Lackore, Kandace A.

Abstract Background Treatment burden refers to the work involved in managing one’s health and its impact on well-being and has been associated with nonadherence in patients with chronic illnesses. No kidney transplant (KT)-specific measure of treatment burden exists. The aim of this study was to develop a KT-specific supplement to the Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-Management (PETS), a general measure of treatment burden. Methods After drafting and pretesting KT-specific survey items, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study involving KT recipients from Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to identify domains for scaling the KT-specific supplement. Construct and known-groups validity were determined. Results Survey respondents (n = 167) had a mean age of 61 years (range 22–86) and received a KT on average 4.0 years ago. Three KT-specific scales were identified (transplant function, self-management, adverse effects). Higher scores on the KT-specific scales were correlated with higher PETS treatment burden, worse physical and mental health, and lower self-efficacy (p < 0.0001). Patients taking more medications reported higher transplant self-management burden. Conclusions We developed a KT-specific supplement to the PETS general measure of treatment burden. Scores may help providers identify recipients at risk for nonadherence.

Introduction: Compared to Whites, African-Americans (AAs) have 82% lower odds of meeting ideal levels for five or more cardiovascular (CV) health components that comprise the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7, an evidenced-based metric of seven health promoting behaviors and biological factors that improve CV outcomes. Given expanding mobile technology use among AAs, mobile health (mHealth) interventions are promising avenues to promote CV health within this population. Hypothesis: An evidence-based, theory-informed, culturally relevant, community-based mHealth lifestyle intervention would improve CV health among AAs adults. Methods: Five predominately AA churches collaborated in a community-based participatory research approach to develop a 10-week CV health and wellness digital application-based program ( FAITH! App ). We enrolled AA adults [N=50, mean age 49.6 (SD 12.7), 70% women (35/50)] into a single group, 10-week intervention centered on the FAITH! App with adjunct in-person sessions. The FAITH! App included ten core video education modules from health professionals on CV health, interactive diet/physical activity self-monitoring and a sharing board. The primary outcome was change in individual CV health behaviors (body mass index, physical activity, diet, cigarette smoking) and biological factors (blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol, fasting glucose) from baseline to post-intervention at 28 weeks. Results: Participants were overall high CV risk at baseline (hypertensive [40% (20/50)] with poor/intermediate physical activity [79% (37/47)] and diet [72% (36/50)]). At 28 weeks, there were substantial improvements in CV health factors (systolic and diastolic BPs), CV health behaviors (diet, physical activity) and psychological/psychosocial variables to promote behavior change ( Table 1 ). Conclusions: This study supports the benefits of a culturally relevant, community-based mHealth lifestyle intervention to promote CV health among AAs with high cardiometabolic risk.

Objective: To determine whether a bi-directional relationship exists between depression and HF within a single population of individuals receiving primary care services, using longitudinal electronic health records (EHRs). Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized EHRs for adults who received primary care services within a large healthcare system in 2006. Validated EHR-based algorithms identified 10,649 people with depression (depression cohort) and 5,911 people with HF (HF cohort) between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2018. Each person with depression or HF was matched 1:1 with an unaffected referent on age, sex, and outpatient service use. Each cohort (with their matched referents) was followed up electronically to identify newly diagnosed HF (in the depression cohort) and depression (in the HF cohort) that occurred after the index diagnosis of depression or HF, respectively. The risks of these outcomes were compared (vs. referents) using marginal Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for 16 comorbid chronic conditions. Results: 2,024 occurrences of newly diagnosed HF were observed in the depression cohort and 944 occurrences of newly diagnosed depression were observed in the HF cohort over approximately 4–6 years of follow-up. People with depression had significantly increased risk for developing newly diagnosed HF (HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.89–2.28) and people with HF had a significantly increased risk of newly diagnosed depression (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17–1.54) after adjusting for all 16 comorbid chronic conditions. Conclusion: These results provide evidence of a bi-directional relationship between depression and HF independently of age, sex, and multimorbidity from chronic illnesses.

