Caring for the Caregiver: Incentivizing Medical Providers to Include Caregivers as Part of the Treatment Team

More than 1 in 5 people in the United States care for a family member, friend, or neighbor with a health care need or functional disability. More family caregivers find themselves caring for multiple people (24 percent) and working while caregiving (61 percent). Family caregivers face increasing complexity meeting the medical and support needs of their care recipients; 7 in 10 do so with no paid help. Without adequate and affordable services and supports, the escalating demands on family caregivers contribute to their physical, emotional, financial strain, and decline in self-reported health.In this white paper, published by The National Alliance for Caregiving, experts discuss incentives in the existing Medicare program that could motivate health systems and providers to offer more robust support to family caregivers.Click "Download" to access this resource

Psychological Interventions for Dementia Caregivers:What We Have Achieved, What We Have Learned

With the rising dementia population, more and more programs have been developed to help caregivers deal with the care-recipient as well as their own frustrations. Many interventions aim to enhance caregiver’s ability to manage behavior problems and other deteriorations in functioning, with less direct emphasis placed on caring for the caregivers. We argue that techniques based on psychotherapy are strategically important in assistance provided to caregivers because of their utility for promoting emotional health. This article provides a focused review of such methods used in evidence-based intervention programs, along with the mechanisms of change associated with these methods. While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has a strong evidence base, there is also a growing trend to package CBT techniques into various psychoeducational programs. These programs, which we call psychoeducation with psychotherapeutic programs, have been consistently found to be effective in reducing caregiver distress and are suited for delivery in group format, even by paraprofessionals, to lower the cost of intervention. A recent trend is the effective use of technological aids (e.g., the internet) to deliver CBT and psychoeducation, reaching more caregivers. As for therapeutic mechanisms, use of coping skills, reduced dysfunctional thoughts, and increased self-efficacy in controlling upsetting thoughts have received support in studies. We conclude that psychotherapeutic techniques are increasingly being used effectively and efficiently to assist caregivers, aided by successful adaptation for educational or technologically advanced means of delivery. More research on therapeutic mechanisms is needed to understand how the techniques work and how they can be further refined

There is a low rate of major adverse cardiovascular events in chest pain patients with a moderate risk heart score referred from urgent care for expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation: a multi-center study

Background The HEART score is an effective method of risk stratifying emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain. The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with moderate HEART score referred from an urgent care (UC) for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation for 11 months was described in 133 patients in a previous study. This is a follow-up study with 18 months of data and 206 patients.Aim. The primary outcome was to examine the rate of MACE when patients with moderate HEART score were referred for an expedited outpatient cardiology follow-up after evaluation in urgent care. The secondary outcome was to determine if there is a decrease in rate of ED transfer after this protocol was introduced.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted by a multispecialty group in Las Vegas, Nevada, which included 206 patients with a HEART score of 4 to 6 (i.e.: moderate risk) who presented to one of five UC centers with chest pain or an anginal equivalent. A streamlined evaluation protocol to assess each HEART score component was adopted by all UC providers to facilitate an expedited outpatient cardiology follow-up, as an alternative to referral to the emergency department. Data was collected from February 14, 2019 through August 13, 2020. The population was followed for 6 weeks with a primary endpoint of MACE determined by electronic medical record review and direct phone contact with patients. Outcomes were confirmed in 98% of patients. Chest pain transfer data was compared between 12 months prior to implementing HEART protocol and 18 months of data analysis while using the new protocol.Results. Over the course of 18 months, 206 patients with a moderate risk HEART score were referred to outpatient cardiology in an expedited manner. The average age was 65 with 53% female and 47% male patients. 150 patients (73% of the 206) were seen within 3 days, 114 (55%) underwent stress testing, 6 (3%) had coronary computed tomography angiogram, and 6 (3%) received an invasive coronary angiogram. Five patients were found to have MACE: one patient who had a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and subsequent coronary stent, two patients were found to have obstructive disease after coronary angiography with subsequent coronary artery bypass graft, one patient had an abnormal stress test and subsequent coronary stent, and one patient had critical mitral stenosis, multi-vessel coronary artery disease and underwent coronary artery bypass graft with mitral valve replacement with complications of renal failure and COVID-19 and expired. The emergency department referral rate declined by 21%.Conclusion. Patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from UC for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation had a low rate of MACE and no deaths due to delay of care. There was also a significant decrease in the rate of ED referrals.Background. The HEART score is an effective method of risk stratifying emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain. The rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with moderate HEART score referred from an urgent care (UC) for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation for 11 months was described in 133 patients in a previous study. This is a follow-up study with 18 months of data and 206 patients.Aim. The primary outcome was to examine the rate of MACE when patients with moderate HEART score were referred for an expedited outpatient cardiology follow-up after evaluation in urgent care. The secondary outcome was to determine if there is a decrease in rate of ED transfer after this protocol was introduced.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted by a multispecialty group in Las Vegas, Nevada, which included 206 patients with a HEART score of 4 to 6 (i.e.: moderate risk) who presented to one of five UC centers with chest pain or an anginal equivalent. A streamlined evaluation protocol to assess each HEART score component was adopted by all UC providers to facilitate an expedited outpatient cardiology follow-up, as an alternative to referral to the emergency department. Data was collected from February 14, 2019 through August 13, 2020. The population was followed for 6 weeks with a primary endpoint of MACE determined by electronic medical record review and direct phone contact with patients. Outcomes were confirmed in 98% of patients. Chest pain transfer data was compared between 12 months prior to implementing HEART protocol and 18 months of data analysis while using the new protocol.Results. Over the course of 18 months, 206 patients with a moderate risk HEART score were referred to outpatient cardiology in an expedited manner. The average age was 65 with 53% female and 47% male patients. 150 patients (73% of the 206) were seen within 3 days, 114 (55%) underwent stress testing, 6 (3%) had coronary computed tomography angiogram, and 6 (3%) received an invasive coronary angiogram. Five patients were found to have MACE: one patient who had a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and subsequent coronary stent, two patients were found to have obstructive disease after coronary angiography with subsequent coronary artery bypass graft, one patient had an abnormal stress test and subsequent coronary stent, and one patient had critical mitral stenosis, multi-vessel coronary artery disease and underwent coronary artery bypass graft with mitral valve replacement with complications of renal failure and COVID-19 and expired. The emergency department referral rate declined by 21%.Conclusion. Patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from UC for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation had a low rate of MACE and no deaths due to delay of care. There was also a significant decrease in the rate of ED referrals

