Tracey Koehlmoos

Noncommunicable chronic disease in Bangladesh: Overview of existing programs and priorities going forward

OBJECTIVE This paper reviews existing NCD programs in Bangladesh and identifies key priorities for the country to help address the NCD burden. METHODS To identify existing chronic disease programs in Bangladesh, country experts were interviewed and literature searches were conducted in PubMed and Ovid Medline (January 1970 to June 2009) for potentially relevant studies focused on tobacco-related illnesses, diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Programs not being implemented at the time of the study were excluded. Programs underway at the time of the study were included. RESULTS Bangladesh has a total of 11 NCD programs at varying levels of development. Roughly half of the programs involved diabetes; three addressed the reduction of primary risk factors and about half provided infrastructure (e.g., hospitals or clinics) for NCD services or health professional training. The programs were roughly divided between the government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs). CONCLUSIONS The Bangladeshi government and non-government organizations have taken several steps to implement appropriate NCD programs, but there are many areas where efforts could be enhanced or strengthened. Key among them is improved monitoring and evaluation of NCD programs and the development of nationally representative NCD surveillance data which includes prevalence and associated risk factors.

Association Between Race and Postoperative Outcomes in a Universally Insured Population Versus Patients in the State of California

Objective: To compare disparities in postoperative outcomes for African Americans after surgical intervention in the universally insured military system, versus the civilian setting in California. Background: Health reform proponents cite the reduction of disparities for African Americans and minorities as an expected benefit. The impact of universal health insurance on reducing surgical disparities for African Americans has not previously been examined. Methods: We used Department of Defense health insurance (Tricare) data (2006–2010) to measure outcomes for African Americans as compared with Whites after 12 major surgical procedures across multiple specialties. The experience of African Americans in the Tricare system was compared with a similar cohort undergoing surgery in the state of California using the State Inpatient Database (2007–2011). Results: No significant difference in postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR) 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81, 1.03] or mortality (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.43, 2.25) were encountered between African Americans and Whites receiving surgery at hospitals administered by the Department of Defense. African Americans in California who were uninsured or on Medicaid had significantly increased odds of mortality (OR 4.76; 95% CI 2.82, 8.05), complications (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.34, 2.08), failure to rescue (OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.25, 5.94), and readmission (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.45, 2.19). Conclusions: In the equal access military healthcare system, African Americans have outcomes similar to Whites. Disparities were evident in California, especially among those without private insurance. These facts point toward the potential benefits of a federally administered system in which all patients are treated uniformly.

Defining Optimal Length of Opioid Pain Medication Prescription After Common Surgical Procedures

Importance The overprescription of pain medications has been implicated as a driver of the burgeoning opioid epidemic; however, few guidelines exist regarding the appropriateness of opioid pain medication prescriptions after surgery. Objectives To describe patterns of opioid pain medication prescriptions after common surgical procedures and determine the appropriateness of the prescription as indicated by the rate of refills. Design, Setting, and Participants The Department of Defense Military Health System Data Repository was used to identify opioid-naive individuals 18 to 64 years of age who had undergone 1 of 8 common surgical procedures between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2014. The adjusted risk of refilling an opioid prescription based on the number of days of initial prescription was modeled using a generalized additive model with spline smoothing. Exposures Length of initial prescription for opioid pain medication. Main Outcomes and Measures Need for an additional subsequent prescription for opioid pain medication, or a refill. Results Of the 215 140 individuals (107 588 women and 107 552 men; mean [SD] age, 40.1 [12.8] years) who underwent a procedure within the study time frame and received and filled at least 1 prescription for opioid pain medication within 14 days of their index procedure, 41 107 (19.1%) received at least 1 refill prescription. The median prescription lengths were 4 days (interquartile range [IQR], 3-5 days) for appendectomy and cholecystectomy, 5 days (IQR, 3-6 days) for inguinal hernia repair, 4 days (IQR, 3-5 days) for hysterectomy, 5 days (IQR, 3-6 days) for mastectomy, 5 days (IQR, 4-8 days) for anterior cruciate ligament repair and rotator cuff repair, and 7 days (IQR, 5-10 days) for discectomy. The early nadir in the probability of refill was at an initial prescription of 9 days for general surgery procedures (probability of refill, 10.7%), 13 days for women’s health procedures (probability of refill, 16.8%), and 15 days for musculoskeletal procedures (probability of refill, 32.5%). Conclusions and Relevance Ideally, opioid prescriptions after surgery should balance adequate pain management against the duration of treatment. In practice, the optimal length of opioid prescriptions lies between the observed median prescription length and the early nadir, or 4 to 9 days for general surgery procedures, 4 to 13 days for women’s health procedures, and 6 to 15 days for musculoskeletal procedures.

