Rachel E Patzer

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This study looked at how trust in kidney doctors affects the willingness of African American patients with end-stage kidney disease to consider live donor kidney transplants. It found that patients who had positive attitudes towards live donor transplants and trusted their kidney doctors were more likely to discuss the option with family and friends. Specifically, trust in doctors was linked to a significant increase in the likelihood of these discussions, suggesting that improving trust could help increase access to transplants for these patients. Who this helps: This benefits African American patients with end-stage kidney disease who are considering live donor kidney transplants.

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This study looked at different methods used to determine the number of surgeries a hospital should perform each year to ensure better patient outcomes during pancreatectomy, a surgery for pancreatic issues. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 62,000 patients across nearly 1,000 hospitals and found that the ideal number of surgeries for reducing deaths within 90 days after surgery varied widely depending on the method used; for example, one method suggested hospitals should perform between 9.2 to 33.8 surgeries a year. This variation in guidelines is important because it can affect how we measure and report the quality of care in hospitals. Who this helps: This helps doctors and hospitals improve patient care and safety during surgery.

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The study looked at how much dialysis staff know about the kidney transplantation process, which is crucial for educating patients who are on dialysis. Out of 630 respondents, the average knowledge score was about 70%, but individual question scores ranged from just under 10% to almost 96%. This matters because better-informed staff can provide better education, leading to more informed decisions by patients regarding their treatment options. Who this helps: This helps patients receiving dialysis.

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This study looked at how access to kidney transplants varies in different parts of the U.S. for people on dialysis. Researchers found that within facilities, the percentage of patients starting their transplant evaluation within six months ranged widely—from 0% to 100%—with an overall median of 50%. Additionally, only 41% of patients were placed on the waitlist for a transplant within a year of starting evaluation, with the lowest access in the Southeast at about 32%. This is important because it shows significant differences depending on where patients live, indicating that tailored strategies are needed to improve access to kidney transplants. Who this helps: This helps dialysis patients, especially those in areas with limited access to transplant evaluations.

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This study looked at how a new measure for tracking patient mortality on kidney transplant waitlists affected the chances of candidates being removed from the waitlist. After the new measure was introduced, the likelihood of candidates being delisted for being too sick increased by 25%, and for other reasons, it rose by 34%. At the same time, there was a drop in deaths on the waitlist and a small increase in transplants for those still waiting, showing that changes in tracking methods can significantly impact patient outcomes, especially for Black candidates and those with non-private insurance. Who this helps: This helps patients waiting for kidney transplants, particularly those from diverse backgrounds or with different types of insurance.

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This study looked at how well distance alone predicts which hospital patients choose for a complex surgery called pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Out of nearly 3,000 patients, a model using just distance accurately predicted the hospital choice only 16.3% of the time, while a model that considered distance and hospital characteristics (like their size and specialties) was correct 32.9% of the time. Understanding where patients go for surgery matters because it helps improve hospital planning and ensures that patients receive care in a timely and appropriate setting. Who this helps: This research helps patients and healthcare providers by improving access to quality surgical care.

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This study looked at over 102,000 patients in the U.S. who had a failed kidney transplant to see how many were able to be put back on the waiting list and undergo retransplantation. They found that while about half of these patients were re-listed, White patients had a higher chance of getting retransplanted (30.9%) compared to Black (20.8%) or Hispanic patients (26.8%). This matters because it highlights ongoing racial disparities in kidney retransplant access, suggesting that changes are needed in policies to help minority patients receive better care. Who this helps: This helps patients, particularly Black and Hispanic individuals who are seeking kidney retransplant.

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This study looked at how chronic stress affects the severity of COVID-19 in Black and White adults who were diagnosed with the virus. Researchers found that Black patients had an 18% higher risk of chronic stress and a 24% higher risk of severe COVID-19 compared to White patients. Notably, chronic stress explained 23% of the differences in severe COVID-19 cases between these racial groups, highlighting the health impacts of stress. Who this helps: This helps patients, especially those from racial and ethnic minority groups, by addressing the underlying factors that contribute to their increased risk of severe COVID-19.

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This study looked at how treating multiple myeloma patients with certain immunomodulatory drugs increases their risk of severe blood cell deficiencies. They analyzed data from over 5,500 patients and found that those who received two different treatments with these drugs had a 12% higher risk of developing neutropenia (a dangerous drop in white blood cells) compared to those who didn't receive the drugs. This matters because it helps doctors understand the risks associated with sequential treatments and make better choices for patient care to avoid severe side effects. Who this helps: This helps patients with multiple myeloma and their doctors in planning safer treatment options.

