Browsing by Author "Nephew, Lauren D."

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    AASLD Deepens Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    (Wiley, 2021-10) Malespin, Miguel; May, Elizabeth J.; Nephew, Lauren D.; Paul, Sonali; McCary, Alexis; Kilaru, Saikiran; Mukhtar, Nizar A.; Hassan, Mohamed A.; Brady, Carla W.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    On June 2, 2020, the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) joined colleagues in gastroenterology in a joint statement condemning racism and injustice and pledging to lead change. This pledge offers a commitment to “continue to advocate for diversity in our staff and governance, grant awards to research health care disparities, ensure quality care for all, and work tirelessly to reduce inequalities in health care delivery and access.”
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    Accountability in clinical trial diversity: The buck stops where?
    (Elsevier, 2021-06-01) Nephew, Lauren D.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    If the Pfizer and Moderna Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) studies taught us one thing, it is that clinical trials can better reflect the diverse demographics of the population. Why then, do not most other Phase 3 clinical trials account for the diversity of the population who will most likely use the drug? Most do not, because there is no accountability. In developing the COVID-19 vaccine, industry and its partners were well aware of their mandate: develop a vaccine quickly that would be acceptable and legitimate to the public.
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    Admission plasma uromodulin and the risk of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: a pilot study
    (American Physiological Society, 2019-10-01) Patidar, Kavish R.; Garimella, Pranav S.; Macedo, Etienne; Slaven, James E.; Ghabril, Marwan S.; Weber, Regina E.; Anderson, Melissa; Orman, Eric S.; Nephew, Lauren D.; Desai, Archita P.; Chalasani, Naga; El-Achkar, Tarek M.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Uromodulin, a protein uniquely produced by the kidney and released both in the urine and circulation, has been shown to regulate AKI and is linked to tubular reserve. Although low levels of urine uromodulin are associated with AKI after cardiac surgery, it is unclear whether circulating uromodulin can stratify the risk of AKI, particularly in a susceptible population such as hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Thus, we investigated whether plasma uromodulin measured at the time of admission is associated with subsequent hospital-acquired AKI (defined by a rise in serum creatinine >0.3mg/dL within 48 h or ≥ 1.5 times baseline) in patients with cirrhosis. A total of 98 patients [mean age 54 yr, Model for Endstage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) score 19, and baseline creatinine of 0.95 mg/dL] were included, of which 13% (n = 13) developed AKI. Median uromodulin levels were significantly lower in patients who developed AKI compared with patients who did not (9.30 vs. 13.35 ng/mL, P = 0.02). After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, albumin, and MELD-Na score as covariates on multivariable logistic regression, uromodulin was independently associated with AKI [odd ratios of 1.19 (95% confidence interval 1.02, 1.37; P = 0.02)]. Lower uromodulin levels on admission are associated with increased odds of subsequent AKI in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of uromodulin in the pathogenesis and as a predictive biomarker of AKI in this population. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we found that admission plasma uromodulin levels are significantly lower in patients who developed subsequent acute kidney injury (AKI) during their hospital stay compared with patients who did not. Additionally, uromodulin is independently associated with AKI development after adjusting for clinically relevant parameters such as age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, severity of cirrhosis, and kidney function. To our knowledge, this is the first study linking plasma uromodulin with AKI development in patients with cirrhosis.
