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Pulmonary Embolism

A collection of educational materials in the Online Learning Center.

Psychiatry

A collection of psychiatry activities in the Online Learning Center.

Practice Management

A collection of educational materials in the Online Learning Center.

Post-Acute Care

A collection of activities in the Online Learning Center.

Population Health

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Point-of-Care Ultrasonography

Online learning center activities offering CME and MOC focused on point-of-care ultrasonography, including common applications for POCUS in internal medicine with an emphasis on image analysis.

Physician Well-Being & Professional Fulfillment

A collection of activities in the Online Learning Center.

Pharmacology

A collection of educational materials in the Online Learning Center.

Peripheral Vascular Disease

A collection of educational materials in the Online Learning Center.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

A collection of educational materials in the Online Learning Center.

These Annals of Internal Medicine results only contain recent articles.

Development of a Multivariable Model to Predict the Need for Bone Marrow Sampling in Persons With Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: A Cohort Study Nested in a Clinical Trial: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 177, No 4

Background: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) are asymptomatic precursor conditions to multiple myeloma and related disorders. Smoldering multiple myeloma is distinguished from MGUS by 10% or greater bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) on sampling, has a higher risk for progression, and requires specialist management. Objective: To develop a multivariable prediction model that predicts the probability that a person with presumed MGUS has 10% or greater BMPC (SMM or worse by bone marrow criteria) to inform the decision to obtain a bone marrow sample and compare its performance to the Mayo Clinic risk stratification model. Design: iStopMM (Iceland Screens, Treats or Prevents Multiple Myeloma), a prospective population-based screening study of MGUS. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03327597) Setting: Icelandic population of adults aged 40 years or older. Patients: 1043 persons with IgG, IgA, light-chain, and biclonal MGUS detected by screening and an interpretable bone marrow sample. Measurements: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance isotype; monoclonal protein concentration; free light-chain ratio; and total IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations were used as predictors. Bone marrow plasma cells were categorized as 0% to 4%, 5% to 9%, 10% to 14%, or 15% or greater. Results: The c-statistic for SMM or worse was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.82 to 0.88), and calibration was excellent (intercept, −0.07; slope, 0.95). At a threshold of 10% predicted risk for SMM or worse, sensitivity was 86%, specificity was 67%, positive predictive value was 32%, and negative predictive value was 96%. Compared with the Mayo Clinic model, the net benefit for the decision to refer for sampling was between 0.13 and 0.30 higher over a range of plausible low-risk thresholds. Limitation: The prediction model will require external validation. Conclusion: This accurate prediction model for SMM or worse was developed in a population-based cohort of persons with presumed MGUS and may be used to defer bone marrow sampling and referral to hematology. Primary Funding Source: International Myeloma Foundation and the European Research Council.

The Benefits and Risks of Receiving Investigational Solid Tumor Drugs in Randomized Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 177, No 6

Background: Many patients participate in cancer trials to access new therapies. The extent to which new treatments produce clinical benefit for trial participants is unclear. Purpose: To estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) advantage of assignment to experimental groups in randomized trials for 6 solid tumors. Data Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov was searched for trials of investigational drugs with results posted between 2017 and 2021. Study Selection: Investigational drugs were defined as those not yet having full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the study indication. Trials were included if they were randomized and tested drugs or biologics. Data Extraction: Data extraction was completed by 2 independent reviewers. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Data Synthesis: The sample included 128 trials comprising 141 comparisons of a new drug and a comparator. These comparisons included 47 050 patients. The pooled hazard ratio for PFS was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.85), indicating statistically significant benefit for patients in experimental groups. This corresponded to a median PFS advantage of 1.25 months (CI, 0.80 to 1.68 months). The pooled hazard ratio for OS was 0.92 (CI, 0.88 to 0.95), corresponding to a survival gain of 1.18 months (CI, 0.72 to 1.71 months). The absolute risk for a serious adverse event for comparator group patients was 29.56% (CI, 26.64% to 32.65%), with an increase in risk of 7.40% (CI, 5.66% to 9.14%) for patients in experimental groups. Limitations: Trials in this sample were heterogeneous. Comparator group interventions were assumed to reflect standard of care. Conclusion: Assignment to experimental groups produces statistically significant survival gains. However, the absolute survival gain is small, and toxicity is statistically significantly greater. The findings of this review provide reassuring evidence that patients are not meaningfully disadvantaged by assignment to comparator groups. Primary Funding Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Diagnostic Discordance, Uncertainty, and Treatment Ambiguity in Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A National Cohort Study of 115 U.S. Veterans Affairs Hospitals: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 177, No 9