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This study examined whether patients from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and non-Hispanic Black patients were receiving optimal medical therapy (OMT) before undergoing major amputations. Out of 354 patients, only 25.7% were on OMT, despite many having seen a vascular surgeon. The findings show that economic background and race did not significantly impact the likelihood of receiving OMT before amputation, but the overall percentage of patients receiving this important therapy was still low, indicating a need for better care practices. Who this helps: This benefits patients at risk for amputation by highlighting the need for improved treatment.

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This study looked at whether adding online patient education would help Black and African American patients with end-stage kidney disease feel more confident and motivated to pursue living donor kidney transplants. Researchers found that while knowledge about transplants didn't change, both groups of patients showed significantly more motivation (better by about 3 times) and confidence in discussing living donation after the intervention. This matters because it highlights a need for better and more engaging educational resources in transplant centers to support these patients. Who this helps: This helps Black and African American patients seeking kidney transplants.

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This study looked at how patient race, sex, and age affected the amount of work measured in dermatology visits after changes to Medicare payment rules in 2021. Researchers found that after the updates, female patients and younger patients still generated fewer work units per visit than male or older patients. Furthermore, visits for Asian and Black patients produced fewer work units compared to those for White patients, indicating that disparities in care persist despite some improvements; the average work units increased from 1.44 to 1.80 after the update. Who this helps: This research benefits dermatology patients, particularly those from minority groups, by highlighting ongoing disparities in care.

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The study created the Early Steps to Transplant Access Registry (E-STAR) dashboard to improve how kidney transplant centers track and report on key early steps like referrals and evaluations. The dashboard collects data from 37 centers serving around 217,000 adults with end-stage kidney disease, highlighting differences in access to transplants based on factors like race and insurance. This is important because it helps identify and address inequalities in transplant access, ultimately leading to fairer treatment for patients. Who this helps: This benefits patients with end-stage kidney disease and healthcare providers involved in kidney transplantation.

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This study looks at the differences in access to organ transplants across the U.S. Many patients with severe organ disease face obstacles before they even get on the transplant waiting list, and there has been no national data to track these issues. A new federal directive will start collecting data about patients' experiences before they are listed for a transplant, helping to identify and address these barriers. Who this helps: This benefits patients with end-stage organ disease and their healthcare providers.

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This study looked at the death rates among men and women in the U.S. who are on maintenance dialysis from 2000 to 2021. It found that women have a higher chance of dying from infections and withdrawing from treatment, while men are more likely to die from heart disease and cancer. Specifically, women were 9% more likely to die from infections and 15% more likely to die from withdrawal than men, while men had a higher risk of death from heart disease (40.2% for men versus 38.6% for women) and cancer (10% higher risk for men). Who this helps: This information helps doctors and healthcare providers better manage the care of dialysis patients, especially focusing on gender, age, and race.

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This study looked at how access to kidney transplants differs between men and women in the United States from 1997 to 2020. It found that while women gained slightly better access to the transplant waitlist over the years (with a change in the ratio from 0.81 to 0.86 compared to men), those with diabetes and older women still face significant barriers. Additionally, the gap regarding living-donor transplants (where men's access worsened from 0.89 to 0.79) indicates that there are still serious inequities that need to be addressed. Who this helps: This research helps patients, particularly women with kidney failure, especially those who are older or have diabetes.

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This study investigated how well two large language models, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, could provide accurate information based on established cancer care guidelines for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The researchers found that ChatGPT was correct in 52% of its responses, while Copilot was correct in only 33%. These findings show that while these models can assist in making clinical decisions, they often give incorrect or overly detailed information and need improvement before being used in real healthcare settings. Who this helps: This helps doctors who are looking for reliable decision-making tools for treating pancreatic cancer.

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This study looked at why some patients starting dialysis don’t begin their kidney transplant evaluations right away, focusing on the roles of different dialysis facilities and transplant centers. Among nearly 25,500 patients referred for transplantation, only 51% started their evaluation within six months of the referral. The researchers found that variability in starting evaluations was influenced more by the transplant centers than the dialysis facilities, highlighting potential areas for improvement in the transplant process. Who this helps: This research benefits kidney disease patients who are seeking transplants, as it identifies factors that may delay their evaluations.