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    Association of State Medicaid Expansion With Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Liver Transplant Wait-listing in the United States
    (JAMA, 2020-10-08) Nephew, Lauren D.; Mosesso, Kelly; Desai, Archita; Ghabril, Marwan; Orman, Eric S.; Patidar, Kavish R.; Kubal, Chandrashekhar; Noureddin, Mazen; Chalasani, Naga; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Importance Millions of Americans gained insurance through the state expansion of Medicaid, but several states with large populations of racial/ethnic minorities did not expand their programs. Objective To investigate the implications of Medicaid expansion for liver transplant (LT) wait-listing trends for racial/ethnic minorities. Design, Setting, and Participants A cohort study was performed of adults wait-listed for LT using the United Network of Organ Sharing database between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017. Poisson regression and a controlled, interrupted time series analysis were used to model trends in wait-listing rates by race/ethnicity. The setting was LT centers in the United States. Main Outcomes and Measures (1) Wait-listing rates by race/ethnicity in states that expanded Medicaid (expansion states) compared with those that did not (nonexpansion states) and (2) actual vs predicted rates of LT wait-listing by race/ethnicity after Medicaid expansion. Results There were 75 748 patients (median age, 57.0 [interquartile range, 50.0-62.0] years; 48 566 [64.1%] male) wait-listed for LT during the study period. The cohort was 8.9% Black and 16.4% Hispanic. Black patients and Hispanic patients were statistically significantly more likely to be wait-listed in expansion states than in nonexpansion states (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.54 [95% CI, 1.44-1.64] for Black patients and 1.21 [95% CI, 1.15-1.28] for Hispanic patients). After Medicaid expansion, there was a decrease in the wait-listing rate of Black patients in expansion states (annual percentage change [APC], −4.4%; 95% CI, −8.2% to −0.6%) but not in nonexpansion states (APC, 0.5%; 95% CI, −4.0% to 5.2%). This decrease was not seen when Black patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) were excluded from the analysis (APC, 3.1%; 95% CI, −2.4% to 8.9%), suggesting that they may be responsible for this expansion state trend. Hispanic Medicaid patients without HCV were statistically significantly more likely to be wait-listed in the post–Medicaid expansion era than would have been predicted without Medicaid expansion (APC, 13.2%; 95% CI, 4.0%-23.2%). Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study found that LT wait-listing rates have decreased for Black patients with HCV in states that expanded Medicaid. Conversely, wait-listing rates have increased for Hispanic patients without HCV. Black patients and Hispanic patients may have benefited differently from Medicaid expansion.
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    Changing epidemiology and outcomes of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis - a US population-based study
    (Elsevier, 2020-11) Desai, Archita P.; Knapp, Shannon M.; Orman, Eric S.; Ghabril, Marwan S.; Nephew, Lauren D.; Anderson, Melissa; Ginès, Pere; Chalasani, Naga P.; Patidar, Kavish R.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background & aims: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant clinical event in cirrhosis yet contemporary population-based studies on the impact of AKI on hospitalized cirrhotics are lacking. We aimed to characterize longitudinal trends in incidence, healthcare burden and outcomes of hospitalized cirrhotics with and without AKI using a nationally representative dataset. Methods: Using the 2004-2016 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), admissions for cirrhosis with and without AKI were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. Regression analysis was used to analyze the trends in hospitalizations, costs, length of stay and inpatient mortality. Descriptive statistics, simple and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess associations between individual characteristics, comorbidities, and cirrhosis complications with AKI and death. Results: In over 3.6 million admissions for cirrhosis, 22% had AKI. AKI admissions were more costly (median $13,127 [IQR $7,367-$24,891] vs. $8,079 [IQR $4,956-$13,693]) and longer (median 6 [IQR 3-11] days vs. 4 [IQR 2-7] days). Over time, AKI prevalence doubled from 15% in 2004 to 30% in 2016. CKD was independently and strongly associated with AKI (adjusted odds ratio 3.75; 95% CI 3.72-3.77). Importantly, AKI admissions were 3.75 times more likely to result in death (adjusted odds ratio 3.75; 95% CI 3.71-3.79) and presence of AKI increased risk of mortality in key subgroups of cirrhosis, such as those with infections and portal hypertension-related complications. Conclusions: The prevalence of AKI is significantly increased among hospitalized cirrhotics. AKI substantially increases the healthcare burden associated with cirrhosis. Despite advances in cirrhosis care, a significant gap remains in outcomes between cirrhotics with and without AKI, suggesting that AKI continues to represent a major clinical challenge.
