2023
Excess mortality in US Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: an individual-level cohort study
Weinberger D, Bhaskaran K, Korves C, Lucas B, Columbo J, Vashi A, Davies L, Justice A, Rentsch C. Excess mortality in US Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: an individual-level cohort study. International Journal Of Epidemiology 2023, 52: 1725-1734. PMID: 37802889, PMCID: PMC10749763, DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad136.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcess mortality ratesExcess mortalityComorbidity burdenHazard ratioCohort studyMortality rateVeterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) IndexIndividual-level cohort studyVeterans AffairsCOVID-19 pandemicLarge integrated healthcare systemExcess mortality patternsHigher comorbidity burdenLower comorbidity burdenMost frail patientsCharlson Comorbidity IndexObservational cohort studyClinical risk groupsIntegrated healthcare systemLeast frailComorbidity indexFrail patientsPre-pandemic periodMedian ageUS veteransRacial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates
Bernstein E, DeRycke E, Han L, Farmer M, Bastian L, Bean-Mayberry B, Bade B, Brandt C, Crothers K, Skanderson M, Ruser C, Spelman J, Bazan I, Justice A, Rentsch C, Akgün K. Racial, Ethnic, and Rural Disparities in U.S. Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine Rates. AJPM Focus 2023, 2: 100094. PMID: 37362395, PMCID: PMC10038675, DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRace/ethnicity groupsFirst vaccinationFirst COVID-19 vaccinationVeterans AffairsWhite veteransCharlson Comorbidity IndexRetrospective cohort studyPrimary care visitsEthnicity groupsCOVID-19 vaccinationLarge healthcare systemEquitable vaccine distributionAsian Americans/Pacific IslandersRace/ethnicityUnvaccinated patientsComorbidity indexInfluenza vaccinationSelf-reported categoriesBlack groupCare visitsCohort studyHazard ratioPrimary outcomeWhite patientsBlack patients
2020
Development and validation of a 30-day mortality index based on pre-existing medical administrative data from 13,323 COVID-19 patients: The Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index
King JT, Yoon JS, Rentsch CT, Tate JP, Park LS, Kidwai-Khan F, Skanderson M, Hauser RG, Jacobson DA, Erdos J, Cho K, Ramoni R, Gagnon DR, Justice AC. Development and validation of a 30-day mortality index based on pre-existing medical administrative data from 13,323 COVID-19 patients: The Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index. PLOS ONE 2020, 15: e0241825. PMID: 33175863, PMCID: PMC7657526, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241825.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCharlson Comorbidity IndexVeterans Health AdministrationVACO IndexValidation cohortMedical administrative dataDevelopment cohortSARS-CoV-2 testing resultsMortality indexICD-10 diagnosis codesUS Veterans Health AdministrationSARS-CoV-2 infectionPre-existing medical conditionsCOVID-19 mortality riskPeripheral vascular diseaseCOVID-19 patientsCOVID-19 infectionCOVID-19 mortalitySARS-CoV-2Administrative dataLogistic regression modelsRace/ethnicityCohort subgroupsComorbidity indexOverall mortalityComorbid conditions