Peer Perspectives: David D. Chen, MD, MPH

HospitalistChristianaCare Health SystemWilmington and Newark, DEClinical Assistant ProfessorThomas Jefferson University Hospital-Sidney Kimmel Medical CollegePhiladelphia, PA

Peer Perspectives: Clarissa Barnes, MD, MBA, FACP, ACPA-C

Clarissa Barnes, MD, MBA, FACP, ACPA-C Chief Medical Officer, South Dakota Medicaid Hospitalist, Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center Clinical Professor, Internal Medicine Department, University of South Dakota President, American College of Physician Advisors

Peer Perspectives: Camile Gooden, MD, FACP

Physician AdvisorNYU Langone Hospital–SuffolkPatchogue, NYClinical Assistant Professor of MedicineNYU Grossman Long Island School of MedicineMineola, NY1. What is your current professional position?

Peer Perspectives: Bruce Smith, Jr., MD

Bruce Smith, Jr., MD Hospitalist and Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, NJ Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 1. What is your current professional position?

Peer Perspectives: Andre Hollingsworth, MD, FACP, FAAP

Internal Medicine Associate Program Director Internal Medicine Section ChiefTrinity Health Grand Rapids HospitalGrand Rapids, MIClinical Assistant ProfessorMichigan State College of Human MedicineGrand Rapids, MI

Early Career Physicians Engagement Inspiration: ACP South Dakota Chapter

Eric Chow, MD, FACP Chair, Early Career Physicians Committee Hospital Medicine Monument Health, Rapid City, SD How long have you been leading the South Dakota Chapter Early Career Physicians (SDECP)? Please also share a little about yourself—where and how you practice? I have been chair of the SDECP for almost 2 years. Currently, I am a hospitalist at a community hospital. Previously, I was a primary care physician. How many members do you serve?

Early Career Physicians

Explore ACP benefits and resources unique to internal medicine physicians early in their careers as well as opportunities to engage with peers locally and nationally.Personal and Professional Development Connect with mentors and discover ACP programs to help build your CV and achieve your professional goals.

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Disparities in Guideline-Recommended Statin Use for Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease by Race, Ethnicity, and Gender: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Analysis of Adults in the United States: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 176, No 8

Background: Although statins are a class I recommendation for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its complications, their use is suboptimal. Differential underuse may mediate disparities in cardiovascular health for systematically marginalized persons. Objective: To estimate disparities in statin use by race–ethnicity–gender and to determine whether these potential disparities are explained by medical appropriateness of therapy and structural factors. Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Setting: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to 2020. Participants: Persons eligible for statin therapy based on 2013 and 2018 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood cholesterol guidelines. Measurements: The independent variable was race–ethnicity–gender. The outcome of interest was use of a statin. Using the Institute of Medicine framework for examining unequal treatment, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to estimate disparities in statin use adjusted for age, disease severity, access to health care, and socioeconomic status relative to non-Hispanic White men. Results: For primary prevention, we identified a lower prevalence of statin use that was not explained by measurable differences in disease severity or structural factors among non-Hispanic Black men (aPR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.59 to 0.88]) and non-Mexican Hispanic women (aPR, 0.74 [CI, 0.53 to 0.95]). For secondary prevention, we identified a lower prevalence of statin use that was not explained by measurable differences in disease severity or structural factors for non-Hispanic Black men (aPR, 0.81 [CI, 0.64 to 0.97]), other/multiracial men (aPR, 0.58 [CI, 0.20 to 0.97]), Mexican American women (aPR, 0.36 [CI, 0.10 to 0.61]), non-Mexican Hispanic women (aPR, 0.57 [CI, 0.33 to 0.82), non-Hispanic White women (aPR, 0.69 [CI, 0.56 to 0.83]), and non-Hispanic Black women (aPR, 0.75 [CI, 0.57 to 0.92]). Limitation: Cross-sectional data; lack of geographic, language, or statin-dose data. Conclusion: Statin use disparities for several race–ethnicity–gender groups are not explained by measurable differences in medical appropriateness of therapy, access to health care, and socioeconomic status. These residual disparities may be partially mediated by unobserved processes that contribute to health inequity, including bias, stereotyping, and mistrust. Primary Funding Source: National Institutes of Health.