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    Contemporary Trends in Hospitalizations for Comorbid Chronic Liver Disease and Substance Use Disorders
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2021-06-18) Desai, Archita P.; Greene, Marion; Nephew, Lauren D.; Orman, Eric S.; Ghabril, Marwan; Chalasani, Naga; Menachemi, Nir; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) are increasingly prevalent and often coexist. Contemporary studies describing the characteristics and hospitalization trends of those with comorbid CLD-SUD are lacking. We aimed to characterize a population-based cohort with comorbid CLD-SUD and describe trends in these hospitalizations over time by individual-level characteristics. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the National Inpatient Sample from 2005 through 2017. Diagnosis codes were used to identify adult hospitalizations with CLD, SUD, or both. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to make comparisons between diagnosis categories. Unadjusted and age-adjusted trends in these hospitalizations were described over time. Results: Of 401,867,749 adult hospital discharges, 3.2% had CLD-only and 1.7% had comorbid CLD-SUD. Compared with CLD-only, comorbid CLD-SUD hospitalizations resulted in higher inpatient mortality (3.1% vs 2.4%, P < 0.001) and were associated with younger age, male sex, Native American race, and urban and Western US location. Over time, comorbid hospitalizations grew 34%, and the demographics shifted with larger increases in hospitalization rates seen in younger individuals, women, Native Americans, and those publicly insured. In comorbid hospitalizations, alcoholic SUD and CLD decreased, but drug SUDs and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases are fast-growing contributors. Discussion: In this comprehensive analysis of US hospitalizations, comorbid CLD-SUD hospitalizations are increasing over time and lead to higher inpatient mortality than CLD alone. We further characterize the changing demographics of these hospitalizations, providing a contemporary yet inclusive look at comorbid CLD-SUD hospitalizations. These data can guide interventions needed to improve the poor outcomes suffered by this growing population.
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    Correction to: Development and Feasibility Testing of a Multilevel Intervention to Increase Hepatitis C Virus Screening Among Baby Boomers in Primary Care
    (Springer, 2023) Kasting, Monica L.; Laily, Alfu; Nephew, Lauren D.; Shields, Cleveland G.; Shedd‑Steele, Rivienne; Rawl, Susan M.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Correction to: Journal of Cancer Education 10.1007/s13187-023-02268-x The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Table 3, p.8 of the article, the header REMINDER LETTER should be replaced with EDUCATIONAL VIDEO. The original article has been corrected.
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    Development and Feasibility Testing of a Multilevel Intervention to Increase Hepatitis C Virus Screening Among Baby Boomers in Primary Care
    (Springer, 2023) Kasting, Monica L.; Laily, Alfu; Nephew, Lauren D.; Shields, Cleveland G.; Shedd‑Steele, Rivienne; Rawl, Susan M.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) results in an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Only 15% of baby boomers (born 1945–1965) have ever been screened. We aimed to develop a multilevel intervention to increase HCV screening for baby boomers in a primary care setting. This study included two phases: intervention development (phase 1) and feasibility testing (phase 2). In phase 1, we partnered with a Community Advisory Board and a Provider Advisory Board to develop a multilevel intervention to increase HCV screening to be delivered to both providers and patients in primary care. Phase 2 assessed intervention feasibility, acceptability, and usability by conducting Concurrent Think Aloud (CTA) interviews and surveys using previously validated scales with patients (n = 8) and providers (n = 7). Phase 1 results: The patient-level intervention included a mailed reminder letter and CDC pamphlet and a 7-min in-clinic educational video. The provider-level intervention included a 30-min educational session and monthly performance feedback e-mails. Phase 2 results: Qualitatively, both the patient and provider-level intervention were feasible, acceptable, and usable by the target audiences. Quantitatively, on a 1–4 scale, the range of patient-level scores was 3.00–4.00 and provider level was 3.50–4.00 for feasibility, acceptability, and usability. This intervention could improve HCV screening among a high-risk population and therefore reduce HCV-related morbidity and mortality. This project developed a feasible, acceptable, and usable multilevel intervention aimed at increasing HCV screening in primary care.