Abstract Introduction: MGUS is generally an incidental finding in the diagnostic work-up for clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of lymphoplasmacytic malignancies (multiple myeloma, light chain amyloidosis, and Waldenström macroglobulinemia), which are relatively rare (<35,000 annual new cases in the US). While much is known about the natural history of MGUS, information regarding the pre- and post-diagnostic part of MGUS patient care is lacking. Our study objectives were to determine the following: 1) indications for monoclonal protein testing; 2) subsequent diagnoses found for those indications; 3) specialty of ordering clinicians; 4) follow-up patterns after MGUS diagnosis. Methods: We identified MGUS patients residing in southeastern Minnesota who were diagnosed from 2011-2014 and followed at the Mayo Clinic. Medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and obtain relevant clinical data. Laboratory tests and visits were identified using Current Procedural Terminology-4th edition (CPT-4) codes from billing data. We defined a follow-up visit as: 1) any face-to-face encounter linked to MGUS diagnosis 30 days after the date of MGUS diagnosis regardless of whether ancillary test was performed or not; and 2) MGUS-specific tests or laboratory tests linked to an MGUS diagnosis claim performed without a face-to-face encounter. Based on the Mayo Clinic MGUS risk stratification model, we classified our cohort into either low-risk or non-low risk. Criteria for low-risk used were: serum monoclonal protein <1.5 g/dL, IgG subtype, and normal serum free light chain ratio. Follow-up patterns were analyzed according to year of diagnosis, demographics, and the specialty of clinicians performing the follow-up. Results: 330 MGUS patients were included in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 73 years (range, 21-98) and most were males (59.7%). The common indications for monoclonal protein studies were neuropathy (19.6%), kidney disease (13.6%), anemia (12.7%), bone symptoms/signs (12.7%), cutaneous disorders (5.8%), congestive heart failure (4.8%), and hypercalcemia (2.7%). The most common subsequent diagnoses for these indications were neuropathy not otherwise specified (NOS;100%), chronic kidney disease NOS (35.5%), anemia of chronic kidney disease (19%), osteopenia/osteoporosis (45.2%), congestive heart failure NOS (57.1%), and dermatitis NOS (100%), respectively. The practice specialties that most commonly diagnosed MGUS were internal medicine (31.3%), neurology (13.7%), nephrology (10.3%), family medicine (6.1%), and hematology (5.8%). Low risk MGUS comprised 44.8% of the cohort. After a median follow-up of 53.5 months (range, 13.0-77.4; IQR, 40.8-77.4), the total number of follow-up visits was 937. Majority (85.5%) of the visits were a combination of office visit with laboratory testing, while the rest were either office visit (11.2%) or laboratory tests (3.3%) only. The distribution of patients by mean interval between visits was: every <6 months (7.9%); every 6-12 months (19.4%); every 13-24 months (15.2%), and every >24 months or no follow-up at all (57.6%). The follow-up patterns did not change significantly (Kruskal Wallis; P=0.6759) over time (Figure 1) and were similar when age groups were compared (Figure 2; P=0.1328). However, males were followed more frequently than females (P=0.0365). Among patients 80 years and older, 32.1% continued to be followed at least once every 2 years (Figure 2). Hematologists were more likely than non-hematologists to follow MGUS patients regardless of the risk category (Figures 3-4). Among low risk patients, 31.1%, 22.2%, 20.7%, and 19.1% had at least one follow-up during years 2, 3, 4, and 5, after MGUS diagnosis (Figure 3). Conclusions: Approximately 1/3 of MGUS diagnoses were made during the evaluation of signs and symptoms not related to lymphoplasmacytic malignancies. The subsequent diagnoses found were a wide variety of common diseases. Most MGUS diagnoses were made by general internists, neurologists, and nephrologists. Follow-up practices varied between hematologists and non-hematologists. Nearly 1/3 of the oldest old patients continued to have follow-up, despite limited life expectancy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background. The role of liver transplantation (LT) in the management of portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to better understand provider attitudes and practice patterns regarding the management of patients with POPH and to assess the concordance between clinical practice and current guidelines. Methods. We performed a multicenter survey study of hepatologists and pulmonary hypertension (PH) physicians at US LT centers that performed >50 transplants per year. Survey responses are summarized as number (%). Associations were assessed using a Wilcoxon-rank sum, chi-square, or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Results. Seventy-four providers from 35 centers were included. There was marked variability regarding screening practices, management, and attitudes. Forty-two percent responded that POPH nearly always or often improves with LT, and 15.5% reported that POPH rarely or never improves. In contrast to current guidelines, 50.7% agreed that treated POPH should be an indication for LT in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Hepatologists were more likely than PH physicians to agree that POPH should be an indication for LT (P = 0.02). Forty-nine percent of respondents thought that the current POPH Model for End-stage Liver Disease exception criteria should be modified, and management of patients with an elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure and normal pulmonary vascular resistance differed from current policies. Conclusions. There is marked variability in provider attitudes and practice patterns regarding the management of POPH. This study highlights the need for prospective studies to inform practice and for improved implementation of practice guidelines in order to standardize care.

