In Dialysis: Contribution of Patient Characteristics to Ischemic Stroke Rate and Its Geographic Variation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

In Dialysis: Contribution of Patient Characteristics to Ischemic Stroke Rate and Its Geographic Variation CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY www.jasn.org Stroke and the “Stroke Belt” in Dialysis: Contribution of Patient Characteristics to Ischemic Stroke Rate and Its Geographic Variation † ‡ James B. Wetmore,* Edward F. Ellerbeck, Jonathan D. Mahnken,§ Milind A. Phadnis,§ | Sally K. Rigler, ¶ John A. Spertus,** Xinhua Zhou,§ Purna Mukhopadhyay,§ and †‡ Theresa I. Shireman *Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, † The Kidney Institute, ‡Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, §Department of Biostatistics, |Department of Medicine, and ¶The Landon Center on Aging, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, and **St. Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri ABSTRACT Geographic variation in stroke rates is well established in the general population, with higher rates in the South than in other areas of the United States. ESRD is a potent risk factor for stroke, but whether regional variations in stroke risk exist among dialysis patients is unknown. Medicare claims from 2000 to 2005 were used to ascertain ischemic stroke events in a large cohort of 265,685 incident dialysis patients. A Poisson generalized linear mixed model was generated to determine factors associated with stroke and to ascertain state-by-state geographic variability in stroke rates by generating observed-to-expected (O/E) adjusted rate ratios for stroke. Older age, female sex, African American race and Hispanic ethnicity, unemployed status, diabetes, hypertension, history of stroke, and permanent atrial fibrillation were positively associated with ischemic stroke, whereas body mass index .30 kg/m2 was inversely associated with stroke (P,0.001 for each). After full multivariable adjustment, the three states with O/E rate ratios .1.0 were all in the South: North Carolina, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. Regional efforts to increase primary prevention in the “stroke belt” or to better educate dialysis patients on the signs of stroke so that they may promptly seek care may improve stroke care and outcomes in dialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol 24: 2053–2061, 2013. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2012111077 Stroke is a catastrophic health event and a leading patients across the United States have consistent cause of disability. It represents a particularly heavy access to insurance and frequent contact with health burden for the long-term dialysis population, in care providers, who routinely measure their BP, whom stroke rates are substantially higher than in irrespective of geographic location. Second, the the general population.1 In the general population, nature of vascular disease differs between dialysis there is substantial geographic variability in stroke and nondialysis patients, so different pathophysio- rates, with the southeastern United States having logic mechanisms may be operative in the two long been recognized as a “stroke belt” of higher populations.5 Third, dialysis patients fundamentally stroke mortality rates.2–4 However, whether a stroke belt of increased ischemic stroke incidence exists in dialysis patients has not been formally Received November 12, 2012. Accepted July 8, 2013. studied. Published online ahead of print. Publication date available at Althoughone might suspect that the same factors www.jasn.org. contributing to ischemic stroke risk in the general Correspondence: Dr. James B. Wetmore, Division of Nephrol- population also apply to dialysis patients, there are ogy, Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Avenue, Min- several reasons to posit that this might not be the neapolis, MN 55415. Email: [email protected] case. First, unlike the general population, dialysis Copyright © 2013 by the American Society of Nephrology J Am Soc Nephrol 24: 2053–2061, 2013 ISSN : 1046-6673/2412-2053 2053 CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY www.jasn.org represent a “survivor cohort” relative to individuals with (pre- sex, African American race and Hispanic ethnicity, and being dialysis) CKD and its attendant cardiovascular disorders, sug- unemployed at the time of dialysis initiation were associated gesting that epidemiologic trends evident in one population with ischemic stroke (P,0.0001 for all). A body mass index might not be found in the other.6 Accordingly, it is uncertain of $30 kg/m2 was associated with a significantly lower rate of whether there is substantial geographic variation in stroke risk ischemic strokes. In terms of comorbid conditions, perma- among dialysis patients and what factors might, in part, explain nent atrial fibrillation (AF) (treated as a time-dependent vari- such a finding. able), diabetes, hypertension, and history of a cerebrovascular To address this gap in knowledge, we constructed a large accident were also associated with ischemic stroke (P,0.0001). cohort of incident dialysis patients to determine whether State of residence was also associated with ischemic stroke in- ischemic stroke rates vary by geography and