Sherry Weitzen

Factors associated with site of death: A national study of where people die

Objectives. Recent public attention has focused on quality of care for the dying. Where one dies is an important individual and public health concern. Materials and methods. The 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey (NMFS) was used to estimate the proportion of deaths occurring at home, in a hospital, or in a nursing home. Sociodemographic variables, underlying cause of death, geographic region, hospice use, social support, health insurance, patients’ physical limitations, and physical decline were considered as possible predictors of site of death. The relationship between these predictors and site death with multinomial logistic regression methods was analyzed. Results. Nearly 60% of deaths occurred in hospitals, and approximately 20% of deaths took place at home or in nursing homes. Decedents, who were black, less educated, and enrolled in an HMO were more likely to die in the hospital. After adjustment, functional decline in the last 5 months of life was an important predictor of dying at home (for loss of 3 or more ADLs [OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.11–2.21]). Having functional limitations 1 year before death, and experiencing functional decline in the last 5 months of life were both associated with dying in a nursing home. Conclusions. Rapid physical decline during the last 5 months was associated with dying at home or in a nursing home, whereas earlier functional loss was associated with dying in a nursing home.

Where People Die: A Multilevel Approach to Understanding Influences on Site of Death in America

Despite documented preferences for home death, the majority of deaths from terminal illness occur in hospital. To better understand variation in place of death, we conducted a systematic literature review and a multilevel analysis in which we linked death certificates with county and state data. The results of both components revealed that opportunities for home death are disproportionately found in certain groups of Americans; more specifically, those who are White, have greater access to resources and social support, and die of cancer. From the multilevel analysis, the higher the proportion minority and the lower the level of educational attainment, the higher the probability of hospital death while investment in institutional long-term care, measured by regional density of nursing home beds and state Medicaid payment rate, was associated with higher probability of nursing home death. These results reinforce the importance of both social and structural characteristics in shaping the end-of-life experience.

Adnexal masses in pregnancy: Surgery compared with observation

OBJECTIVE: To estimate whether the delay of surgery impacts the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in patients diagnosed with an adnexal mass during pregnancy. METHODS: A review was performed of pregnant patients diagnosed with an adnexal mass 5 cm or greater in diameter. Data collected included age, gravity/parity, gestational age at diagnosis, and presenting symptoms. Ultrasound examinations were evaluated for mass size and complexity. Pregnancy outcome, complications, and surgical pathology were reviewed. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2003, 127,177 deliveries were performed at our institution. An adnexal mass 5 cm in diameter or greater was diagnosed in 63 (0.05%) patients. Pathologic diagnosis was available for 59 (94%) patients. The remaining 4 patients were lost to follow-up and excluded from the analysis. Antepartum surgery was performed in 17 patients (29%): 13 because of ultrasound findings that suggested malignancy and 4 secondary to ovarian torsion. The remaining patients were observed, with surgery performed in the postpartum period or at time of cesarean delivery. The majority of masses were dermoid cysts (42%). Four patients were diagnosed with ovarian cancer (6.8% of masses, 0.0032% of deliveries), and one patient (1.7%) had a tumor of low malignant potential. Antepartum surgery due to ultrasound findings that caused concern was performed on all 5 women diagnosed with a malignancy or borderline tumor, compared with 12 (22%) of the patients with benign tumors (P < .01). CONCLUSION: In select cases, close observation is a reasonable alternative to antepartum surgery in patients with an adnexal mass during pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3

