2023
Alcohol Use and Sustained Virologic Response to Hepatitis C Virus Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy
Cartwright E, Pierret C, Minassian C, Esserman D, Tate J, Goetz M, Bhattacharya D, Fiellin D, Justice A, Re V, Rentsch C. Alcohol Use and Sustained Virologic Response to Hepatitis C Virus Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e2335715. PMID: 37751206, PMCID: PMC10523171, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.35715.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSustained virologic responseAlcohol use disorderHigh-risk consumptionHistory of AUDLow-risk consumptionDAA therapyAlcohol use categoriesAlcohol useVirologic responseCohort studyAntiviral therapyOdds ratioChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaireHepatitis C virus infectionVeterans AffairsActing antiviral (DAA) therapyDAA treatment initiationHCV elimination goalsUndetectable HCV RNAC virus infectionFibrosis-4 scoreRetrospective cohort studyMultivariable logistic regressionTenth Revision diagnosisRacial and Ethnic Bias in the Diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans
Vickers-Smith R, Justice A, Becker W, Rentsch C, Curtis B, Fernander A, Hartwell E, Ighodaro E, Kember R, Tate J, Kranzler H. Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder in Veterans. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2023, 180: 426-436. PMID: 37132202, PMCID: PMC10238581, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21111097.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholismEthnicityHumansMaleUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransConceptsAlcohol use disorderAlcohol consumptionAUD diagnosisHispanic veteransWhite veteransUse disordersPrevalence of AUDAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestUnhealthy alcohol useICD-10 codesAUDIT-C scoresSelf-reported alcohol consumptionAlcohol-related disordersDiagnosis of AUDDisorders Identification TestMaximum scoreSelf-reported raceElectronic health recordsPrimary outcomeAlcohol consumption levelsPotential confoundersHigh prevalenceMillion Veteran ProgramGreater oddsICD-9Excess Mortality Among Patients in the Veterans Affairs Health System Compared With the Overall US Population During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Weinberger D, Rose L, Rentsch C, Asch S, Columbo J, King J, Korves C, Lucas B, Taub C, Young-Xu Y, Vashi A, Davies L, Justice A. Excess Mortality Among Patients in the Veterans Affairs Health System Compared With the Overall US Population During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open 2023, 6: e2312140. PMID: 37155169, PMCID: PMC10167568, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.12140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGeneral US populationVA health care systemHealth care systemComprehensive medical careOverall US populationRate of deathVA populationUS populationDeath rateCohort studyExcess mortalityCare systemCOVID-19 pandemicMedical careVeterans Affairs Health Care SystemVeterans Affairs Health SystemHealth systemVA health systemFirst yearVA health careStandardized mortality rateAdult age groupsVA enrolleesMAIN OUTCOMEGeneral populationEnhanced Identification of Hispanic Ethnicity Using Clinical Data
Ochoa-Allemant P, Tate J, Williams E, Gordon K, Marconi V, Bensley K, Rentsch C, Wang K, Taddei T, Justice A, Cohorts F. Enhanced Identification of Hispanic Ethnicity Using Clinical Data. Medical Care 2023, 61: 200-205. PMID: 36893404, PMCID: PMC10114212, DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001824.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBurden of diseaseHispanic patientsCountry of birthClinical dataHispanic ethnicityNon-Hispanic white patientsSex-adjusted prevalenceChronic liver diseaseHuman immunodeficiency virusDemographic characteristicsElectronic health record dataHealth careHealth record dataPrevalence of conditionsUS health care systemMedicare administrative dataHealth care systemWhite patientsLiver diseaseImmunodeficiency virusSelf-reported ethnicityHigh prevalenceGastric cancerHepatocellular carcinomaVeteran population
2022
Survival analysis of localized prostate cancer with deep learning