how differences in dependent of other factors, as described below. stroke rates might be explained by patient characteristics. We reasoned that uncovering the existence of geographic variabil- Geographic Factors Associated with Stroke ity in the stroke rates of dialysis patients might provide Figure 2 and Table 3 demonstrate geographic variation in is- direction for focused health care efforts in regions at elevated chemic stroke rates under various modeling strategies. Figure risk, such as screening new dialysis patients for symptoms that 2A shows observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios after adjustment might be referable to old strokes, lowering the threshold for only for age; Figure 2B, after adjustment for age and sex; Figure investigating cerebrovascular disease, or educating dialysis 2C, after adjustment for age, sex, and race; and Figure 2D, after patients on the importance of seeking immediate care for full adjustment for factors listed Table 2. Figure 2A demon- stroke-type symptoms. strates that stroke rates are highest predominantly in the southern and southeastern United States, although the rate is also high in Indiana; eight states had O/E ratios significantly RESULTS above unity, seven of which were in the South. After additional adjustment for sex (Figure 2B), all seven of the states with the Cohort Characteristics rates significantly .1.0 were in the South, and after further Figure 1 shows the construction of the Medicare-eligible co- adjustment for race (Figure 2C), five of six states were in the hort. There were a total of 265,685 Medicare-eligible individ- South. After full adjustment (Figure 2D), three states re- uals who initiated dialysis between January 1, 2000, and mained, all of which are in the South: The O/E ratio for North October 2, 2005, and survived at least 90 days before our final Carolina was 1.15 (99% confidence interal [CI], 1.04 to 1.27); date of December 31, 2005. for Oklahoma, 1.16 (99% CI, 1.01 to 1.34); and for Missis- The characteristics of the Medicare-eligible cohort are sippi, 1.18 (99% CI, 1.03 to 1.34). Table 3 demonstrates the shown in Table 1. Mean age 6 SD was 64.7615 years; 52.9% of same phenomenon, facilitating comparison between states as the patients were male; and whites made up the largest group the various modeling strategies were undertaken; it shows that at 54.9%, followed by African Americans at 30.0%. Diabetes, the effect of state is modified by more thorough statistical at 47.1%, was the leading cause of ESRD. In terms of comorbid adjustment. Of note, employment rate in the eight states conditions, 84.4% of patients had hypertension, 33.2% had with O/E ratios .1wassignificantly, but modestly, lower heart failure, and 10.3% had a history of a cerebrovascular than in the remaining states (4.2% versus 5.0%; P,0.0001). accident upon dialysis initiation. More than 93% were under- In the unadjusted model, only New Mexico had an O/E ratio going in-center hemodialysis. The cohort was followed for a ,1 (0.74 [99% CI, 0.58 to 0.95]) while in the fully adjusted mean of 2.0 years. Bivariate analyses between individuals who model, only New York had an O/E ratio ,1 (0.90 [99% CI, did and did not have strokes during the observation period 0.82 to 0.98]), demonstrating that, overall, variation .1.0 was revealed significant differences (P,0.01) for all covariates far more common than variation ,1.0. examined with the exception of hemoglobin (P=0.05). Sensitivity Analyses Stroke Events To assess the rigor of our analysis, we performed multiple Of 265,685 individuals, 13,073 (4.9%) experienced at least one sensitivity analyses. First, we performed identical modeling stroke. Total ischemic stroke events numbered 14,240: Of save elimination of the adapted Liu comorbidity index; final individuals with a stroke, 91.9% had one stroke, 7.3% had two, results were identical, with North Carolina, Mississippi, and and 0.8% had three or more. Total follow-up time was 431,049 Oklahoma again being the only states with O/E ratios for patient-years, resulting in a rate of 33 ischemic strokes per 1000 ischemic stroke significantly .1.0. Next, we used a more sen- patient-years. Stroke ratesweregenerallyquite stable over time, sitive definition for ischemic strokes in which an additional as shown in Supplemental Table 1. 20% of strokes were included. Five (Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina) of the seven Person-Level Factors Associated with Stroke (New Jersey, Indiana) states with O/E ratios significantly After multivariable adjustment, factors independently associ- .1.0 were in the South; the same general trend of progressive ated with ischemic stroke are shown Table 2. Older age, female attenuation with greater adjustment was observed, starting 2054 Journal of the American Society of Nephrology J Am Soc Nephrol 24: 2053–2061, 2013 www.jasn.org CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY differences in patient characteristics could account for such variability. After adjust- ment for age alone (as the single most important factor associated with stroke), there was a distinct clustering of ischemic strokes in southern states, suggesting the presence of a “stroke belt” in long-term di- alysis patients (of the states with increased risk, only Indiana was not in the South).