Unjust Discrimination Between Cisgender and Transgender Gender-Affirming Care

Revisiting the Utility of U.S. Medical Licensing Examination Step 3

Association Between Vascular 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake at Diagnosis and Change in Aortic Dimensions in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Cohort Study: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 176, No 10

Background: Previous studies have shown that patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) who have vascular 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake at diagnosis are at increased risk for thoracic aortic complications. Objective: To measure the association between vascular FDG uptake at diagnosis and the change in aortic dimensions. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: University Hospitals Leuven. Patients: 106 patients with GCA and FDG positron emission tomography (PET) imaging 3 days or less after initiation of glucocorticoids. Measurements: Patients had PET and computed tomography (CT) imaging at diagnosis and CT imaging yearly for a maximum of 10 years. The PET scans were scored 0 to 3 in 7 vascular areas and summed to a total vascular score (TVS). The PET scan results were positive when FDG uptake was grade 2 or greater in any large vessel. The association between vascular FDG uptake and aortic dimensions was estimated by linear mixed-effects models with random intercept and slope. Results: When compared with patients with a negative PET scan result, those with a positive scan result had a greater increase in the diameter of the ascending aorta (difference in 5-year progression, 1.58 mm [95% CI, 0.41 to 2.74 mm]), the diameter of the descending aorta (1.32 mm [CI, 0.38 to 2.26 mm]), and the volume of the thoracic aorta (20.5 cm³ [CI, 4.5 to 36.5 cm³]). These thoracic aortic dimensions were also positively associated with TVS. Patients with a positive PET scan result had a higher risk for thoracic aortic aneurysms (adjusted hazard ratio, 10.21 [CI, 1.25 to 83.3]). Limitation: The lengthy inclusion and follow-up period resulted in missing data and the use of different PET machines. Conclusion: Higher TVS was associated with greater yearly increase in thoracic aortic dimensions. Performing PET imaging at diagnosis may help to estimate the risk for aortic aneurysm formation. Primary Funding Source: None.

Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin Versus Placebo on Incidence of Anemia in the Elderly: A Secondary Analysis of the Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly Trial: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 176, No 7

Background: Daily low-dose aspirin increases major bleeding; however, few studies have investigated its effect on iron deficiency and anemia. Objective: To investigate the effect of low-dose aspirin on incident anemia, hemoglobin, and serum ferritin concentrations. Design: Post hoc analysis of the ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) randomized controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01038583) Setting: Primary/community care in Australia and the United States. Participants: Community-dwelling persons aged 70 years or older (≥65 years for Black persons and Hispanic persons). Intervention: 100 mg of aspirin daily or placebo. Measurements: Hemoglobin concentration was measured annually in all participants. Ferritin was measured at baseline and 3 years after random assignment in a large subset. Results: 19 114 persons were randomly assigned. Anemia incidence in the aspirin and placebo groups was 51.2 events and 42.9 events per 1000 person-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.12 to 1.29]). Hemoglobin concentrations declined by 3.6 g/L per 5 years in the placebo group and the aspirin group experienced a steeper decline by 0.6 g/L per 5 years (CI, 0.3 to 1.0 g/L). In 7139 participants with ferritin measures at baseline and year 3, the aspirin group had greater prevalence than placebo of ferritin levels less than 45 µg/L at year 3 (465 [13%] vs. 350 [9.8%]) and greater overall decline in ferritin by 11.5% (CI, 9.3% to 13.7%) compared with placebo. A sensitivity analysis quantifying the effect of aspirin in the absence of major bleeding produced similar results. Limitations: Hemoglobin was measured annually. No data were available on causes of anemia. Conclusion: Low-dose aspirin increased incident anemia and decline in ferritin in otherwise healthy older adults, independent of major bleeding. Periodic monitoring of hemoglobin should be considered in older persons on aspirin. Primary Funding Source: National Institutes of Health and Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Modernizing the United States’ Public Health Infrastructure: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians

The United States’ public health sector plays a crucial role in preventing illness and promoting health. Public health drove massive gains in life expectancy during the 20th century by supporting vaccination campaigns, promoting motor vehicle safety, and preventing and treating tobacco use. However, public health is underfunded and underappreciated, forcing the field to do more with fewer resources. In this position paper, the American College of Physicians (ACP) updates its 2012 policy recommendations on strengthening the nation’s public health infrastructure. ACP calls for effective coordination of public health activities, robust and stable year-to-year funding of public health services, a renewed and well-supported public health workforce, action to address health-related dis- and misinformation, modernized public health data systems, and greater coordination between public health and medical sectors.