Background: Evidence-based practice in community-acquired pneumonia often assumes an accurate initial diagnosis. Objective: To examine the evolution of pneumonia diagnoses among patients hospitalized from the emergency department (ED). Design: Retrospective nationwide cohort. Setting: 115 U.S. Veterans Affairs medical centers. Patients: Aged 18 years or older and hospitalized from the ED between 1 January 2015 and 31 January 2022. Measurements: Discordances between initial pneumonia diagnosis, discharge diagnosis, and radiographic diagnosis identified by natural language processing of clinician text, diagnostic coding, and antimicrobial treatment. Expressions of uncertainty in clinical notes, patient illness severity, treatments, and outcomes were compared. Results: Among 2 383 899 hospitalizations, 13.3% received an initial or discharge diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia: 9.1% received an initial diagnosis and 10.0% received a discharge diagnosis. Discordances between initial and discharge occurred in 57%. Among patients discharged with a pneumonia diagnosis and positive initial chest image, 33% lacked an initial diagnosis. Among patients diagnosed initially, 36% lacked a discharge diagnosis and 21% lacked positive initial chest imaging. Uncertainty was frequently expressed in clinical notes (58% in ED; 48% at discharge); 27% received diuretics, 36% received corticosteroids, and 10% received antibiotics, corticosteroids, and diuretics within 24 hours. Patients with discordant diagnoses had greater uncertainty and received more additional treatments, but only patients lacking an initial pneumonia diagnosis had higher 30-day mortality than concordant patients (14.4% [95% CI, 14.1% to 14.7%] vs. 10.6% [CI, 10.4% to 10.7%]). Patients with diagnostic discordance were more likely to present to high-complexity facilities with high ED patient load and inpatient census. Limitation: Retrospective analysis; did not examine causal relationships. Conclusion: More than half of all patients hospitalized and treated for pneumonia had discordant diagnoses from initial presentation to discharge. Treatments for other diagnoses and expressions of uncertainty were common. These findings highlight the need to recognize diagnostic uncertainty and treatment ambiguity in research and practice of pneumonia-related care. Primary Funding Source: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Historical Redlining and Present-Day Nonsuicide Firearm Fatalities

Background: Redlining began in the 1930s with the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC); this discriminatory practice limited mortgage availability and reinforced concentrated poverty that still exists today. It is important to understand the potential health implications of this federally sanctioned segregation. Objective: To examine the relationship between historical redlining policies and present-day nonsuicide firearm fatalities. Design: Maps from the HOLC were overlaid with incidence of nonsuicide firearm fatalities from 2014 to 2022. A multilevel negative binomial regression model tested the association between modern-day firearm fatalities and HOLC historical grading (A [“best”] to D [“hazardous”]), controlling for year, HOLC area–level demographics, and state-level factors as fixed effects and a random intercept for city. Incidence rates (IRs) per 100 000 persons, incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and adjusted IRRs (aIRRs) for each HOLC grade were estimated using A-rated areas as the reference. Setting: 202 cities with areas graded by the HOLC in the 1930s. Participants: Population of the 8597 areas assessed by the HOLC. Measurements: Nonsuicide firearm fatalities. Results: From 2014 to 2022, a total of 41 428 nonsuicide firearm fatalities occurred in HOLC-graded areas. The firearm fatality rate increased as the HOLC grade progressed from A to D. In A-graded areas, the IR was 3.78 (95% CI, 3.52 to 4.05) per 100 000 persons per year. In B-graded areas, the IR, IRR, and aIRR relative to A areas were 7.43 (CI, 7.24 to 7.62) per 100 000 persons per year, 2.12 (CI, 1.94 to 2.32), and 1.42 (CI, 1.30 to 1.54), respectively. In C-graded areas, these values were 11.24 (CI, 11.08 to 11.40) per 100 000 persons per year, 3.78 (CI, 3.47 to 4.12), and 1.90 (CI, 1.75 to 2.07), respectively. In D-graded areas, these values were 16.26 (CI, 16.01 to 16.52) per 100 000 persons per year, 5.51 (CI, 5.05 to 6.02), and 2.07 (CI, 1.90 to 2.25), respectively. Limitation: The Gun Violence Archive relies on media coverage and police reports. Conclusion: Discriminatory redlining policies from 80 years ago are associated with nonsuicide firearm fatalities today. Primary Funding Source: Fred Lovejoy Housestaff Research and Education Fund.

Association of Medicare Advantage Enrollment With Financial Burden of Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 177, No 7

Background: Compared with traditional Medicare (TM), Medicare Advantage (MA) plans typically offer supplemental benefits and lower copayments for in-network services and must include an out-of-pocket spending limit. Objective: To examine whether the financial burden of care decreased for persons switching from TM to MA (TM-to-MA switchers) relative to those remaining in TM (TM stayers). Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study comparing changes in financial outcomes between TM-to-MA switchers and TM stayers. Setting: Population-based. Participants: 7054 TM stayers and 1544 TM-to-MA switchers from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2014 to 2021. Measurements: Individual health care costs (out-of-pocket spending and cost sharing), financial burden (high and catastrophic), and subjective financial hardship (difficulty paying medical bills, paying medical bills over time, and inability to pay medical bills). Results: Compared with TM stayers, TM-to-MA switchers had small differences in out-of-pocket spending ($168 [95% CI, −$133 to $469]) and proportions of total health expenses paid out of pocket (cost sharing) (0.2 percentage point [CI, −1.3 to 1.7 percentage points]), families with out-of-pocket spending greater than 20% of their income (high financial burden) (0.3 percentage point [CI, −2.5 to 3.0 percentage points]), families reporting out-of-pocket spending greater than 40% of their income (catastrophic financial burden) (0.7 percentage point [CI, −0.1 to 1.6 percentage points]), families reporting paying medical bills over time (−0.2 percentage point [CI, −1.7 to 1.4 percentage points]), families having problems paying medical bills (−0.4 percentage point [CI, −2.7 to 1.8 percentage points]), and families reporting being unable to pay medical bills (0.4 percentage point [CI, −1.3 to 2.0 percentage points]). Limitation: Inability to account for all medical care and cost needs and variations across MA plans, small baseline differences in out-of-pocket spending, and potential residual confounding. Conclusion: Differences in financial outcomes between beneficiaries who switched from TM to MA and those who stayed with TM were small. Differences in financial burden ranged across outcomes and did not have a consistent pattern. Primary Funding Source: The National Research Foundation of Korea.