Dai X, Park JH, Yoo S, D’Imperio N, McMahon BH, Rentsch CT, Tate JP, Justice AC. Survival analysis of localized prostate cancer with deep learning. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 17821. PMID: 36280773, PMCID: PMC9592586, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22118-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProstate cancer mortalityComposite outcomeCancer mortalityRisk predictionTime-dependent c-statisticsProstate-specific antigen (PSA) testLarge integrated healthcare systemLocalized prostate cancerElectronic health record dataClinical decision-making processProstate cancer patientsIntegrated healthcare systemProstate Cancer Risk PredictionHealth record dataLarge-scale electronic health record dataRisk prediction modelCancer risk predictionAntigen testC-statisticCancer patientsProstate cancerClinical decision systemSurvival analysisVeterans AffairsDeep learningValidation of a multi-ancestry polygenic risk score and age-specific risks of prostate cancer: A meta-analysis within diverse populations
Chen F, Darst BF, Madduri RK, Rodriguez AA, Sheng X, Rentsch CT, Andrews C, Tang W, Kibel AS, Plym A, Cho K, Jalloh M, Gueye SM, Niang L, Ogunbiyi OJ, Popoola O, Adebiyi AO, Aisuodionoe-Shadrach OI, Ajibola HO, Jamda MA, Oluwole OP, Nwegbu M, Adusei B, Mante S, Darkwa-Abrahams A, Mensah JE, Adjei AA, Diop H, Lachance J, Rebbeck TR, Ambs S, Gaziano JM, Justice AC, Conti DV, Haiman CA. Validation of a multi-ancestry polygenic risk score and age-specific risks of prostate cancer: A meta-analysis within diverse populations. ELife 2022, 11: e78304. PMID: 35801699, PMCID: PMC9322982, DOI: 10.7554/elife.78304.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProstate cancer riskPolygenic risk scoresProstate cancerCancer riskOdds ratioMillion Veteran ProgramRisk scoreRisk stratification toolAge-specific absolute risksAfrican ancestry menCancer odds ratiosVeterans Health AdministrationCase-control studyNonaggressive prostate cancerProstate Cancer FoundationAge-specific riskAssociation of PRSPRS categoriesRisk-stratified screeningVeteran ProgramNational Cancer InstituteEuropean ancestry menStratification toolAbsolute riskEffect modificationGeographic and temporal variation in racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 positivity between February 2020 and August 2021 in the United States
Ferguson JM, Justice AC, Osborne TF, Magid HSA, Purnell AL, Rentsch CT. Geographic and temporal variation in racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 positivity between February 2020 and August 2021 in the United States. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 273. PMID: 34997001, PMCID: PMC8741774, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03967-5.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2021
HIV care using differentiated service delivery during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a nationwide cohort study in the US Department of Veterans Affairs
McGinnis KA, Skanderson M, Justice AC, Akgün KM, Tate JP, King JT, Rentsch CT, Marconi VC, Hsieh E, Ruser C, Kidwai‐Khan F, Yousefzadeh R, Erdos J, Park LS. HIV care using differentiated service delivery during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a nationwide cohort study in the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Journal Of The International AIDS Society 2021, 24: e25810. PMID: 34713585, PMCID: PMC8554215, DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25810.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCohort StudiesCOVID-19FemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMalePandemicsSARS-CoV-2United StatesVeteransConceptsVeterans AffairsClinic visitsCohort studyVL testARV coverageCOVID-19 pandemicVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHIV healthcare deliveryNationwide cohort studyAging Cohort StudyViral load testsDifferentiated service deliveryHealthcare deliveryHIV careMost patientsPharmacy recordsVL testingCalendar periodHealthcare encountersOverall healthARVVirtual healthcareVirtual visitsVisitsService deliveryAccuracy of the Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index for predicting short-term mortality among 1307 US academic medical centre inpatients and 427 224 US Medicare patients
King JT, Yoon JS, Bredl ZM, Habboushe JP, Walker GA, Rentsch CT, Tate JP, Kashyap NM, Hintz RC, Chopra AP, Justice AC. Accuracy of the Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index for predicting short-term mortality among 1307 US academic medical centre inpatients and 427 224 US Medicare patients. Journal Of Epidemiology & Community Health 2021, 76: 254-260. PMID: 34583962, PMCID: PMC8483922, DOI: 10.1136/jech-2021-216697.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVACO IndexShort-term mortalityAcademic medical centerCause mortalityMedicare inpatientMedical CenterSingle US academic medical centerCOVID-19 indexTime of diagnosisUS academic medical centersUS Medicare patientsGreater clinical attentionCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Nationwide cohortComorbidity diagnosesMedicare cohortInpatient populationUS veteransMedicare patientsHospital dataMedicare dataOutpatient dataClinical attentionInpatientsProtease inhibitor-based direct-acting antivirals are associated with increased risk of aminotransferase elevations but not hepatic dysfunction or decompensation
