≈20% of middle-aged to elderly adults, thus increasing the proportion of this segment of the population with an indication for statin therapy to nearly 80%.Background— Guidelines for statin use currently focus on patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein levels. Recent findings from the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER), however, indicate that statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk is also effective among older persons with at-goal low-density lipoprotein but elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. We estimate the size of and describe this new population for whom statin therapy may now be indicated based on JUPITER’s findings. Methods and Results— Using data from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we estimate that 57.9% of older adults (men ≥50 years and women ≥60 years), or 33 547 000 (95% CI, 32 217 000 to 34 877 000) Americans, are currently taking a statin (24.4%) or indicated for statin therapy (33.5%). In addition, we estimate that 19.2%, or 11 144 000 (95% CI, 10 053 000 to 12 235 000), may become newly eligible for statin therapy. This includes 8 071 000 (13.9%; 95% CI, 7 173 000 to 8 969 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein <130 mg/dL (ie, those meeting “strict” JUPITER criteria) and an additional 3 073 000 (5.3%; 95% CI, 2 404 000 to 3 743 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein of 130 to 160 mg/dL for whom JUPITER’s findings might reasonably be extended. Thus, ≈80% of older persons may now have an indication for statin therapy. Compared with those who would continue to have no indication for statin therapy, the JUPITER group was more likely to be female, to be older, and to have obesity, hypertension, and the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions— JUPITER’s findings have the potential to impact treatment recommendations for ≈20% of middle-aged to elderly adults, thus increasing the proportion of this segment of the population with an indication for statin therapy to nearly 80%. Received October 31, 2008; accepted November 19, 2008. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}

Has Hospice Use Changed? 2000-2010 Utilization Patterns.

Background:Hospice use has increased substantially during the past decade by an increasingly diverse patient population; however, little is known about patterns of hospice use and how these patterns have changed during the past decade. Objective:To characterize Medicare hospice users in 2000 and 2010 and estimate the prevalence of (1) very short (⩽1 wk) hospice enrollment; (2) very long (>6 mo) hospice enrollment; and (3) hospice disenrollment and how these utilization patterns have varied over time and by patient and hospice characteristics. Research Design:Cross-sectional analysis of Medicare hospice claims data from 2000 and 2010. Subjects:All US Medicare Hospice Benefit enrollees in 2000 (N=529,573) and 2010 (N=1,150,194). Results:As of 2010, more than half (53.4%) of all Medicare decedents who used hospice had either very short (⩽1 wk, 32.4%) or very long (>6 mo, 13.9%) hospice enrollment or disenrolled from hospice before death (10.6%). This represents an increase of 4.9 percentage points from 2000. In multivariable analysis, patients with noncancer diagnoses, the fastest growing group of hospice users, were approximately twice as likely as those with cancer to have very short or long enrollment periods and to disenroll from hospice. Conclusion:The substantial proportion of hospice users with very short or long enrollment, or enrollments that end before death, underscores the potential for interventions to improve the timing and appropriateness of hospice referral so that the full benefits of hospice are received by patients and families.

Poor mental health in Ghana: who is at risk?

BackgroundPoor mental health is a leading cause of disability worldwide with considerable negative impacts, particularly in low-income countries. Nevertheless, empirical evidence on its national prevalence in low-income countries, particularly in Africa, is limited. Additionally, researchers and policy makers are now calling for empirical investigations of the association between empowerment and poor mental health among women. We therefore sought to estimate the national prevalence of poor mental health in Ghana, explore its correlates on a national level, and examine associations between empowerment and poor mental health among women.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from a nationally representative survey conducted in Ghana in 2009–2010. Interviews were conducted face-to-face with participants (N = 9,524 for overall sample; n = 3,007 for women in relationships). We used the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) to measure psychological distress and assessed women’s attitudes about their roles in decision-making, attitudes towards intimate partner violence, partner control, and partner abuse. We used weighted multivariable multinomial regression models to determine the factors independently associated with experiencing psychological distress for our overall sample and for women in relationships.ResultsOverall, 18.7% of the sample reported either moderate (11.7%) or severe (7.0%) psychological distress. The prevalence of psychological distress was higher among women than men. Overall, the prevalence of psychological distress differed by gender, marital status, education, wealth, region, health and religion, but not by age or urban/rural location. Women who reported having experienced physical abuse, increased partner control, and who were more accepting of women’s disempowerment had greater likelihoods of psychological distress (P-values < 0.05).ConclusionsPsychological distress is substantial among both men and women in Ghana, with nearly 20% having moderate or severe psychological distress, an estimate higher than those found among South African (16%) or Australian (11%) adults. Women who are disempowered in the context of intimate relationships may be particularly vulnerable to psychological distress. Results identify populations to be targeted by interventions aiming to improve mental health.