Development of the Risk Appraisal Measure: A Brief Screen to Identify Risk Areas and Guide Interventions for Dementia Caregivers

To develop and validate a brief screening measure for use in research, healthcare, and community settings to systematically assess well-being and identify needed areas of support for caregivers of patients with dementia. DESIGN : This study used data from Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH II), a multisite randomized clinical trial of a behavioral intervention designed to improve the quality of life of caregivers in multiple domains. SETTING : REACH II. PARTICIPANTS : Two hundred twelve Hispanic, 211 black, and 219 white family caregivers providing in-home care to patients with dementia. MEASUREMENT : Based on conceptual and psychometric analyses, a 16-item measure was developed that assesses six domains linked to caregiver risk and amenable to intervention: depression, burden, self-care and health behaviors, social support, safety, and patient problem behaviors. The reliability and validity of the instrument was evaluated with 642 dementia caregiver dyads from the REACH II program. RESULTS : The measure was found to have acceptable internal consistency for a multidimensional scale and similar measurement properties for each of the racial and ethnic groups. Concurrent validity was also demonstrated for the measure. CONCLUSION : The REACH Risk Appraisal Measure developed in this study shows promise as an assessment tool that can be used in research, clinical, and community settings to guide, prioritize, and target needed areas of support for caregivers of patients with dementia.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66234/1/j.1532-5415.2009.02260.x.pd

Telephone-based behavioral activation intervention for dementia family caregivers: Outcomes and mediation effect of a randomized controlled trial

Objectives:  The study examined the effects of a telephone-administered psycho-education with behavioral activation intervention (TBA) for family caregivers of person’s with Alzheimer’s dementia to reduce levels of depressive symptoms and burden and to enhance relationship satisfaction with the care-recipient Methods:  A double-blinded randomized trial compared TBA with telephone-based psycho-education with general monitoring (TGM). Ninety-six dementia caregivers were randomized. Both conditions received four weekly psycho-education sessions led by a social worker. TBA participants then received eight bi-weekly behavioral activation practice sessions delivered by paraprofessionals. TGM participants received eight bi-weekly monitoring sessions by paraprofessionals. Results:  As compared to TGM, TBA participants reported significantly larger reductions in depressive symptoms and burden and larger improvement in relationship satisfaction. Self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts was found to have a partial meditation effect between TBA and the reduction of depressive symptoms. Qualitative feedback suggested that TBA participants expressed unique gains in awareness and developing new ways of reappraising the caregiving situation. Conclusion:  TBA was an effective intervention to reduce depressive symptoms and burden as well as to enhance relationship satisfaction in dementia caregivers

iSupport : a WHO global online intervention for informal caregivers of people with dementia