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This study looked at the challenges that people in the Ohio River Valley face when trying to start the kidney transplant evaluation process and getting on the waitlist. Researchers examined data from over 15,000 adults referred for evaluation from 2015 to 2021 and found that younger people and Black individuals were less likely to start the evaluation process, while those on Medicaid or Medicare had significantly lower chances of being waitlisted. Understanding these barriers is crucial because it can help improve access to life-saving kidney transplants for those who need them most. Who this helps: This helps patients with end-stage kidney disease who are seeking transplants.

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This study looked at how seeing a kidney specialist before needing dialysis (called pre-ESKD nephrology care) affects the chances of patients in poor neighborhoods getting referred for a kidney transplant. Among nearly 200,000 adults starting treatment for end-stage kidney disease, 68% had pre-ESKD nephrology care, which increased their likelihood of being referred for a transplant by 26%. However, even when they received this care, patients in high-poverty areas were still 13% less likely to be referred compared to those in low-poverty neighborhoods, indicating that poverty remains a significant barrier to accessing kidney transplants. Who this helps: This research benefits patients with end-stage kidney disease, especially those from low-income neighborhoods.

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This study looked at how racial disparities affect access to kidney transplants for Black and White adults in the U.S. between 2005 and 2019. It found that while overall access improved for some age groups, disparities among younger Black adults (ages 18-29) worsened, with their chances of being listed for a transplant dropping from 77% to 68%. In contrast, older Black adults (ages 65-80) were less likely to receive transplants from living donors, with their rates declining significantly over time. This matters because it highlights the ongoing inequalities in kidney transplant access that need targeted solutions, especially for younger and older Black patients. Who this helps: This helps patients, especially young and older Black adults who are seeking kidney transplants.

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This study looked at how easy it is for people to access liver transplant services in different areas of the United States. Researchers created a new method to measure this access, called the Spatial Accessibility Ratio (SPAR), and found that in over 3100 counties, 29% had a SPAR of 1 or better, indicating good access to liver transplants. This new measure was better than previous methods at predicting who got transplants, and it can help identify areas that need more support for patients needing liver transplants. Who this helps: This helps patients needing liver transplants, especially those in areas with limited access.

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This study looked at how race affects the chances of being hospitalized due to COVID-19, focusing on Black and White members of Kaiser Permanente in Georgia. Of the participants, 20% of Black members were hospitalized within 30 days of diagnosis, compared to 12.4% of White members, suggesting that Black individuals may have a higher risk. The factors related to health and living conditions explained about 34.8% of the differences in hospitalization rates, even though the race difference alone was not statistically significant. Who this helps: This study helps patients, especially those from minority communities affected by COVID-19.

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This study looked at how social risk factors—like being uninsured or low-income—affected the performance of dialysis facilities under a new payment model for kidney disease treatment. In the first year, facilities with more social risk patients had a lower average performance score of 3.4 compared to 3.6 for those with fewer risks, and they used home dialysis less often (14.1% vs 16.0%). These facilities also faced more financial penalties, with 18.5% receiving penalties compared to 11.5% in lower-risk facilities. Who this helps: This information benefits patients, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by highlighting the challenges faced by the facilities that serve them.

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This study looked at why people with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) choose certain treatments, especially the biologic drug adalimumab. Researchers interviewed 21 patients and found that factors like their understanding of the disease, views on treatment risks, and previous experiences played big roles in their decisions. Almost all participants had moderate to severe HS, and many had already tried adalimumab; improving communication about treatment options could help them feel more confident in seeking new therapies. Who this helps: This benefits patients with hidradenitis suppurativa by enhancing their treatment choices.

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This study looked at the Japan Medical Data Center's database to see if it can help researchers understand medication safety during pregnancy. Researchers found that they could connect 385,295 mother-infant pairs, and most of the data was representative of the general population, though the number of preterm births was lower than expected (3.6% instead of 5.6%). The findings are important because they show the database's potential for studying pregnancy-related health issues, while also highlighting that improvements are needed for tracking pregnancy dates accurately, which is crucial for understanding medication effects. Who this helps: Patients and healthcare providers dealing with medication safety during pregnancy.

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This study looked at how improving education and resources related to kidney transplants could increase the number of people on waitlists, particularly for Black patients, across 655 dialysis facilities in the U.S. Researchers found that 57% of facilities that fully participated in the program (using 3-4 educational components) saw a significant increase in waitlisting, with Black patients in these facilities going from 0.83% to 1.40% waitlisted over a year, while low participants dropped from 0.80% to 0.55%. This matters because it highlights effective strategies to reduce racial disparities in access to kidney transplants. Who this helps: Patients, particularly Black individuals needing kidney transplants.

