@article {6514, title = {Changes in Visual Function in the Elderly Population in the United States: 1995-2010.}, journal = {Ophthalmic Epidemiol}, volume = {23}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jun}, pages = {137-44}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To document recent trends in visual function among the United States population aged 70+ years and investigate how the trends can be explained by inter-temporal changes in: (1) population sociodemographic characteristics, and chronic disease prevalence, including eye diseases (compositional changes); and (2) effects of the above factors on visual function (structural changes).

METHODS: Data from the 1995 Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) and the 2010 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were merged with Medicare Part B claims in the interview years and the 2 previous years. Decomposition analysis was performed. Respondents from both studies were aged 70+ years. The outcome measure was respondent self-reported visual function on a 6-point scale (from 6 = blind to 1 = excellent).

RESULTS: Overall, visual function improved from slightly worse than good (3.14) in 1995 to slightly better than good (2.98) in 2010. A decline in adverse effects of aging on vision was found. Among the compositional changes were higher educational attainment leading to improved vision, and higher prevalence of such diseases as diabetes mellitus, which tended to lower visual function. However, compared to compositional changes, structural changes were far more important, including decreased adverse effects of aging, diabetes mellitus (when not controlling for eye diseases), and diagnosed glaucoma.

CONCLUSION: Although the US population has aged and is expected to age further, visual function improved among elderly persons, especially among persons 80+ years, likely reflecting a favorable role of structural changes identified in this study in mitigating the adverse effect of ongoing aging on vision.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Chronic disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Medicare Part B, Prevalence, Self Report, Socioeconomic factors, United States, Visual Acuity, Visually Impaired Persons}, issn = {1744-5086}, doi = {10.3109/09286586.2015.1057603}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09286586.2015.1057603}, author = {Chen, Yiqun and Hahn, Paul and Frank A Sloan} } @article {7994, title = {The Effects of Total Knee Arthroplasty on Physical Functioning and Health among the Under Age 65 Population}, journal = {Value in Health}, volume = {17}, year = {2014}, note = {Export Date: 6 August 2014 Article in Press}, pages = {605-610}, publisher = {17}, abstract = {Objectives: This study examined the effects of total knee arthroplasty on six measures of physical functioning, self-rated health, pain, earnings, and employment status among US adults aged 51 to 63 years at baseline. Methods: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal study conducted biannually. The analysis sample consisted of individuals aged 51 to 63 years at baseline with arthritis who were resurveyed at 2-year intervals from 1996 to 2010. Propensity score matching was used to compare outcomes of persons receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with those of matched controls. Six measures of physical functioning were examined: lower-body mobility problems, instrumental activities of daily living limitations, activities of daily living limitations, and large muscle, fine motor, and gross motor limitations. Self-rated health and pain were also examined. The two employment-related outcomes were earnings and employment status. Results: Receipt of TKA was associated with better outcomes for several measures of physical functioning, especially mobility limitations, pain, and self-rated health. Receipt of TKA was not associated with increased earnings or employment. Conclusions: Receipt of TKA yields important improvements in physical function among persons with an arthritis diagnosis who received the procedure before reaching the age of 65 years. This study contributes to knowledge about the benefits of TKA in a community setting among nonelderly recipients of TKA. 2014 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare}, doi = {10.1016/j.jval.2014.04.004}, author = {Linda K George and Hu, L. and Frank A Sloan} } @article {8049, title = {Productivity improvements in hip and knee surgery}, journal = {Arthritis}, volume = {2014}, year = {2014}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {615784}, publisher = {2014}, abstract = {Productivity improvements that occur as technologies become widely used are not well documented. This study measured secular trends over 1998-2010 in productivity of hip and knee procedures gauged in terms of changes in physical function and pain after versus before surgery. We used data from the Health and Retirement Study. Health outcomes from surgery were measured by 6 physical functioning scales and 2 pain indicators. We used propensity score matching to obtain nonsurgery control groups. Not only were there substantial improvements in physical functioning and pain reduction after receipt of these procedures in all years, but also we documented improvements in health outcomes over time. Largest improvements were for reductions in numbers of Activity and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living limitations for knee procedures.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Other}, doi = {10.1155/2014/615784}, author = {Frank A Sloan and Linda K George and Hu, Linyan} } @article {7924, title = {Emergency room and inpatient use after cardiac pacemaker implantation}, journal = {The American journal of cardiology}, volume = {111}, year = {2013}, pages = {563}, publisher = {111}, abstract = {Although studies have demonstrated health benefits, there is limited evidence on utilization and cost changes associated with cardiac pacemaker implantation from national community samples. The aim of this study was to quantify changes in emergency room (ER) and hospital inpatient use and in Medicare payments per beneficiary/year after pacemaker implantation. Outcomes for pacemaker recipients after and before implantation and between pacemaker recipients and controls were compared using propensity score matching. Data came from Health and Retirement Study interviews merged with Medicare claims. Sample subjects were aged 68 years with diagnosed conduction disorders or cardiac dysrhythmias in the previous 3 years. Outcome measures were (1) ER visits, inpatient admissions and days, and Medicare payments for ER and inpatient care in the after period for the pacemaker versus control groups, defined per beneficiary/year, (2) difference in differences in the same 5 outcome variables, and (3) binary variables for whether or not utilization or payments were lower in the after versus before periods for the pacemaker versus control groups. In conclusion, most pacemaker recipients improved, as measured by reductions in use and payments in the after versus before period, and there were reductions in ER visits and hospital admissions for conditions commonly leading to pacemaker implantation.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance}, author = {Frank A Sloan and Linda K George and Hu, Linyan} } @article {7842, title = {Longer Term Effects of Total Knee Arthroplasty From a National Longitudinal Study}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, volume = {25}, year = {2013}, note = {Copyright - Copyright SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC. Sep 2013 Last updated - 2013-09-13 SubjectsTermNotLitGenreText - United States--US}, pages = {982}, publisher = {25}, abstract = {This study used data for 1996-2010 from a U.S. longitudinal sample of elderly individuals from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) merged with Medicare claims data to assess changes in several dimensions of physical functioning and general health up to 68 months following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) receipt. Using propensity score matching, we assessed outcomes at follow-up for Medicare beneficiaries receiving TKA and a comparable group of beneficiaries with the same osteoarthritis diagnoses (controls). Receipt of TKA was most often associated with improvements in physical functioning, especially in physical functioning measures most directly related to the knee. General health of TKA recipients only improved relative to controls on 1 of the 3 study general health measures. Improvements in physical functioning of TKA recipients persisted in this longer term analysis of outcome in a nationally representative population study.}, keywords = {Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare}, author = {Frank A Sloan and Linda K George and Hu, Linyan} } @inbook {5199, title = {Are Smokers Too Optimistic?}, booktitle = {The Economic Analysis of Substance Use and Abuse: The Experience of Developed Countries and Lessons for Developing Countries}, year = {2001}, note = {ProCite field 6 : In ProCite field 8 : eds.}, pages = {103-33}, publisher = {Edward Elgar Publishing Limited}, organization = {Edward Elgar Publishing Limited}, address = {Cheltenham, UK}, keywords = {Consumption and Savings, Health Conditions and Status}, url = {https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/the-economic-analysis-of-substance-use-and-abuse-9781840646252.html}, author = {Frank A Sloan and Donald H. Taylor Jr.}, editor = {Michael Grossman and Chee-Ruey Hsieh} }