In 2015, it was estimated that worldwide 47 million people had dementia, increasing to 75 million in 2030 and 132 million by 2050. Nearly 9.9 million people are expected to develop dementia each year, which translates to one new case every three seconds. While dementia occurs across all levels of socioeconomic status, nearly 60% of people with dementia currently live in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) and most new cases (71%) are expected to occur in those countries. The majority of people with dementia in those countries do not have access to care and support

Replication of Lung Cancer Susceptibility Loci at Chromosomes 15q25, 5p15, and 6p21: A Pooled Analysis From the International Lung Cancer Consortium

Background Genome-wide association studies have identified three chromosomal regions at 15q25, 5p15, and 6p21 as being associated with the risk of lung cancer. To confirm these associations in independent studies and investigate heterogeneity of these associations within specific subgroups, we conducted a coordinated genotyping study within the International Lung Cancer Consortium based on independent studies that were not included in previous genome-wide association studies. Methods Genotype data for single-nucleotide polymorphisms at chromosomes 15q25 (rs16969968, rs8034191), 5p15 (rs2736100, rs402710), and 6p21 (rs2256543, rs4324798) from 21 case-control studies for 11 645 lung cancer case patients and 14 954 control subjects, of whom 85% were white and 15% were Asian, were pooled. Associations between the variants and the risk of lung cancer were estimated by logistic regression models. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Associations between 15q25 and the risk of lung cancer were replicated in white ever-smokers (rs16969968: odds ratio [OR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21 to 1.32, Ptrend = 2 × 10−26), and this association was stronger for those diagnosed at younger ages. There was no association in never-smokers or in Asians between either of the 15q25 variants and the risk of lung cancer. For the chromosome 5p15 region, we confirmed statistically significant associations in whites for both rs2736100 (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.20, Ptrend = 1 × 10−10) and rs402710 (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.09 to 1.19, Ptrend = 5 × 10−8) and identified similar associations in Asians (rs2736100: OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.12 to 1.35, Ptrend = 2 × 10−5; rs402710: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.27, Ptrend = .007). The associations between the 5p15 variants and lung cancer differed by histology; odds ratios for rs2736100 were highest in adenocarcinoma and for rs402710 were highest in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas. This pattern was observed in both ethnic groups. Neither of the two variants on chromosome 6p21 was associated with the risk of lung cancer. Conclusions In this international genetic association study of lung cancer, previous associations found in white populations were replicated and new associations were identified in Asian populations. Future genetic studies of lung cancer should include detailed stratification by histolog

Peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and infants: NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe: A prospective European multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about current clinical practice concerning peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and small infants. Guidelines suggest transfusions based on haemoglobin thresholds ranging from 8.5 to 12 g dl-1, distinguishing between children from birth to day 7 (week 1), from day 8 to day 14 (week 2) or from day 15 (≥week 3) onwards. OBJECTIVE: To observe peri-operative red blood cell transfusion practice according to guidelines in relation to patient outcome. DESIGN: A multicentre observational study. SETTING: The NEonate-Children sTudy of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE) trial recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. PATIENTS: The data included 5609 patients undergoing 6542 procedures. Inclusion criteria was a peri-operative red blood cell transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the haemoglobin level triggering a transfusion for neonates in week 1, week 2 and week 3. Secondary endpoints were transfusion volumes, 'delta haemoglobin' (preprocedure - transfusion-triggering) and 30-day and 90-day morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Peri-operative red blood cell transfusions were recorded during 447 procedures (6.9%). The median haemoglobin levels triggering a transfusion were 9.6 [IQR 8.7 to 10.9] g dl-1 for neonates in week 1, 9.6 [7.7 to 10.4] g dl-1 in week 2 and 8.0 [7.3 to 9.0] g dl-1 in week 3. The median transfusion volume was 17.1 [11.1 to 26.4] ml kg-1 with a median delta haemoglobin of 1.8 [0.0 to 3.6] g dl-1. Thirty-day morbidity was 47.8% with an overall mortality of 11.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate lower transfusion-triggering haemoglobin thresholds in clinical practice than suggested by current guidelines. The high morbidity and mortality of this NECTARINE sub-cohort calls for investigative action and evidence-based guidelines addressing peri-operative red blood cell transfusions strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02350348

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research