Study Shows Strong Link Between Smoking, Opioid Use

AHRQ Stats: Postoperative Sepsis Rates

In 2020, for every 1,000 elective surgical procedures, an average of 3.8 adult patients developed postoperative sepsis. Those aged 65 and older faced a greater risk—for every 1,000 elective surgical procedures, an average of 4.3 patients developed sepsis. (Source: AHRQ 2024 Chartbook on Patient Safety.)

Today's Headlines:

• Study Shows Strong Link Between Smoking, Opioid Use.
• AHRQ Data Indicate 7 Percent of U.S. Adults Have Had Long COVID.
• New Videos Show How To Explore AHRQ Data Tools.
• Community-Level Factors Linked to Pediatric Outcome Inequities.
• Apply Now for Funding on Projects To Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance.
• Highlights From AHRQ's Patient Safety Network.
• AHRQ Seeks Nursing Homes for Pilot Test of Surveys on Patient Safety Culture Nursing Home Survey 2.0.
• New Research and Evidence From AHRQ.
• AHRQ in the Professional Literature.

Study Shows Strong Link Between Smoking, Opioid Use

A new analysis of data from AHRQ's Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) revealed a strong link between smoking and opioid use, emphasizing the need for integrated treatment programs. Data from 2013 to 2021 from MEPS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey show that although only 37 percent of the population has ever smoked, smokers account for 69 percent of annual prescription opioid use. Heavy smokers, just 12 percent of the population, collectively use as many opioids as the 63 percent who never smoked. Smokers also report higher rates of chronic pain, severe work limitations due to pain and poor mental health. The authors, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, suggested that combining smoking cessation with substance abuse treatment could be crucial in addressing the opioid epidemic. Access the abstract.

AHRQ Data Indicate 7 Percent of U.S. Adults Have Had Long COVID

New data from AHRQ’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey indicate that about 7 percent of U.S. adults, 17.8 million, have had Long COVID as of early 2023. Hispanic and White adults had higher rates of Long COVID than Asian and Black adults, and women had higher rates than men. Adults who received a COVID-19 booster had lower rates of Long COVID than both unvaccinated adults and adults who received only the primary vaccination series. Adults with obesity or preexisting chronic conditions were also more likely to have had Long COVID than all adults. Researchers said the findings support previously reported estimates. Access a summary of the article published in JAMA.

New Videos Show How To Explore AHRQ Data Tools

New videos from AHRQ provide guidance on the use of AHRQ Data Tools, an interactive resource that allows researchers, policymakers and others to explore data on topics ranging from health insurance coverage to hospital use to disparities in care. An introductory video is complemented by three additional videos that offer more detailed instructions and examples of how to use AHRQ data resources:

• The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) program provides insights into consumers’ experiences with their care .
• The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) provides data on hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
• The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) explores health insurance coverage, healthcare use, and expenditures.
• The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report (NHQDR) shows opportunities for improving healthcare quality and reducing disparities.

Community-Level Factors Linked to Pediatric Outcome Inequities

Structural racism seems to be a significant root cause of inequities in child health outcomes, including those at the population level, according to a new AHRQ-funded study in Pediatrics. Researchers found that pediatric hospitalizations increased by more than 6 percent for every 10 percent of the population in a census tract that identified with a “historically marginalized” racial group. This review combined data from nearly 60,000 hospitalizations with community-level factors related to community material deprivation, crime risk, primary language, housing tenure, family composition, hospital access, greenspace, traffic-related air pollution and housing conditions. When they weighted their measurements to account for these systemic inequities, they found that inequities in pediatric hospitalizations disappeared. Researchers concluded that interventions and policies that address such exposures and dismantle racist structures could promote better, more equitable child health outcomes. Access the abstract.

Apply Now for Funding on Projects To Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antibiotic Resistance

AHRQ is funding innovative research proposals to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria (CARB). Applications are due September 25 for demonstration and dissemination projects (R18) and October 5 for large research projects (R01). HAI projects in both grant categories should demonstrate new ways to detect, prevent and reduce HAIs. CARB projects should address ways to promote appropriate antibiotic use, reduce the transmission of resistant bacteria or prevent HAIs. The funding is available to support research in all healthcare settings: long-term care, ambulatory care, acute care hospitals and those focusing on transitions between care settings. AHRQ encourages potential applicants to consider research in healthcare delivery areas with demonstrated health inequities and to address those equity issues in their proposed projects.

Highlights From AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network

AHRQ's Patient Safety Network (PSNet) highlights journal articles, books and tools related to patient safety. Articles featured this week include:

• Long-term care healthcare-associated infections in 2023: an analysis of 23,970 reports.
• A human right-based approach to dealing with adverse events in residential care facilities.
• Partnership as a pathway to diagnostic excellence: the challenges and successes of implementing the Safer Dx Learning Lab.

Review additional new publications in PSNet’s current issue, including recent cases and commentaries and AHRQ’s WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web).

AHRQ Seeks Nursing Homes for Pilot Test of Surveys on Patient Safety Culture Nursing Home Survey 2.0

AHRQ seeks nursing homes to participate in a pilot test of an update to the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture® (SOPS®) Nursing Home Survey (Version 2.0) with supplemental items assessing staff workplace safety. The 2.0 revised survey is shorter than the current 1.0 survey and includes new items. Participating nursing homes will receive up to $1,000, free survey administration to nursing home staff, and feedback reports displaying results compared with other pilot sites. For more information, contact NursingHomeSurvey@westat.com.

New Research and Evidence From AHRQ

• Comparative Effectiveness Review (draft open for comment): The Relationship of Digestible Carbohydrate Intake With Cardiovascular Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity, and Body Composition

AHRQ in the Professional Literature

Characterizing proximity and transfers of deceased organ donors to donor care units in the United States. Vail EA, Tam VW, Sonnenberg EM, et al. Am J Transplant. 2024 Jun;24(6):983-92. Epub 2024 Feb 10. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Ethnic disparities in deep sedation of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome in the United States: secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized trial. Armstrong-Hough M, Lin P, Venkatesh S, et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2024 Apr;21(4):620-6. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Trends in psychological distress and outpatient mental health care of adults during the COVID-19 era. Olfson M, McClellan C, Zuvekas SH, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2024 Mar;177(3):353-62. Epub 2024 Feb 6. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Development of patient safety measures to identify inappropriate diagnosis of common infections. White AT, Vaughn VM, Petty LA, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Jun 14;78(6):1403-11. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Older adults with overlapping caregiving responsibilities and care needs in a U.S. national community-based sample. Semere W, Yank V, Lisha NE, et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024 Jun;72(6):1824-30. Epub 2024 Feb 12. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Natural language processing applied to clinical documentation in post-acute care settings: a scoping review. Scharp D, Hobensack M, Davoudi A, et al. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2024 Jan;25(1):69-83. Epub 2023 Oct 11. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Medicaid managed care and pediatric dental emergency department visits. Baker L, Munnich EL, Kranz AM. JAMA Health Forum. 2024 Jun 7;5(6):e241472. Access the abstract on PubMed®.

Applying ordered network analysis to video-recorded physician-nurse interactions to examine communication patterns associated with shared understanding in inpatient oncology care settings. Popov V, Tan Y, Manojlovich M. BMJ Open. 2024 Jun 17;14(6):e084653. Access the abstract on PubMed®.