Training and Capacity Building in LMIC for Research in Heart and Lung Diseases the NHLBI-UnitedHealth Global Health Centers of Excellence Program

Stemming the tide of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide requires a multipronged approach. Although much attention has been paid to disease control measures, there is relatively little consideration of the importance of training the next generation of health-related researchers to play their important role in this global epidemic. The lack of support for early stage investigators in low- and middle-income countries interested in the global NCD field has resulted in inadequate funding opportunities for research, insufficient training in advanced research methodology and data analysis, lack of mentorship in manuscript and grant writing, and meager institutional support for developing, submitting, and administering research applications and awards. To address this unmet need, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-UnitedHealth Collaborating Centers of Excellence initiative created a Training Subcommittee that coordinated and developed an intensive, mentored health-related research experience for a number of early stage investigators from the 11 Centers of Excellence around the world. We describe the challenges faced by early stage investigators in low- and middle-income countries, the organization and scope of the Training Subcommittee, training activities, early outcomes of the early stage investigators (foreign and domestic) and training materials that have been developed by this program that are available to the public. By investing in the careers of individuals in a supportive global NCD network, we demonstrate the impact that an investment in training individuals from low- and middle-income countries can have on the preferred future of or current efforts to combat NCDs.

Distribution of chronic disease mortality and deterioration in household socioeconomic status in rural Bangladesh: an analysis over a 24-year period

BACKGROUND Little is known about long-term changes linking chronic diseases and poverty in low-income countries such as Bangladesh. This study examines how chronic disease mortality rates change across socioeconomic groups over time in Bangladesh, and whether such mortality is associated with households falling into poverty. METHODS Age-sex standardized chronic diseases mortality rates were estimated across socioeconomic groups in 1982, 1996 and 2005, using data from the health and demographic surveillance system in Matlab, Bangladesh. Changes in households falling below a poverty threshold after a chronic disease death were estimated between 1982-96 and 1996-2005. RESULTS Age-sex standardized chronic disease mortality rates rose from 646 per 100 000 population in 1982 to 670 in 2005. Mortality rates were higher in wealthier compared with poorer households in 1982 [Concentration Index = 0.037; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.002, 0.072], but switched direction in 1996 (Concentration Index = -0.007; 95% CI: -0.023, 0.009), with an even higher concentration in the poor by 2005 (Concentration Index = -0.047; 95% CI: -0.061, -0.033). Between 1982-96 and 1996-2005, the highest chronic disease mortality rates were found among those households that fell below the poverty line. Households that had a chronic disease death in 1982 were 1.33 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.70) times more likely to fall below the poverty line in 1996 compared with households that did not. CONCLUSIONS Chronic disease mortality is a growing proportion of the disease burden in Bangladesh, with poorer households being more affected over time periods, leading to future household poverty.