Torgersen J, Newcomb CW, Carbonari DM, Rentsch CT, Park LS, Mezochow A, Mehta RL, Buchwalder L, Tate JP, Bräu N, Bhattacharya D, Lim JK, Taddei TH, Justice AC, Lo Re V. Protease inhibitor-based direct-acting antivirals are associated with increased risk of aminotransferase elevations but not hepatic dysfunction or decompensation. Journal Of Hepatology 2021, 75: 1312-1322. PMID: 34333102, PMCID: PMC8604762, DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.07.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSevere hepatic dysfunctionBaseline FIB-4Acute liver injuryHepatic dysfunctionInhibitor-based treatmentHepatic decompensationFIB-4Liver injuryHigh riskDAA therapyHazard ratioAdvanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosisRisk of ALIProtease inhibitor-based regimensProtease inhibitor-based treatmentLiver fibrosis/cirrhosisInhibitor-based regimensHepatitis C infectionSevere liver dysfunctionFibrosis/cirrhosisInhibitor-based therapyAminotransferase elevationChronic HCVALT elevationC infectionPharmacoepidemiology, Machine Learning, and COVID-19: An Intent-to-Treat Analysis of Hydroxychloroquine, With or Without Azithromycin, and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Hospitalized US Veterans
Gerlovin H, Posner DC, Ho YL, Rentsch CT, Tate JP, King JT, Kurgansky KE, Danciu I, Costa L, Linares FA, Goethert ID, Jacobson DA, Freiberg MS, Begoli E, Muralidhar S, Ramoni RB, Tourassi G, Gaziano JM, Justice AC, Gagnon DR, Cho K. Pharmacoepidemiology, Machine Learning, and COVID-19: An Intent-to-Treat Analysis of Hydroxychloroquine, With or Without Azithromycin, and COVID-19 Outcomes Among Hospitalized US Veterans. American Journal Of Epidemiology 2021, 190: 2405-2419. PMID: 34165150, PMCID: PMC8384407, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab183.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedAged, 80 and overAnti-Bacterial AgentsAzithromycinCOVID-19COVID-19 Drug TreatmentDrug Therapy, CombinationFemaleHospitalizationHumansHydroxychloroquineIntention to Treat AnalysisMachine LearningMaleMiddle AgedPharmacoepidemiologyRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Treatment OutcomeUnited StatesVeteransConceptsUS veteransCOVID-19Veterans Affairs Health Care SystemRecent randomized clinical trialsAdministration of hydroxychloroquineEffectiveness of hydroxychloroquineRisk of intubationEffect of hydroxychloroquineElectronic health record dataRandomized clinical trialsTreatment of patientsUS veteran populationCOVID-19 outcomesCoronavirus disease 2019Health record dataRigorous study designsHealth care systemSurvival benefitTreat analysisEarly therapyHospitalized populationClinical trialsObservational studyDisease 2019HydroxychloroquineEarly initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation for prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 mortality in patients admitted to hospital in the United States: cohort study
Rentsch CT, Beckman JA, Tomlinson L, Gellad WF, Alcorn C, Kidwai-Khan F, Skanderson M, Brittain E, King JT, Ho YL, Eden S, Kundu S, Lann MF, Greevy RA, Ho PM, Heidenreich PA, Jacobson DA, Douglas IJ, Tate JP, Evans SJW, Atkins D, Justice AC, Freiberg MS. Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation for prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 mortality in patients admitted to hospital in the United States: cohort study. The BMJ 2021, 372: n311. PMID: 33574135, PMCID: PMC7876672, DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n311.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProphylactic anticoagulationDay mortalityEarly initiationTherapeutic anticoagulationCohort studyInpatient mortalityHospital admissionAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortalitySyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionCOVID-19History of anticoagulationSerious bleeding eventsCoronavirus 2 infectionHours of admissionObservational cohort studyRisk of deathCoronavirus disease 2019Real-world evidenceBleeding eventsSubcutaneous heparinHospital stayNationwide cohortCumulative incidence