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This study looked at how missing death information in medical records can affect estimates of health risks in older patients taking two heart medications, telmisartan and ramipril. Researchers analyzed data from over 34,000 patients and found that failing to account for deaths can lead to misleading numbers. For example, among patients aged 75 and older taking ramipril, the estimated risk of heart problems over five years was 43.2% when considering only those alive, compared to 39.7% when including deaths as a competing factor. Who this helps: This research helps doctors and researchers better understand the risks for older patients with heart conditions.

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This study looked at how nephrologists (kidney specialists) decide if patients are suitable for kidney transplants, particularly focusing on clinical factors like weight and psychosocial factors like insurance. The researchers found that older nephrologists were more likely to view patient criteria as major issues, doubling their restrictive interpretations for every additional 10 years of age. For example, older doctors were significantly stricter about psychosocial factors, almost tripling the odds of interpreting them as serious barriers. Who this helps: This benefits kidney patients who may need more fair assessments for transplant eligibility.

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This study looked at whether financial incentives for dialysis clinics in the U.S. would increase the use of home dialysis and kidney transplants among patients with kidney failure after these changes were implemented in 2021. Over two years, the proportion of patients using home dialysis only increased slightly from 12.1% to 14.3% in the incentivized regions, while it went from 12.9% to 15.1% in regions without the incentives, resulting in no significant benefit. This matters because it indicates that the financial incentives did not effectively improve treatment options for patients or reduce disparities among different racial and economic groups. Who this helps: This helps patients with kidney failure who may need home dialysis or transplants.

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This study examined how many people with severe kidney disease might be good candidates for a kidney transplant but weren't referred for one. Researchers found that about 25% of patients who weren't referred could have qualified for a transplant, meaning 14.6% more patients could be referred with improved practices. This matters because informing more patients about their eligibility could lead to more kidney transplants, saving lives. Who this helps: Patients needing kidney transplants.

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This study looked at whether men and women have equal chances of being referred for a kidney transplant before starting dialysis. The researchers found that while both genders were about equally referred (99 out of 100), women who were referred were, on average, younger and healthier than their male counterparts. However, even with this advantage, women were still 25% less likely to receive a living donor transplant compared to men. Who this helps: This benefits patients, particularly women in need of kidney transplants.

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This study looked at how accurate two AI programs, ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, are in providing guidance for treating colon cancer according to established medical guidelines. It found that both programs correctly answered about 36% of questions asked, with ChatGPT missing information in 39% of cases and giving incorrect information in 24%, while Copilot had similar issues with 37% and 28%, respectively. The findings highlight that these AI tools often provide lengthy and sometimes vague or inaccurate information, which needs improvement before they can be relied upon in medical settings. Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and healthcare professionals looking for reliable tools to aid in colon cancer treatment decisions.

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This study looked at how where people live affects their chances of getting a kidney transplant. It found that people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) living in mostly Black or mixed-race neighborhoods were significantly less likely to be referred for a transplant, with an 8% and 5% lower chance, respectively. They were also 18% and 9% less likely to get on a waitlist, and 54% and 24% less likely to receive a transplant from a living donor. Who this helps: This research benefits patients with ESKD, especially those living in segregated communities.

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This study looked at how well doctors and medical staff can predict whether patients will return to the hospital shortly after receiving kidney or liver transplants. They found that about 27% of kidney transplant patients and 25% of liver transplant patients were readmitted within 30 days of leaving the hospital. However, the doctors' predictions about who would be readmitted were not very accurate, with confidence ratings (positive predictive values) ranging from only 25% to 55%. This is important because improving predictions could help identify high-risk patients and reduce unnecessary hospital visits. Who this helps: Patients who receive kidney and liver transplants.

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This study looked at ways to improve access to kidney transplants in the Southeastern United States, where there are significant racial and socioeconomic disparities. Researchers tested an intervention at 440 dialysis centers in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina and found that while referral rates for transplants dropped overall, the decline was smaller for facilities that received the intervention. Specifically, referrals decreased from 11.2% to 10.5% in intervention facilities, compared to a drop from 11.2% to 9.2% in control facilities; however, Black patients did not see a significant increase in referrals, while White patients in intervention facilities did see a notable increase (odds ratio of 1.24). Who this helps: This research benefits patients needing kidney transplants, particularly those from underserved communities.