Risk Factors for Prolonged Opioid Use Following Spine Surgery, and the Association with Surgical Intensity, Among Opioid-naive Patients

Background: There is a growing concern that the use of prescription opioids following surgical interventions, including spine surgery, may predispose patients to chronic opioid use and abuse. We sought to estimate the proportion of patients using opioids up to 1 year after discharge following common spinal surgical procedures and to identify factors associated with sustained opioid use. Methods: This study utilized 2006 to 2014 data from TRICARE insurance claims obtained from the Military Health System Data Repository. Adults who underwent 1 of 4 common spinal surgical procedures (discectomy, decompression, lumbar posterolateral arthrodesis, or lumbar interbody arthrodesis) were identified. Patients with a history of opioid use in the 6 months preceding surgery were excluded. Posterolateral arthrodesis and interbody arthrodesis were considered procedures of high intensity, and discectomy and decompression, low intensity. Covariates included demographic factors, preoperative diagnoses, comorbidities, postoperative complications, and mental health disorders. Risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the time to opioid discontinuation. Results: This study included 9,991 patients. Eighty-four percent filled at least 1 opioid prescription on discharge. At 30 days following discharge, 8% continued opioid use; at 3 months, 1% continued use; and at 6 months, 0.1%. In the adjusted analysis, the low-intensity surgical procedures were associated with a higher likelihood of discontinuing opioid use (discectomy: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.36 to 1.50; and decompression: HR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.25 to 1.43). Depression (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.77 to 0.90) was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of discontinuing opioid use (p < 0.001). Conclusions: By 6 months following discharge, nearly all patients had discontinued opioid use after spine surgery. As only 0.1% of the patients continued opioid use at 6 months following surgery, these results indicate that spine surgery among opioid-naive patients is not a major driver of long-term prescription opioid use. Socioeconomic status and pre-existing mental health disorders may be factors associated with sustained opioid use following spine surgery. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Tackling socioeconomic inequalities and non-communicable diseases in low-income and middle-income countries under the Sustainable Development agenda

Five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set targets that relate to the reduction of health inequalities nationally and worldwide. These targets are poverty reduction, health and wellbeing for all, equitable education, gender equality, and reduction of inequalities within and between countries. The interaction between inequalities and health is complex: better economic and educational outcomes for households enhance health, low socioeconomic status leads to chronic ill health, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) reduce income status of households. NCDs account for most causes of early death and disability worldwide, so it is alarming that strong scientific evidence suggests an increase in the clustering of non-communicable conditions with low socioeconomic status in low-income and middle-income countries since 2000, as previously seen in high-income settings. These conditions include tobacco use, obesity, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes. Strong evidence from 283 studies overwhelmingly supports a positive association between low-income, low socioeconomic status, or low educational status and NCDs. The associations have been differentiated by sex in only four studies. Health is a key driver in the SDGs, and reduction of health inequalities and NCDs should become key in the promotion of the overall SDG agenda. A sustained reduction of general inequalities in income status, education, and gender within and between countries would enhance worldwide equality in health. To end poverty through elimination of its causes, NCD programmes should be included in the development agenda. National programmes should mitigate social and health shocks to protect the poor from events that worsen their frail socioeconomic condition and health status. Programmes related to universal health coverage of NCDs should specifically target susceptible populations, such as elderly people, who are most at risk. Growing inequalities in access to resources for prevention and treatment need to be addressed through improved international regulations across jurisdictions that eliminate the legal and practical barriers in the implementation of non-communicable disease control.

IRB and Research Regulatory Delays Within the Military Health System: Do They Really Matter? And If So, Why and for Whom?

Institutional review board (IRB) delays may hinder the successful completion of federally funded research in the U.S. military. When this happens, time-sensitive, mission-relevant questions go unanswered. Research participants face unnecessary burdens and risks if delays squeeze recruitment timelines, resulting in inadequate sample sizes for definitive analyses. More broadly, military members are exposed to untested or undertested interventions, implemented by well-intentioned leaders who bypass the research process altogether. To illustrate, we offer two case examples. We posit that IRB delays often appear in the service of managing institutional risk, rather than protecting research participants. Regulators may see more risk associated with moving quickly than risk related to delay, choosing to err on the side of bureaucracy. The authors of this article, all of whom are military-funded researchers, government stakeholders, and/or human subject protection experts, offer feasible recommendations to improve the IRB system and, ultimately, research within military, veteran, and civilian populations.