Objective To compare response rate and nonresponse bias across two mixed‐mode survey designs and two single‐mode designs. Data Sources This experiment was embedded in a clinician survey of knowledge and attitudes regarding HPV vaccination ( n = 275). Study Design Clinicians were randomly assigned one of two mixed‐mode (mail/web or web/mail) or single‐mode designs (mail‐only/web‐only). Differences in response rate and nonresponse bias were assessed. Principal Findings Using a multiple‐contact protocol increased response, and sending a web survey first provided the more rapid response. Overall, the mixed‐mode survey designs generated final response rates approximately 10 percentage points higher than their single‐mode counterparts, although only the final response differences between the mail‐only and web/mail conditions attained statistical significance (32.1 percent vs. 48 percent, respectively; p = .005). Observed differences did not result in nonresponse bias. Conclusions Results support mixing modes of survey administration and web‐based data collection in a multiple contact survey data collection protocol.

Striking cardiovascular health disparities exist among African-Americans in Minnesota compared to Whites; however, community-based interventions to address cardiovascular disease risk are lacking. This study explored participant perceptions of a culturally tailored, cardiovascular disease prevention program developed using a community-based participatory research process. Research participation perceptions, program benefits, and program satisfaction/acceptability were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach. Overall, acceptability was high. Findings highlight the favorable inclusion of African-Americans (research perception), knowledge gained about healthy lifestyle practices (benefits), and quality of the curriculum/speakers (satisfaction). Community-based participatory research may be useful in fostering the acceptability of behavior change interventions among marginalized African-American communities.

64 Background: The goals of our Lymphoma Survivorship Clinic (SC) are to coordinate care, educate patients, and create a survivorship care plan (SCP). The aim of this study was to determine if patient-centered outcomes are improved after a SC visit. Methods: From 11/13-5/15, surveys were mailed to recently-treated lymphoma patients who were within 4 weeks of their last visit and in remission. Quality of life (QOL) was measured with PROMIS and distress was measured with the Impact of Events scale. Responses between those who attended SC and those who were eligible but did not attend were analyzed. Results: There were 96 surveys sent to the SC group; 59 were returned (61% response rate). Of the non-SC group, 140 surveys were sent and 84 were returned (60% response rate). Mean age was 57 years (range 23-77) in the SC group and 59 years (23-88) in the non-SC group. There were more females in the SC group (52% vs 30%) but no differences in race, marital status, education, or health literacy. Those who attended the SC were more likely to recall receiving a summary of cancer treatment and recommendations for follow-up care (90% SC vs. 75% non-SC, p = 0.03). Furthermore, SC attendees were more likely to “definitely” recall discussion on improving health or preventing illness (89% vs. 53%), getting help in making changes in habits/lifestyle (76% vs. 50%), diet (80% vs. 31%), and exercise (82% vs. 51%), all p < 0.001. There were no differences in discussions regarding smoking, follow-up testing, and symptom monitoring. The SC group was less likely to need more information regarding sexuality (6% vs 20%, p = 0.045). There were no differences in need for information regarding anxiety, fitness, familial cancer risk, fertility, complementary therapies, and social issues. The SC group was slightly more confident that they could get information or advice related to cancer (completely confident 76% vs. 61%, p = 0.07). There were no differences in QOL or distress. Conclusions: A Lymphoma SC visit increased receipt of SCP and provided more information on survivorship issues, particularly health behaviors, but did not improve QOL or distress. Further study is needed to determine if this leads to long-term health benefits.