Risk factors for bladder injury during cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: During the period of this research, M.G.P. was supported by the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Womens Health (BIRCWH) program (K12 HD43447-01) of the National Institutes of Health. To identify risk factors for bladder injury during cesarean delivery so as to inform patients and practitioners of these risks. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of women undergoing cesarean delivery at Women and Infants Hospital between January 1995 and December 2002. Cases were women with bladder injuries at the time of cesarean delivery. Two controls per case were selected randomly. Medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical data to compare cases and controls. RESULTS: Forty-two bladder injuries were identified among 14,757 cesarean deliveries (incidence of 0.28%). Prior cesarean delivery was more prevalent among cases than controls (67% versus 32%, P < .01). The adjusted risk for bladder injury associated with prior cesarean delivery was 3.82 (95% confidence interval 1.62–8.97). Statistically significant differences (P values ≤ .01) between cases and controls were found in emergent timing of delivery (31% versus 11%), labor before cesarean (83% versus 61%), attempted vaginal birth after cesarean (64% versus 22%), concurrent uterine rupture (14% versus 0%), adhesions (60% versus 10%), age (33.6 versus 29.3 years), and body mass index (29.9 versus 33.0 kg/m2). No differences were found among type of uterine incision, labor induction, chorioamnionitis, fetal position, gestational age, or maternal illnesses. CONCLUSION: Prior cesarean delivery is a risk factor for bladder injury at the time of repeat cesarean delivery. Patients should be counseled regarding this risk, particularly in the setting of increasing rates of elective primary cesarean delivery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in Obese Versus Nonobese Patients

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of operative and postoperative complications for obese patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy compared with nonobese patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed for patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana, for a period of 4.3 years. Rates of complications, successful laparoscopic completion, readmission, and reoperation were compared for those patients having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater with those whose BMI was less than 30 kg/m2. RESULTS: Of 270 patients who met inclusion criteria, 106 (39.3%) women had a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater. Procedures were completed by using endoscopic technique in 253 cases (93.7%), by using a combined vaginal approach (laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy) in 7 cases (2.6%), and via laparotomy (total abdominal hysterectomy) in 10 cases (3.7%). Neither the 2-fold risk of conversion to laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (relative risk [RR] 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5, 10.1) nor the 4-fold risk of conversion to laparotomy (RR 3.9, 95% CI 1.0, 15.4) associated with obesity was statistically significant. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy for obese patients was 60% more likely to require at least 2 hours to complete (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2, 2.0) and was associated with a 3-fold risk of blood loss exceeding 500 mL compared with nonobese patients. Risks of major and minor complications, hospital readmission, and reoperation were similar for both groups. CONCLUSION: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy can be performed successfully in most obese patients, with complication rates similar to those for nonobese patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Evaluation of clinical methods for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the current clinical criteria for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis can be simplified by using 2 clinical criteria rather than the standard 3 of 4 criteria (Amsels criteria). METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of 269 women undergoing a vaginal examination in the Womens Primary Care Center, Division of Research, or Colposcopy Clinic at Women & Infants Hospital. All 4 clinical criteria for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis were collected, and Gram stain was used as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each individual criterion, combinations of criteria, and a colorimetric pH and amine card. Receiver operating characteristic curve was generated to estimate the preferred pH and percentage of clue cells for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in our study population was 38.7%. Vaginal pH was the most sensitive of all the criteria, at 89%, and a positive amine odor was the individual criteria with the highest specificity, at 93%. Similar specificity was seen with combinations of 2 criteria and Amsels criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded a preferred pH and percentage of clue cells of 5.0 and 20%, respectively. However, a pH of 4.5 or greater improves sensitivity with minimal loss of specificity. CONCLUSION: The clinical criteria for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis can be simplified to 2 clinical criteria without loss of sensitivity and specificity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2

Abortion training in United States obstetrics and gynecology residency programs

OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics of programs which provide training in abortion, to calculate the number of procedures done during training, and to compare the availability of abortion training in 2004 with that of prior national surveys. METHODS: An investigator-designed questionnaire about abortion training in obstetrics and gynecology residency programs was mailed to all U.S. residency directors. Collected data included program information, abortion training, and numbers of residents trained. Data were analyzed to estimate differences in abortion training by region, program size, and type of training offered. RESULTS: Of the 252 questionnaires mailed, 185 (73%) were returned. Of the 185, 94 (51%) program directors reported routine instruction in elective abortion, 72 (39%) optional training, and 19 (10%) no training. Large programs and programs located in the Northeast and West Coast were significantly more likely to offer routine training in terminations (P < .01). In the programs offering routine training, more than 50% of residents received instruction in termination practices. Of those practices, the most common were first-trimester surgical abortion (85% of programs), followed by medical abortion (59%), second-trimester induction (51% of programs), and dilation and extraction (36%). As compared with those in programs with optional training, residents in programs with routine training were significantly more likely to receive instruction in all modalities of abortion provision and performed proportionally more first- and second-trimester terminations (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Routine training in elective abortion resulted in greater exposure to abortion practices and greater experience in more complicated abortion techniques during residency. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III

Concepts of the advantages and disadvantages of teenage childbearing among pregnant adolescents: a qualitative analysis.