Recommended publications
  • Serum Mercury Concentration and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke: the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Trace Element Study
    HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author Environ Manuscript Author Int. Author manuscript; Manuscript Author available in PMC 2019 August 01. Published in final edited form as: Environ Int. 2018 August ; 117: 125–131. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.05.001. Serum Mercury Concentration and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Trace Element Study Cheng Chena, Pengcheng Xuna, Leslie A. McClureb, John Brockmanc, Leslie MacDonaldd, Mary Cushmane, Jianwen Caif, Lisa Kamendulisg, Jason Mackeyh, and Ka Hea,* aDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health -- Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA bDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA cColumbia Research Reactor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA dNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA eDepartment of Medicine, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA fDepartment of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA gDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health -- Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA hDepartment of Neurology, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA Abstract Background—Although biologically plausible, epidemiological evidence linking exposure to methylmercury with increased risk of ischemic stroke is limited. The effects of methylmercury may be modified by selenium, which is an anti-oxidant that often co-exists with mercury in fish. *Corresponding author: Dr. Ka He, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health -- Bloomington, Indiana University, 1025 E.
    [Show full text]
  • Diabetes & Its Complications
    Review Article ISSN 2639-9326 Diabetes & its Complications The Diet and Diabetes: A Focus on the Challenges and Opportunities within the Stroke Belt Dietary Pattern Melissa Johnson* *Correspondence: Melissa Johnson, Tuskegee University, Department of Food and Tuskegee University, Department of Food and Nutritional Nutritional Sciences, 207 Morrison-Mayberry Hall, Tuskegee, AL, Sciences, 207 Morrison-Mayberry Hall, Tuskegee, AL, 36088, 36088, USA, E-mail: [email protected]. USA. Received: 12 August 2017; Accepted: 01 September 2017 Citation: Melissa Johnson. The Diet and Diabetes: A Focus on the Challenges and Opportunities within the Stroke Belt Dietary Pattern. Diabetes Complications. 2017; 1(3); 1-6. ABSTRACT Diabetes mellitus, the most common type of endocrine disorder, globally affects over 400 million individuals and is steadily rising. Cultural and environmental norms that embrace or facilitate the lack of consistency in diet, lifestyle and behavioral patterns that promote health have inadvertently promoted and sustained a diabetogenic environment. Dietary patterns plentiful in processed foods, refined grains, sugar, sodium, fat and calories, coupled with modern conveniences that commission sedentary lifestyles have noticeably contributed to the diabetes epidemic as well. Like other chronic diet-related diseases, modifications of dietary intake and consumption patterns are necessary for diabetes prevention. Unfortunately, many modifiable and non-modifiable factors may hinder an individual’s ability to obtain an optimal diet for disease prevention and health promotion. This includes, but is not limited to, lack of access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods, geographical location, built environment and demographic characteristics. A prime example of this can be seen in the southeastern region of the United States known as the Stroke Belt, which exhibits exceptionally higher than national average prevalence rates of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and accompanying disparities in health.
