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Biomedical subjects

Anne L Hume

Publications and source records attributed to Anne L Hume.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Update in handheld electronic resources for evidence-based practice in the community setting.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update on the handheld electronic resources for evidence-based practice (EBP) in the community setting. DATA SOURCES: Electronic resources for EBP in the community setting were identified by compiling the commonly used, well-established resources and by searching MEDLINE and other Internet sites. Search terms included evidence-based medicine, evidence-based practice, resources, and abstraction. Only sources available for personal digital assistants were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Three databases were identified that provided abstraction and evaluation of the medical literature for the handheld platform. Content, features, ease of use, system requirements, and costs of each resource were evaluated. DATA SYNTHESIS: FIRSTConsult, InfoRetriever, and UpToDate were evaluated, and the utility of each in the community pharmacy setting was evaluated by tracking a clinically relevant example through each system. FIRSTConsult provides evidence-based information organized by diagnosis but is not searchable on the handheld platform. InfoRetriever focuses on searchable evidence-based summaries, while UpToDate includes comprehensive topic reviews. The latter 2 platforms have large system memory requirements. All 3 sources provide evidence-based abstraction of the medical literature for the PDA platform, convenient for use at the point of care in community pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: While users may select a particular resource based on unique features, each provides evidence-based abstraction of the medical literature that is a practical approach to EBP in the community pharmacy setting.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed2005

Weaknesses of goodness-of-fit tests for evaluating propensity score models: the case of the omitted confounder.

PURPOSE: Propensity scores are used in observational studies to adjust for confounding, although they do not provide control for confounders omitted from the propensity score model. We sought to determine if tests used to evaluate logistic model fit and discrimination would be helpful in detecting the omission of an important confounder in the propensity score. METHODS: Using simulated data, we estimated propensity scores under two scenarios: (1) including all confounders and (2) omitting the binary confounder. We compared the propensity score model fit and discrimination under each scenario, using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit (GOF) test and the c-statistic. We measured residual confounding in treatment effect estimates adjusted by the propensity score omitting the confounder. RESULTS: The GOF statistic and discrimination of propensity score models were the same for models excluding an important predictor of treatment compared to the full propensity score model. The GOF test failed to detect poor model fit for the propensity score model omitting the confounder. C-statistics under both scenarios were similar. Residual confounding was observed from using the propensity score excluding the confounder (range: 1-30%). CONCLUSIONS: Omission of important confounders from the propensity score leads to residual confounding in estimates of treatment effect. However, tests of GOF and discrimination do not provide information to detect missing confounders in propensity score models. Our findings suggest that it may not be necessary to compute GOF statistics or model discrimination when developing propensity score models.

Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic↗
PubMed2005

Safe and effective drug therapy in older adults.

The last two decades have witnessed the introduction of major advances in drug therapy for many chronic diseases. Despite an increasing number of therapeutic choices, basic challenges remain when using new drugs in the elderly. It isessential: (1) to consider whether a new drug is truly safer, more effective or worth the extra expense compared to established medications, (2) to monitor patients for drug related toxicities, and (3) to avoid polypharmacy and the prescribing cascade.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Principles for modeling propensity scores in medical research: a systematic literature review.

PURPOSE: To document which established criteria for logistic regression modeling researchers consider when using propensity scores in observational studies. METHODS: We performed a systematic review searching Medline and Science Citation to identify observational studies published in 2001 that addressed clinical questions using propensity score methods to adjust for treatment assignment. We abstracted aspects of propensity score model development (e.g. variable selection criteria, continuous variables included in correct functional form, interaction inclusion criteria), model discrimination and goodness of fit for 47 studies meeting inclusion criteria. RESULTS: We found few studies reporting on the propensity score model development or evaluation of model fit. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting of aspects related to propensity score model development is limited and raises questions about the value of these principles in developing propensity scores from which unbiased treatment effects are estimated.

Bias↗
PubMed2002

Does aspirin attenuate the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on health outcomes of very old patients with heart failure?

OBJECTIVES: Concomitant ischemic heart disease (IHD) is common in older individuals with heart failure (HF). We estimated the effect of aspirin use on the rate of mortality, morbidity, and decline in physical functioning in nursing home residents with HF taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a nursing home database linking resident information collected via the Minimum Data Set (MDS) with drug utilization data. SETTING: Nursing homes in four states (1992-1995). PARTICIPANTS: Of 49,779 residents with HF admitted to these homes, 12,703 residents were taking an ACE inhibitor; 2,046 of these took aspirin. MEASUREMENTS: Medicare enrollment files provided the date of death, and we used the Part A Medicare files to identify hospital admissions. The activity of daily living scale from repeat MDS assessments allowed us to evaluate decline in physical function. Cox proportional hazards models provided adjusted estimates of the aspirin effect, with nonusers as the reference group. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate, hospitalization rate,and rate of decline in physical function of aspirin users were not different from those of nonusers (e.g., hospitalization rate ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval = 0.92-1.07). This effect did not vary by presence of concomitant IHD or by dose or type of ACE inhibitor. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of older HF residents receiving ACE inhibitors in nursing homes, we found that treatment with aspirin did not appear to affect outcomes negatively.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

Effect of statin (HMG-Co-A-Reductase Inhibitor) use on 1-year mortality and hospitalization rates in older patients with cardiovascular disease living in nursing homes.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of statins on 1-year mortality, hospitalizations, and decline in physical function among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) aged 65 and older living in nursing homes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: All Medicare/Medicaid certified nursing homes (N = 1,492) in Maine, New York, Mississippi, and South Dakota. PARTICIPANTS: We identified 51,559 older patients with CVD from a population database that merged sociodemographic data and functional, clinical, and drug treatments from more than 300,000 newly admitted nursing home residents from 1992 to 1997. Statin users (n = 1,313) were matched with nonusers (n = 1,313) in the same facilities. MEASUREMENTS: All-cause mortality, hospitalization, combined endpoint of mortality or hospitalization, and decline in physical function were determined at 1 year, and survival analysis was performed. RESULTS: Prevalence of statin use in this frail older cohort with CVD was 2.6%. Statin use varied by age, gender, comorbid condition, medication use, and cognitive and physical function. One-year mortality was 229/1,000 person-years in the statin group and 404/1,000 person-years in the nonusers, with an adjusted hazard rate ratio (HRR) of 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58-0.81. The estimated number needed to treat was seven (95% CI = 5-13). This association with improved all-cause mortality was evident for women and men and for age groups 75 to 84, and 85 and older. CONCLUSION: Statin therapy is associated with improved clinical outcomes, including reduction in 1-year all-cause mortality, and the combined endpoint of death or hospitalization in a frail older population with CVD. Some caution should be taken in interpreting these results because potential bias from residual confounding could affect these results.

Activities of Daily Living↗