2020
Association of OPRM1 Functional Coding Variant With Opioid Use Disorder
Zhou H, Rentsch CT, Cheng Z, Kember RL, Nunez YZ, Sherva RM, Tate JP, Dao C, Xu K, Polimanti R, Farrer LA, Justice AC, Kranzler HR, Gelernter J. Association of OPRM1 Functional Coding Variant With Opioid Use Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry 2020, 77: 1072-1080. PMID: 32492095, PMCID: PMC7270886, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1206.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderUse disordersMendelian randomization analysisAfrican American individualsMAIN OUTCOMEFunctional coding variantSignificant associationCausal associationRandomization analysisElectronic health record dataCurrent opioid crisisAmerican individualsHealth record dataCognitive performanceInternational Statistical ClassificationRelated Health ProblemsPotential causal associationAmerican controlsEuropean American controlsAfrican-American controlsCoding variantBuprenorphine treatmentOUD diagnosisTobacco smokingNinth RevisionPatterns of COVID-19 testing and mortality by race and ethnicity among United States veterans: A nationwide cohort study
Rentsch CT, Kidwai-Khan F, Tate JP, Park LS, King JT, Skanderson M, Hauser RG, Schultze A, Jarvis CI, Holodniy M, Re V, Akgün KM, Crothers K, Taddei TH, Freiberg MS, Justice AC. Patterns of COVID-19 testing and mortality by race and ethnicity among United States veterans: A nationwide cohort study. PLOS Medicine 2020, 17: e1003379. PMID: 32960880, PMCID: PMC7508372, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003379.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBetacoronavirusBlack or African AmericanClinical Laboratory TechniquesCohort StudiesCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19COVID-19 TestingEthnicityFemaleHispanic or LatinoHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsPneumonia, ViralRetrospective StudiesSARS-CoV-2United StatesVeteransWhite PeopleYoung AdultConceptsCOVID-19 testingRace/ethnicityCohort studyWhite individualsSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectionAcute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSyndrome coronavirus 2 infectionSARS-CoV-2 infectionCOVID-19Large integrated healthcare systemCoronavirus 2 infectionNationwide cohort studyRetrospective cohort studyCoronavirus disease 2019Site of careIntegrated healthcare systemNon-Hispanic blacksPositive test resultsNon-Hispanic whitesClinical characteristicsMultivariable adjustmentComorbid conditionsMedication historyEthnic minority communitiesDisease 2019Trajectories of Self-Reported Opioid Use Among Patients With HIV Engaged in Care: Results From a National Cohort Study.
Edelman EJ, Li Y, Barry D, Brennan Braden J, Crystal S, Kerns RD, Gaither JR, Gordon KS, Manhapra A, Merlin JS, Moore BA, Oldfield BJ, Park LS, Rentsch CT, Skanderson M, Williams EC, Justice AC, Tate JP, Becker WC, Marshall BDL. Trajectories of Self-Reported Opioid Use Among Patients With HIV Engaged in Care: Results From a National Cohort Study. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2020, 84: 26-36. PMID: 32267658, PMCID: PMC7147724, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002310.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedOpioid-Related DisordersUnited StatesConceptsOpioid useOpioid use trajectoriesCohort studyPain interferenceSelf-reported opioid useVeterans Aging Cohort StudyVeterans Health Administration sitesInfrequent useOpioid use frequencyMarijuana useAging Cohort StudyNational cohort studyEvidence-based treatmentsGroup-based trajectory modelsProspective cohortBaseline factorsIllness severityMultivariable analysisBenzodiazepine medicationVA carePsychoactive medicationsPrescription painkillersPsychiatric symptomsHeroin useMultinomial logistic regression
2019
Medical Intensive Care Unit Admission Among Patients With and Without HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, and Alcohol-Related Diagnoses in the United States