OBJECTIVE. We sought to enhance our understanding of pregnant adolescents’ concepts of the advantages and disadvantages of teen pregnancy and childbearing. METHODOLOGY. This is a qualitative study of 247 pregnant adolescents recruited during their first prenatal health care visit to a womens primary care clinic in Providence, Rhode Island. Participants responded in writing to open-ended questions assessing their ideas about what was advantageous and disadvantageous about having an infant during their teen years rather than waiting until they were older. Themes and patterns in responding were coded, and subgroup differences based on age, ethnicity, intendedness of current pregnancy, and pregnancy/parenting history were assessed. RESULTS. Themes related to advantages of teen pregnancy included enhancing connections, positive changes/benefits, and practical considerations. Themes related to disadvantages included lack of preparedness, changes/interference, and others’ perceptions. Differences among groups based on age, ethnicity, intendedness of the current pregnancy, and pregnancy/parenting history were examined and noted. CONCLUSIONS. Pregnant adolescents do not represent a homogeneous group. Considering differences in how pregnancy and childbearing are conceptualized along developmental, cultural, attitudinal, and experiential lines will strengthen our ability to tailor pregnancy-prevention messages.

Factors Associated with the High Prevalence of Short Hospice Stays

This studys goal was to gain an understanding of the factors associated with hospice stays of 7 days or less (i.e., short hospice stays), and to test the hypothesis that independent of changes in sociodemographics, diagnoses, and site-of-care, the likelihood of a short hospice stay increased over time. We examined hospice stays for 46655 nursing home and 80507 non-nursing home patients admitted between October 1994 and September 1999 to 21 hospices across 7 states, and owned by 1 provider. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors significantly associated with a higher probability of a short stay. Compared to patients admitted in (fiscal year) 1995, and controlling for potential confounders, the probability of a short stay significantly increased in each year after 1995 in nursing homes, and in 1999 in non-nursing home settings. In (fiscal year) 1995, a nursing home resident admitted to hospice had a 26% probability (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24, 0.28) of a less than 8-day stay and, in (fiscal year) 1999, the probability was 33% (95% CI 0.31, 0.34); a non-nursing home patient had a 32% probability in 1995 (95% CI 0.30, 0.34) and a 36% probability in 1999 (95% CI 0.34, 0.37). The probability of a short hospice stay was greater for patients with noncancer diagnoses, independent of year of hospice admission. In this paper we discuss the possible underlying reasons for the increased probability of short hospice stays and we speculate on what this increase may mean in terms of hospices ability to provide high-quality end-of-life care.

Predictors of chronic pelvic pain in an urban population of women with symptoms and signs of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the risk profile for chronic pelvic pain (CPP) after pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Study: Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess risk factors for CPP in a longitudinal study of 780 predominately black, urban women with clinically suspected PID: complaints of acute pain (<30 days); a clinical finding of pelvic tenderness; and leukorrhea, mucopurulent cervicitis, or untreated gonococcal or chlamydial cervicitis. CPP was defined as pain reported at ≥2 consecutive interviews conducted every 3 to 4 months for 2 to 5 years. Results: Nonblack race (odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–3.58), being married (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.02–4.18), a low SF-36 mental health composite score (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.69–4.34), ≥2 prior PID episodes (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.07–7.54), and smoking (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.01–2.71) independently predicted CPP. Histologic endometritis or evidence of endometrial Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis infection was negatively associated with CPP (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.44–1.10). Conclusions: A range of demographic, clinical, historical, and behavioral factors predict CPP after PID.