    [Show full text]
  • FY 2007 Mississippi State Health Plan
    FY 2007 Mississippi State Health Plan Mississippi Department of Health FY 2007 Mississippi State Health Plan Mississippi Department of Health Governor State of Mississippi The Honorable Haley Barbour Mississippi State Board of Health Mary Kim Smith, RN, Chairman Alfred E. McNair, Jr., MD, Vice-Chairman Larry Calvert, RPh H. Allen Gersh, MD Ruth Greer, RN Debra L. Griffin J. Edward Hill, MD Lucius M. Lampton, MD Cass Pennington, Ed.D. Norman Marshall Price Kelly S. Segars, MD Sampat Shivangi, MD Ellen Williams State Health Officer Brian W. Amy, MD, MHA, MPH Acknowledgments The Mississippi Department of Health, Division of Health Planning and Resource Development, prepared the FY 2007 Mississippi State Health Plan(also State Health Plan, or Plan) in accordance with Sections 41-7-173(s) and 41-7-185(g) Mississippi Code 1972 Annotated, as amended. The FY 2007 State Health Plan results from the comments and information supplied by various divisions of the Department of Health, other agencies of state government, health care provider associations, and interested members of the public. The Plan also reflects the direction and guidance of the Mississippi State Board of Health. The Division of Health Planning and Resource Development expresses appreciation to the many individuals who provided invaluable help in publishing a timely and accurate State Health Plan and recognizes the following agencies for particular contributions: Mississippi Department of Health Office of the Governor Communications Mississippi Department of Human Services Health
    [Show full text]
  • Wayne Giles CV
    1 CURRICULUM VITAE WAYNE HOWARD ALEXANDER GILES, M.D., M.S. Dean, School of Public Health University of Illinois at Chicago 1603 W Taylor Street Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 996-5939 Education: Graduate M.S. (Epidemiology, 1992) University of Maryland Baltimore, MD M.D. (1987) Washington University St. Louis, MO Undergraduate A.B. (Biology, 1983) Washington University St. Louis, MO Professional Training 7/91-7/92 Chief Resident - Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 7/90-7/91 Resident - Preventive Medicine University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 7/88-7/90 Resident - Internal Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL 7/87-7/88 Intern - Internal Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Certification and Licensure Certification Federation of State Medical Boards June, 1988 2 Work Experience Current Position Dean University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health Chicago, IL (September 2017-Present) Responsible of oversight of the only accredited school of public health in the state of Illinois. The school offers three masters degrees, 2 doctoral degrees, an undergraduate degree and 7 certificate programs. The school comprises four divisions: Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and Health Policy and Administration. The School includes over 800 students and 100 faculty. Previous Positions Division Director Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention And Health Promotion Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, Georgia (January 2017-September 2017) Responsible for the oversight of the Division’s research and programmatic activities related to the treatment prevention and control of heart disease and stroke.
    [Show full text]
  • Are You Suprised ?
    MINDI SPENCER CURRICULUM VITAE Version Date: February 2, 2021 PERSONAL Work address: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior Arnold School of Public Health 915 Greene Street, Room 550 University of South Carolina Columbia, SC 29208 Telephone: 803-777-4371 (work) 412-651-4329 (cell) Fax: 803-777-6290 Email: [email protected] EDUCATION 2004-2006 West Virginia University, PhD (Life-span Developmental Psychology, Gerontology Graduate Certificate, Women’s Studies Graduate Certificate) 2001-2004 West Virginia University, MA, (Life-span Developmental Psychology) 1996-2001 West Virginia University, BA, BS, (Regents with Gerontology Certificate, Biology with Honors) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2016- Associate Director of Research, Office for the Study of Aging, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 2014- Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior & the Institute for Southern Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 2008-2014 Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior & the Institute for Southern Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 2006-2008 Kellogg Health Scholar, Multidisciplinary Disparities Track, Center for Minority Health and Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 2003-2005 Research Assistant, Center on Aging, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 2002-2003 Teaching Assistant, Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 2001-2002 Research Assistant, Department of Psychology,
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Legislature Stroke Report
    Report on Stroke in Georgia 2019, as Required by the Coverdell-Murphy Act, Georgia SB549, Amended by Georgia HB853 Compiled by the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry Georgia Department of Public Health December 2019 Background Why should we care about stroke in Georgia? • Georgia’s age-standardized stroke death rate in 2018 was 14.5 percent higher than the national average.1 • In 2018, Georgia had the seventh highest stroke death rate in the U.S.1 • Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Georgia (4,553 stroke deaths in 2018).1 • In 2018, about 17 percent of Georgia stroke deaths were premature (i.e., among persons under the age of 65 years).1 • In 2018, the age-adjusted stroke death rate for Blacks in Georgia was 53.7 per 100,000 population, which was 33 percent higher than the rates for Whites.1 • Stroke is a leading cause of disability.2 Treatment of eligible stroke patients with the drug Alteplase (a tissue plasminogen activator) can reduce disability by 30 percent, but the drug needs to be administered in the first three hours after symptom onset.3 • In 2018, Georgians had more than 22,000 stroke hospitalizations o The median charge per hospitalization was around $37,570. o The total stroke-related hospitalization charges were over $1.5 billion in Georgia. • Georgia is in the “Stroke Belt,” an area in the southeastern U.S. with stroke death rates that are approximately 30 percent higher than the rest of the U.S. The coastal plains of Georgia are in the “buckle” of the Stroke Belt, an area with stroke death rates about 40 percent higher than the rest of the nation.4 o The higher death rates seen in the Stroke Belt can be collectively explained, in large part, by demographic and socioeconomic factors and the prevalence of stroke risk factors and chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.5 Page 2 of 7 • In 2018, only 63 percent of adult Georgians knew all three signs of stroke – facial droop, arm weakness, and slurred speech – and the importance of calling 911 immediately.