Beyond insurance coverage: Usual source of care in the treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND Expanding insurance coverage, while necessary, may not be sufficient to ensure high-quality care for adults with cardiovascular disease. We sought to examine the association between having a usual source of care (USOC) and receiving medication treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. METHODS Using the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we categorized USOC (a place to go when sick or need medical advice) and insurance status in adults >or=35 years old with an indication for medication treatment of hypertension (n = 3,142) and hypercholesterolemia (n = 1,134), determined using the Joint National Committee 7 and Adult Treatment Panel III recommendations, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine the independent effect of USOC on receiving treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, and comorbidities. Separate multivariable models were examined stratified by insurance status. RESULTS Among subjects with an indication for treatment of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, 32.4% and 42.0% were untreated, respectively. When compared with adults with a USOC, adults without a USOC were more likely to be untreated for hypertension (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 2.43, 95% CI 1.88-2.85) and hypercholesterolemia (aPR 1.79, 95% CI 1.31-2.13). In stratified analyses among subjects with insurance, no USOC remained associated with being untreated (hypertension, aPR 2.58, 95% CI 1.88-3.08; hypercholesterolemia, aPR 1.65, 95% CI 0.97-2.18). CONCLUSIONS Absence of a USOC was associated with being untreated for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, even among individuals with insurance, suggesting that efforts to improve chronic disease management should also facilitate access to a regular source of care.

Correlates of Complete Childhood Vaccination in East African Countries.

Background Despite the benefits of childhood vaccinations, vaccination rates in low-income countries (LICs) vary widely. Increasing coverage of vaccines to 90% in the poorest countries over the next 10 years has been estimated to prevent 426 million cases of illness and avert nearly 6.4 million childhood deaths worldwide. Consequently, we sought to provide a comprehensive examination of contemporary vaccination patterns in East Africa and to identify common and country-specific barriers to complete childhood vaccination. Methods Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, we looked at the prevalence of complete vaccination for polio, measles, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) and DTwPHibHep (DTP) as recommended by the WHO among children ages 12 to 23 months. We conducted multivariable logistic regression within each country to estimate associations between complete vaccination status and health care access and sociodemographic variables using backwards stepwise regression. Results Vaccination varied significantly by country. In all countries, the majority of children received at least one dose of a WHO recommended vaccine; however, in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda less than 50% of children received a complete schedule of recommended vaccines. Being delivered in a public or private institution compared with being delivered at home was associated with increased odds of complete vaccination status. Sociodemographic covariates were not consistently associated with complete vaccination status across countries. Conclusions Although no consistent set of predictors accounted for complete vaccination status, we observed differences based on region and the location of delivery. These differences point to the need to examine the historical, political, and economic context of each country in order to maximize vaccination coverage. Vaccination against these childhood diseases is a critical step towards reaching the Millennium Development Goal of reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds by 2015 and thus should be a global priority.

Leveraging the Social Determinants of Health: What Works?

We summarized the recently published, peer-reviewed literature that examined the impact of investments in social services or investments in integrated models of health care and social services on health outcomes and health care spending. Of 39 articles that met criteria for inclusion in the review, 32 (82%) reported some significant positive effects on either health outcomes (N = 20), health care costs (N = 5), or both (N = 7). Of the remaining 7 (18%) studies, 3 had non-significant results, 2 had mixed results, and 2 had negative results in which the interventions were associated with poorer health outcomes. Our analysis of the literature indicates that several interventions in the areas of housing, income support, nutrition support, and care coordination and community outreach have had positive impact in terms of health improvements or health care spending reductions. These interventions may be of interest to health care policymakers and practitioners seeking to leverage social services to improve health or reduce costs. Further testing of models that achieve better outcomes at less cost is needed.

Transitions Between Healthcare Settings of Hospice Enrollees at the End of Life

To characterize the number and types of care transitions in the last 6 months of life of individuals who used hospice and to examine factors associated with having multiple transitions in care.