How Would You Manage This Patient With Recurrent Diverticulitis?: Grand Rounds Discussion From Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 176, No 6

Acute diverticulitis, which refers to inflammation or infection, or both, of a colonic diverticulum, is a common medical condition that may occur repeatedly in some persons. It most often manifests with left-sided abdominal pain, which may be associated with low-grade fever and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Complications may include abscess, fistula formation, perforation, and bowel obstruction. The American College of Physicians recently published practice guidelines on the diagnosis and management of acute diverticulitis, the role of colonoscopy after resolution, and interventions to prevent recurrence of this condition. Among the recommendations were the use of abdominal computed tomography (CT) scanning in cases where there was diagnostic uncertainty, initial management of uncomplicated cases in the outpatient setting without antibiotics, referral for colonoscopy after an initial episode if not performed recently, and discussion of elective surgery to prevent recurrent disease in patients with complicated diverticulitis or frequent episodes of uncomplicated disease. Here, 2 gastroenterologists with expertise in acute diverticulitis debate CT scanning for diagnosis, antibiotics for treatment, colonoscopy to screen for underlying malignancy, and elective surgery to prevent recurrent disease.

Rates of Downstream Procedures and Complications Associated With Lung Cancer Screening in Routine Clinical Practice: A Retrospective Cohort Study: Annals of Internal Medicine: Vol 177, No 1

Background: Lung cancer screening (LCS) using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer mortality but can lead to downstream procedures, complications, and other potential harms. Estimates of these events outside NLST (National Lung Screening Trial) have been variable and lacked evaluation by screening result, which allows more direct comparison with trials. Objective: To identify rates of downstream procedures and complications associated with LCS. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: 5 U.S. health care systems. Patients: Individuals who completed a baseline LDCT scan for LCS between 2014 and 2018. Measurements: Outcomes included downstream imaging, invasive diagnostic procedures, and procedural complications. For each, absolute rates were calculated overall and stratified by screening result and by lung cancer detection, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: Among the 9266 screened patients, 1472 (15.9%) had a baseline LDCT scan showing abnormalities, of whom 140 (9.5%) were diagnosed with lung cancer within 12 months (positive predictive value, 9.5% [95% CI, 8.0% to 11.0%]; negative predictive value, 99.8% [CI, 99.7% to 99.9%]; sensitivity, 92.7% [CI, 88.6% to 96.9%]; specificity, 84.4% [CI, 83.7% to 85.2%]). Absolute rates of downstream imaging and invasive procedures in screened patients were 31.9% and 2.8%, respectively. In patients undergoing invasive procedures after abnormal findings, complication rates were substantially higher than those in NLST (30.6% vs. 17.7% for any complication; 20.6% vs. 9.4% for major complications). Limitation: Assessment of outcomes was retrospective and was based on procedural coding. Conclusion: The results indicate substantially higher rates of downstream procedures and complications associated with LCS in practice than observed in NLST. Diagnostic management likely needs to be assessed and improved to ensure that screening benefits outweigh potential harms. Primary Funding Source: National Cancer Institute and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Out-of-Pocket Payments for Commonly Prescribed Generic Medications Versus Discount Card Pricing

Pharmacologic Treatment Initiation Among Medicare Beneficiaries Hospitalized With Alcohol Use Disorder

MKSAP Quiz: Evaluation for multiple myeloma

Personalized strategies improved cognition, reduced dementia risk in seniors

U.S. statin use plateaued in 2013 to 2018

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Help ACP give back to internal medicine physicians this Giving Tuesday

ACP's identity campaign features internal medicine physicians impacting patient care

Patients with Hashimoto disease and symptoms despite medication may benefit from thyroidectomy

MKSAP Quiz: Last menstrual period more than 12 months ago

Mobile apps can help treat moderate to severe depression

Hypertension patients on remote monitoring had lower mortality, fewer hospitalizations

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Decongestion strategies inconsistently applied in U.S. patients hospitalized for heart failure | ACP Hospitalist