    [Show full text]
  • Incident Cognitive Impairment Is Elevated in the Stroke Belt: the REGARDS Study
    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Incident Cognitive Impairment is Elevated in the Stroke Belt: The REGARDS Study Virginia G. Wadley, PhD,1 Frederick W. Unverzagt, PhD,2 Lisa C. McGuire, PhD,3 Claudia S. Moy, PhD,4 Rodney Go, PhD,5 Brett Kissela, MD,6 Leslie A. McClure, PhD,7 Michael Crowe, PhD,8 Virginia J. Howard, PhD,5 and George Howard, DrPH7 Objective: To determine whether incidence of impaired cognitive screening status is higher in the southern Stroke Belt region of the United States than in the remaining United States. Methods: A national cohort of adults age 45 years was recruited by the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study from 2003 to 2007. Participants’ global cognitive status was assessed annually by telephone with the Six-Item Screener (SIS) and every 2 years with fluency and recall tasks. Participants who reported no stroke history and who were cognitively intact at enrollment (SIS >4 of 6) were included (N ¼ 23,913, including 56% women; 38% African Americans and 62% European Americans; 56% Stroke Belt residents and 44% from the remaining contiguous United States and the District of Columbia). Regional differences in incident cognitive impairment (SIS score 4) were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and time between first and last assessments. Results: A total of 1,937 participants (8.1%) declined to an SIS score 4 at their most recent assessment, over a mean of 4.1 (61.6) years. Residents of the Stroke Belt had greater adjusted odds of incident cognitive impairment than non-Belt residents (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.30).
    [Show full text]
  • The Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke in South Carolina
    The Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke in South Carolina South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Division 2010 Edition Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of those who contributed to this report: Bureau of Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Division Division Director ....................................................................Joy Brooks, MHA Public Information Coordinator .............................................Betsy Crick Bureau of Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention, Office of Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Evaluation Division Director ....................................................................Khosrow Heidari, MA, MS, MS Senior Epidemiologist ............................................................Betsy Barton, MSPH Senior Epidemiologist ............................................................Patsy Myers, DrPH BRFSS Coordinator ...............................................................Ryan Lewis, MPH Funding for the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Please direct requests for additional information to: Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Division Bureau of Community Health and Chronic Disease Prevention South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 1800 St. Julian Place Columbia, SC 29204 (803)
    [Show full text]
  • Mortality After Pediatric Arterial Ischemic Stroke
    Lauren A. Beslow, MD, MSCE, a Michael M. Dowling, MD, PhD, b Sahar M.A. Hassanein, MBBS, PhD,c John K. Lynch, DO, d MortalityDimitrios Zafeiriou, MD, PhD, e LisaAfter R. Sun, MD, f Ilona Pediatric Kopyta, PhD, g Luigi Titomanlio, MD, h Anneli Kolk, MD, i Anthony Chan, MBBS, j Jose Biller, MD, k Eric F. Grabowski, MD, ScD, l Abdalla A. Abdalla, MD, m Mark T. Mackay, ArterialMBBS, PhD, n Gabrielle deVeber, Ischemic MD, MSc, o on behalf of theStroke International Pediatric Stroke Study Investigators OBJECTIVES: abstract Cerebrovascular disease is among the top 10 causes of death in US children, but risk factors for mortality are poorly understood. Within an international registry, we METHODS: identify predictors of– in-hospital mortality after pediatric– arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). Neonates (0 28 days) and children (29 days <19 years) with AIS were enrolled from January 2003 to July 2014 in a multinational stroke registry. Death during hospitalization and cause of death were ascertained from medical records. Logistic RESULTS: regression was used to analyze associations between risk factors and in-hospital mortality. Fourteen of 915 neonates (1.5%) and 70 of 2273 children (3.1%) died during hospitalization. Of 48 cases with reported causes of death, 31 (64.6%) were stroke- – related, with remaining deaths attributed to medical disease. In multivariable analysis, P – P congenital heart disease (odds ratio [OR]: 3.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23 12.29; – P = .021), posterior plus anterior circulation stroke (OR: 5.36; 95% CI: 1.70 16.85; = .004), and stroke presentation without seizures (OR: 3.95; 95% CI: 1.26 12.37; = .019) were – P – P associated with in-hospital mortality for neonates.