Rentsch CT, Tate JP, Steel T, Butt AA, Gibert CL, Huang L, Pisani M, Soo Hoo GW, Crystal S, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Brown ST, Freiberg MS, Graber CJ, Kim JW, Rimland D, Justice AC, Fiellin DA, Crothers KA, Akgün KM. Medical Intensive Care Unit Admission Among Patients With and Without HIV, Hepatitis C Virus, and Alcohol-Related Diagnoses in the United States. JAIDS Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2019, 80: 145-151. PMID: 30422912, PMCID: PMC6701630, DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001904.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusAlcohol-related diagnosesAdmission ratesMICU admissionAdmission riskC virusRelative riskIntensive care unit admission rateMedical intensive care unit admissionAge-adjusted admission ratesHCV mono-infected patientsIntensive care unit admissionVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHCV care providersCare unit admissionAging Cohort StudyAdjusted rate ratiosConfidence intervalsVeterans Health AdministrationUnhealthy alcohol useHIV monoHIV-/HCVUnit admissionCause hospitalizationHCV infection
2018
Viral suppression among persons in HIV care in the United States during 2009–2013: sampling bias in Medical Monitoring Project surveillance estimates
Bradley H, Althoff KN, Buchacz K, Brooks JT, Gill MJ, Horberg MA, Kitahata MM, Marconi V, Mayer KH, Mayor A, Moore R, Mugavero M, Napravnik S, Paz-Bailey G, Prejean J, Rebeiro PF, Rentsch CT, Shouse RL, Silverberg MJ, Sullivan PS, Thorne JE, Yehia B, Rosenberg ES. Viral suppression among persons in HIV care in the United States during 2009–2013: sampling bias in Medical Monitoring Project surveillance estimates. Annals Of Epidemiology 2018, 31: 3-7. PMID: 30529086, PMCID: PMC6420358, DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.11.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedical Monitoring ProjectHIV careCare attendanceSurveillance estimatesNorth American AIDS Cohort CollaborationHIV care attendanceMultivariable regression modelsWeighted population estimatesCohort CollaborationVS statusViral suppressionCohort dataNumber of personsConfidence intervalsCareCalendar yearFull calendar yearRegression modelsLast testAttendancePersonsHIVPatientsCareful examinationProvider verification of electronic health record receipt and nonreceipt of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection
Rentsch CT, Cartwright EJ, Gandhi NR, Brown ST, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Goetz MB, Marconi VC, Gibert CL, Re VL, Fiellin DA, Justice AC, Tate JP. Provider verification of electronic health record receipt and nonreceipt of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. Annals Of Epidemiology 2018, 28: 808-811. PMID: 30195616, PMCID: PMC6318448, DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.08.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virus infectionCorporate Data WarehouseChronic HCV infectionC virus infectionPositive predictive valuePredictive valueHCV infectionHCV treatmentVirus infectionVeterans Health Administration Corporate Data WarehouseChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionStudy periodModern treatment eraRetrospective cohort studyElectronic health record dataPharmacy fill recordsHealth record dataNegative predictive valueElectronic health recordsAntiviral regimenHCV therapyTreatment eraChart reviewCohort studyAntiviral treatment
2016
Baseline, Time-Updated, and Cumulative HIV Care Metrics for Predicting Acute Myocardial Infarction and All-Cause Mortality
Salinas JL, Rentsch C, Marconi VC, Tate J, Budoff M, Butt AA, Freiberg MS, Gibert CL, Goetz MB, Leaf D, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Justice AC, Rimland D. Baseline, Time-Updated, and Cumulative HIV Care Metrics for Predicting Acute Myocardial Infarction and All-Cause Mortality. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2016, 63: 1423-1430. PMID: 27539575, PMCID: PMC5106607, DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw564.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myocardial infarctionIncident acute myocardial infarctionVeterans Aging Cohort StudyCombination antiretroviral therapyCardiovascular risk factorsHIV-1 RNAVACS IndexHazard ratioMyocardial infarctionRisk factorsMultivariable proportional hazards modelsVACS Index scoreLast clinic visitAging Cohort StudyHuman immunodeficiency virusProportional hazards modelCART initiationAntiretroviral therapyCause mortalityCD4 countClinic visitsCohort studyOrgan injuryPrimary outcomeImmunodeficiency virusCohort Profile: The HIV Atlanta Veterans Affairs Cohort Study (HAVACS)
Guest JL, Moanna A, Wirtz S, Caruth EC, Rentsch C, Marconi VC, Rimland D. Cohort Profile: The HIV Atlanta Veterans Affairs Cohort Study (HAVACS). International Journal Of Epidemiology 2016, 46: 790-791g. PMID: 27272185, DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw071.Peer-Reviewed Original Research