What factors affect voluntary uptake of community-based health insurance schemes in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction This research article reports on factors influencing initial voluntary uptake of community-based health insurance (CBHI) schemes in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), and renewal decisions. Methods Following PRISMA protocol, we conducted a comprehensive search of academic and gray literature, including academic databases in social science, economics and medical sciences (e.g., Econlit, Global health, Medline, Proquest) and other electronic resources (e.g., Eldis and Google scholar). Search strategies were developed using the thesaurus or index terms (e.g., MeSH) specific to the databases, combined with free text terms related to CBHI or health insurance. Searches were conducted from May 2013 to November 2013 in English, French, German, and Spanish. From the initial search yield of 15,770 hits, 54 relevant studies were retained for analysis of factors influencing enrolment and renewal decisions. The quantitative synthesis (informed by meta-analysis) and the qualitative analysis (informed by thematic synthesis) were compared to gain insight for an overall synthesis of findings/statements. Results Meta-analysis suggests that enrolments in CBHI were positively associated with household income, education and age of the household head (HHH), household size, female-headed household, married HHH and chronic illness episodes in the household. The thematic synthesis suggests the following factors as enablers for enrolment: (a) knowledge and understanding of insurance and CBHI, (b) quality of healthcare, (c) trust in scheme management. Factors found to be barriers to enrolment include: (a) inappropriate benefits package, (b) cultural beliefs, (c) affordability, (d) distance to healthcare facility, (e) lack of adequate legal and policy frameworks to support CBHI, and (f) stringent rules of some CBHI schemes. HHH education, household size and trust in the scheme management were positively associated with member renewal decisions. Other motivators were: (a) knowledge and understanding of insurance and CBHI, (b) healthcare quality, (c) trust in scheme management, and (d) receipt of an insurance payout the previous year. The barriers to renewal decisions were: (a) stringent rules of some CBHI schemes, (b) inadequate legal and policy frameworks to support CBHI and (c) inappropriate benefits package. Conclusion and Policy Implications The demand-side factors positively affecting enrolment in CBHI include education, age, female household heads, and the socioeconomic status of households. Moreover, when individuals understand how their CBHI functions they are more likely to enroll and when people have a positive claims experience, they are more likely to renew. A higher prevalence of chronic conditions or the perception that healthcare is of good quality and nearby act as factors enhancing enrolment. The perception that services are distant or deficient leads to lower enrolments. The second insight is that trust in the scheme enables enrolment. Thirdly, clarity about the legal or policy framework acts as a factor influencing enrolments. This is significant, as it points to hitherto unpublished evidence that governments can effectively broaden their outreach to grassroots groups that are excluded from social protection by formulating supportive regulatory and policy provisions even if they cannot fund such schemes in full, by leveraging people’s willingness to exercise voluntary and contributory enrolment in a community-based health insurance.

Women in Combat: Framing the Issues of Health and Health Research for America's Servicewomen

BACKGROUND Although women have served in the U.S. military officially since 1901, the medical needs of women in combat have historically been poorly understood. Recent expansion of the opportunities females may now play in combat roles has created an urgent need for a review of how Department of Defense supports females as they transition into these new roles, as well as current science related to key aspects of the health of female warriors. There is currently no systematic institutional structure in place to regularly and methodically examine gaps in policy, research, and treatment for issues related to women in combat. METHOD This article serves as a brief overview and introduction to some of the critical topics related to the health of women in combat roles, to include womens health issues research and treatment efforts, physiological differences between sexes, and leadership and unit factors. CONCLUSION The Department of Defense should continue to explore and address policy, research, and practice related to the complex ongoing needs of military females in combat roles, and ensures sufficient staffing, resources and support from senior military leaders.