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Clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus patients being referred for liver transplant evaluation: a descriptive cohort study.

ABSTRACT: Liver transplantation (LT) is a treatment option for select human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with advanced liver disease. The aim of this study was to describe LT evaluation outcomes in HIV-infected patients.All HIV-infected patients referred for their first LT evaluation at the Mount Sinai Medical Center were included in this retrospective, descriptive cohort study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with listing.Between February 2000 and April 2012, 366 patients were evaluated for LT, with 66 (18.0%) listed for LT and 300 (82.0%) not listed. Fifty-one patients (13.9%) died before completing evaluation and 85 (23.2%) were too early for listing. Reasons patients were declined for listing were psychosocial (15.8%), HIV-related (10.4%), loss to follow-up (9.6%), surgical/medical (6.0%), liver-related (4.4%), patient choice (3.4%), and financial (1.6%). Listed patients were more likely to have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (43.1% vs. 17.1%; P < 0.0001) and less likely to have hepatitis B (6.2% vs. 15.7%; P = 0.04) or a psychiatric history (19.7% vs. 35.2%; P = 0.02) than those not listed. In multivariable analysis, HCC (odds ratio [OR] 5.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.97-11.28), model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score at referral (OR 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.11), and hepatitis B (OR 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.79) were associated with listing.MELD score and HCC were positive predictors of listing in HIV-infected patients referred for LT evaluation and, therefore, timely referrals are vital in these patients. As MELD is a predictor for death while undergoing evaluation, rapid evaluation should be performed in HIV-infected patients with a higher MELD score.

SUBMITTER: Martel-Laferriere V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4529789 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus patients being referred for liver transplant evaluation: a descriptive cohort study.

Martel-Laferrière V V Michel A A Schaefer S S Bindal S S Bichoupan K K Branch A D AD Huprikar S S Schiano T D TD Perumalswami P V PV

Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society 20150615 4

<h4>Background</h4>Liver transplantation (LT) is a treatment option for select human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with advanced liver disease. The aim of this study was to describe LT evaluation outcomes in HIV-infected patients.<h4>Methods</h4>All HIV-infected patients referred for their first LT evaluation at the Mount Sinai Medical Center were included in this retrospective, descriptive cohort study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independentl ...[more]

PMID: 25929731

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Project description:Background & aimsLiver transplantation is the only treatment that increases survival times of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Patients who live farther away from a transplant center are disadvantaged. Health care delivery via telehealth is an effective way to manage patients with decompensated cirrhosis remotely. We investigated the effects of telehealth on the liver transplant evaluation process.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of 465 patients who underwent evaluation for liver transplantation at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 2005 through 2017. Of these, 232 patients were evaluated via telehealth, and 233 via in-person evaluation. Using regression models, we evaluated the differential effects of telehealth vs usual care on placement on the liver transplant waitlist. We also investigated the effects of telehealth on time from referral to initial evaluation by a transplant hepatologist, liver transplantation, and mortality.ResultsPatients in the telehealth group were evaluated significantly faster than patients evaluated in person, without or with adjustment for potential confounders (21.7 vs 79.5 d; P < .01). Telehealth also was associated with a significantly shorter time on the liver transplant waitlist (138.8 vs 249 d; P < .01). After propensity-matched analysis, telehealth was associated with a reduction in the time from referral to evaluation (hazard ratio, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.09-0.21; P < .01) and listing (hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.12-0.40; P < .01), but not to transplantation. In the intent-to-treat analysis of all referred patients, we found no significant difference in pretransplant mortality between patients evaluated via telehealth vs in-person. There was statistically significant interaction between model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)-Na scores and time to evaluation (P = .009) and placement on the transplant waitlist (P = .002), with telehealth offering greater benefits to patients with low MELD-Na scores.ConclusionsUse of telehealth is associated with a substantial reduction in time from referral to initial evaluation by a hepatologist and placement on the liver transplant waitlist, especially for patients with low MELD scores, with no changes in time to transplantation or pretransplant mortality. More studies are needed, particularly outside of the Veterans Administration Health System, to confirm that telehealth is a safe and effective way to expand access for patients undergoing evaluation for liver transplantation.

Project description:BackgroundThere is growing evidence suggesting that the emotional well-being of the public has been negatively affected in the past year. Consequently, demand for well-being support has increased. Although there is substantial empirical support for mental health apps that target diagnosed conditions, there is less research on emotional well-being apps. Among existing well-being apps, few studies have been conducted on apps that are based on lived experience and those that seek to enhance users' understanding of their emotional patterns. Thus, the acceptability of these novel apps requires further evaluation before upscaling.ObjectiveThis evaluation aims to describe the acceptability, engagement, and preliminary outcomes of using an app (Paradym) designed to promote emotional well-being and positive mental health.MethodsThis is a pre-post, mixed-methods, single-arm evaluation that is aggregated with digital analytics data. We anonymously collected real-world data on the demographics and well-being of the participants as well as the usability and acceptance of the app using validated questionnaires and open-ended questions. Participants tested the app for a minimum of 2 weeks before completing the follow-up measures. Google Analytics was used to record the level of app engagement. Chi-square and 2-tailed t tests were conducted to analyze quantitative data, and a thematic analysis approach was adopted for qualitative data.ResultsA total of 115 participants completed baseline questionnaires, of which 79.1% (91/115) users downloaded the app. The sample was diverse in terms of ethnicity, including 43.4% (50/115) people who self-identified as belonging to minority ethnic groups. Most of the participants were female (78/115, 67.8%) and between the ages of 18 and 25 years (39/115, 33.9%). A total of 34 app users who completed questionnaires at baseline and follow-up provided valuable feedback to inform the future directions of Paradym. Favorable themes emerged describing the app's content, functionality, and underlying principles. Although usability feedback varied across items, a considerable number of participants (22/34, 64%) found that the app was easy to use. Google Analytics revealed that at least 79% (27/34) of people used the app daily. On the basis of preliminary observations, app users experience increased mental well-being. Post hoc analyses indicated that the reduction in depression scores (t33=-2.16) and the increase in the well-being measures (t33=2.87) were statistically significant. No adverse events were reported during the follow-up period.ConclusionsThe findings of this evaluation are encouraging and document positive preliminary evidence for the Paradym app.

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Clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus patients being referred for liver transplant evaluation: a descriptive cohort study.

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Clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus patients being referred for liver transplant evaluation: a descriptive cohort study.

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