    [Show full text]
  • The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Control Hypertension
    The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES U.S. Public Health Service Office of the Surgeon General Suggested Citation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General; 2020. This publication is available at www.surgeongeneral.gov. Website addresses of nonfederal organizations are provided solely as a service to our readers. Provision of an address does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the federal government, and none should be inferred. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension Message from the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services As a nation, our ability to improve hypertension control requires focus. We must focus on better using the interventions that we already know work, and we must focus on conducting science that supports the creation of new, innovative interventions. As Secretary, I have a unique perspective across multiple sectors that influence hypertension control, including the roles that social services, health insurers, patient care, research, public health, and the pharmaceutical industry can play. While we normally look to the health care sector to combat chronic diseases, the high burden of hypertension requires us to expand our partnerships across settings to maximize our collective influence. I am excited about The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension, because it includes specific hypertension control goals for our nation and provides proven strategies and relevant resources that multiple sectors can use immediately.
    [Show full text]
  • Factors Influencing the Decline in Stroke Mortality: a Statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
    HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author Stroke. Manuscript Author manuscript; Manuscript Author available in PMC 2018 June 11. Published in final edited form as: Stroke. 2014 January ; 45(1): 315–353. doi:10.1161/01.str.0000437068.30550.cf. Factors Influencing the Decline in Stroke Mortality: A Statement from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Daniel T. Lackland, DrPH, FAHA, Chair, Edward J. Roccella, PhD, MPH, Co-Chair, Anne Deutsch, RN, PhD, CRRN, Myriam Fornage, PhD, FAHA, Mary G. George, MD, MSPH, FACS, FAHA, George Howard, DrPH, FAHA, Brett Kissela, MD, MS, Steven J. Kittner, MD, MPH, FAHA, Judith H. Lichtman, PhD, MPH, Lynda Lisabeth, PhD, MPH, FAHA, Lee H. Schwamm, MD, FAHA, Eric E. Smith, MD, and Amytis Towfighi, MD on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes and Research, and Council on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology Abstract Background and Purpose—Stroke mortality has been declining since the early twentieth century. The reasons for this are not completely understood, although the decline is welcome. As a result of recent striking and more accelerated decreases in stroke mortality, stroke has fallen from the third to the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. This has prompted a detailed assessment of the factors associated with this decline. This review considers the evidence of various contributors to the decline in stroke risk and mortality and can be used in the design of future interventions regarding this major public health burden. Methods—Writing group members were nominated by the committee chair and co-chair on the basis of their previous work in relevant topic areas and were approved by the American Heart Association (AHA) Stroke Council’s Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and the AHA’s Manuscript Oversight Committee.
    [Show full text]
  • Summer 2015 Board Profile 3 Letter from the CEO 18 Dreams Really Do Come True Sandra Carr-Johnson, M.D
    cape fear valley health and wellness magazine summer 2015 board profile 3 Letter from the CEO 18 Dreams Really Do Come True Sandra Carr-Johnson, M.D. wellness 4 Lost Pounds Often Return foundation news 4 Is lasting weightloss attainable? 20 Forever Grateful Sometimes a simple thank you 8 Accidents Happen just isn’t enough Preventing falls in the home letter from the ceo 22 Let’s Talk About It new programs & services Support group helps heart patients 10 A Better Picture talk about their experiences 10 How Advanced Endoscopy is providing a better look into patients infographic 24 Where There’s Smoke, There’s Cancer Hospitals across the state are transforming healthcare to we’ve brought “shift reports” to the bedside. Shift reports Getting Under the Skin 12 reduce costs and increase wellness in their communities. are patient updates given by the nurse leaving the shift to Diagnosing Ear, Nose & Throat problems Cape Fear Valley Health has been at the forefront of this the oncoming nurse. Bringing shift report to the bedside often requires looking a little deeper movement for several years now. allows the patient and family members to become part of the 26 New Physicians conversation. 14 health 27 Physician Briefs As a health system, we’re currently focusing on improving 14 The Golden Hour 27 News Briefs not only individual patient care, but also communitywide The second component (improving population health) is a Treating trauma patients often requires 32 Community Classes care. As a result, we’ve taken on the Institute for Healthcare loftier goal simply due to sheer numbers.
    [Show full text]