From Here to JUPITER

Background—Guidelines for statin use currently focus on patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein levels. Recent findings from the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER), however, indicate that statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk is also effective among older persons with at-goal low-density lipoprotein but elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. We estimate the size of and describe this new population for whom statin therapy may now be indicated based on JUPITER’s findings. Methods and Results—Using data from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we estimate that 57.9% of older adults (men ≥50 years and women ≥60 years), or 33 547 000 (95% CI, 32 217 000 to 34 877 000) Americans, are currently taking a statin (24.4%) or indicated for statin therapy (33.5%). In addition, we estimate that 19.2%, or 11 144 000 (95% CI, 10 053 000 to 12 235 000), may become newly eligible for statin therapy. This includes 8 071 000 (13.9%; 95% CI, 7 173 000 to 8 969 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein <130 mg/dL (ie, those meeting “strict” JUPITER criteria) and an additional 3 073 000 (5.3%; 95% CI, 2 404 000 to 3 743 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein of 130 to 160 mg/dL for whom JUPITER’s findings might reasonably be extended. Thus, ≈80% of older persons may now have an indication for statin therapy. Compared with those who would continue to have no indication for statin therapy, the JUPITER group was more likely to be female, to be older, and to have obesity, hypertension, and the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions—JUPITER’s findings have the potential to impact treatment recommendations for ≈20% of middle-aged to elderly adults, thus increasing the proportion of this segment of the population with an indication for statin therapy to nearly 80%.Background— Guidelines for statin use currently focus on patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein levels. Recent findings from the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER), however, indicate that statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk is also effective among older persons with at-goal low-density lipoprotein but elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. We estimate the size of and describe this new population for whom statin therapy may now be indicated based on JUPITER’s findings. Methods and Results— Using data from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we estimate that 57.9% of older adults (men ≥50 years and women ≥60 years), or 33 547 000 (95% CI, 32 217 000 to 34 877 000) Americans, are currently taking a statin (24.4%) or indicated for statin therapy (33.5%). In addition, we estimate that 19.2%, or 11 144 000 (95% CI, 10 053 000 to 12 235 000), may become newly eligible for statin therapy. This includes 8 071 000 (13.9%; 95% CI, 7 173 000 to 8 969 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein <130 mg/dL (ie, those meeting “strict” JUPITER criteria) and an additional 3 073 000 (5.3%; 95% CI, 2 404 000 to 3 743 000) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/L and low-density lipoprotein of 130 to 160 mg/dL for whom JUPITER’s findings might reasonably be extended. Thus, ≈80% of older persons may now have an indication for statin therapy. Compared with those who would continue to have no indication for statin therapy, the JUPITER group was more likely to be female, to be older, and to have obesity, hypertension, and the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions— JUPITER’s findings have the potential to impact treatment recommendations for ≈20% of middle-aged to elderly adults, thus increasing the proportion of this segment of the population with an indication for statin therapy to nearly 80%. Received October 31, 2008; accepted November 19, 2008. # CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE {#article-title-2}

Recruitment and Retention of Mental Health Workers in Ghana

Introduction The lack of trained mental health workers is a primary contributor to the mental health treatment gap worldwide. Despite the great need to recruit and retain mental health workers in low-income countries, little is known about how these workers perceive their jobs and what drives them to work in mental health care. Using qualitative interviews, we aimed to explore factors motivating mental health workers in order to inform interventions to increase recruitment and retention. Methods We conducted 28 in-depth, open-ended interviews with staff in Ghana’s three public psychiatric hospitals. We used the snowballing method to recruit participants and the constant comparative method for qualitative data analysis, with multiple members of the research team participating in data coding to enhance the validity and reliability of the analysis. The use of qualitative methods allowed us to understand the range and depth of motivating and demotivating factors. Results Respondents described many factors that influenced their choice to enter and remain in mental health care. Motivating factors included 1) desire to help patients who are vulnerable and in need, 2) positive day-to-day interactions with patients, 3) intellectual or academic interest in psychiatry or behavior, and 4) good relationships with colleagues. Demotivating factors included 1) lack of resources at the hospital, 2) a rigid supervisory hierarchy, 3) lack of positive or negative feedback on work performance, and 4) few opportunities for career advancement within mental health. Conclusions Because many of the factors are related to relationships, these findings suggest that strengthening the interpersonal and team dynamics may be a critical and relatively low cost way to increase worker motivation. The data also allowed us to highlight key areas for resource allocation to improve both recruitment and retention, including risk pay, adequate tools for patient care, improved hospital work environment, and stigma reduction efforts.