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    Development and Validation of a Model to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients With Cirrhosis
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2019-09) Patidar, Kavish R.; Xu, Chenjia; Shamseddeen, Hani; Cheng, Yao-Wen; Ghabril, Marwan S.; Mukthinuthalapati, V.V. Pavan K.; Fricker, Zachary P.; Akinyeye, Samuel; Nephew, Lauren D.; Desai, Archita P.; Anderson, Melissa; El-Achkar, Tarek M.; Chalasani, Naga P.; Orman, Eric S.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis which contributes to morbidity and mortality. Improved prediction of AKI in this population is needed for prevention and early intervention. We developed a model to identify hospitalized patients at risk for AKI. METHODS: Admission data from a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis without AKI on admission (n = 397) was used for derivation. AKI development in the first week of admission was captured. Independent predictors of AKI on multivariate logistic regression were used to develop the prediction model. External validation was performed on a separate multicenter cohort (n = 308). RESULTS: In the derivation cohort, the mean age was 57 years, the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 17, and 59 patients (15%) developed AKI after a median of 4 days. Admission creatinine (OR: 2.38 per 1 mg/dL increase [95% CI: 1.47-3.85]), international normalized ratio (OR: 1.92 per 1 unit increase [95% CI: 1.92-3.10]), and white blood cell count (OR: 1.09 per 1 × 10/L increase [95% CI: 1.04-1.15]) were independently associated with AKI. These variables were used to develop a prediction model (area underneath the receiver operator curve: 0.77 [95% CI: 0.70-0.83]). In the validation cohort (mean age of 53 years, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score of 16, and AKI development of 13%), the area underneath the receiver operator curve for the model was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.61-0.78). DISCUSSION: A model consisting of admission creatinine, international normalized ratio, and white blood cell count can identify patients with cirrhosis at risk for in-hospital AKI development. On further validation, our model can be used to apply novel interventions to reduce the incidence of AKI among patients with cirrhosis who are hospitalized.
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    Differences in Provider Hepatitis C Virus Screening Recommendations by Patient Risk Status
    (Elsevier, 2024-01-09) Laily, Alfu; Duncan, Robert; Gabhart, Kaitlyn M.; Nephew, Lauren D.; Christy, Shannon M.; Vadaparampil, Susan T.; Giuliano, Anna R.; Kasting, Monica L.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Providers' recommendation is among the strongest predictors to patients engaging in preventive care. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare providers' Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening recommendation quality between high-risk and average-risk patients to determine if providers are universally recommending HCV screening, regardless of risk behaviors. This cross-sectional survey of 284 Indiana providers in 2020 assessed provider characteristics, HCV screening recommendation practices (strength, presentation, frequency, timeliness), self-efficacy, and barriers to recommending HCV screening. T-test and Chi-square compared recommendation practices for high-risk and average-risk patients. Prevalence ratios were calculated for variables associated with HCV recommendation strength comparing high-risk and average-risk patients. Logistic regression analyses examined factors associated with HCV recommendation strength for high- and average-risk patients, with odds ratios. Compared to average-risk patients, high-risk patients received higher proportion of HCV recommendations that were strong (70.4 % v. 42.4 %), routine (61.9 % v. 55.6 %), frequent (37.7 % v. 28 %), and timely (74.2 % v. 54.9 %) (P-values < 0.001). Compared to average-risk patients, providers with high-risk patients had a lower percentage of giving a strong recommendation if they were nurse practitioner (PR = 0.49). For high-risk patients, providers with higher self-efficacy (aOR = 2.16;95 %CI = 0.99-4.69) had higher odds, while those with higher perceived barriers (aOR = 0.19;95 %CI = 0.09-0.39) and those with an internal medicine specialty compared to family medicine (aOR = 0.22;95 %CI = 0.08-0.57) had lower odds of giving a strong recommendation. These data suggest providers are not universally recommending HCV screening for all adults regardless of reported risk. Future research should translate these findings into multilevel interventions to improve HCV screening recommendations regardless of patient risk status.