Clinical Epidemiology Commons^™

Non-Tnfi Biologic And Targeted Synthetic Dmards In Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Comparative, Propensity Score-Matched Study Using National Veterans Affairs Data, Halie E. Frideres

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background/Objectives: There is a paucity of evidence on the safety and effectiveness of non- TNFi biologic therapies in RA-ILD, this study aimed to compare treatment outcomes in RA-ILD between rituximab, abatacept, IL-6i, and JAKi using the Target Trial Emulation Framework.

Methods: We emulated 3 trials comparing abatacept, IL-6i, and JAKi with rituximab (reference). Patients fulfilling validated RA-ILD algorithms initiating one of these non-TNFi b/tsDMARDs were propensity score (PS)-matched (1:1) using national Veterans Affairs (VA) data from 2006 to 2020. PS models included demographics, comorbidities, general health status indicators, and RA- and ILD-related severity measures. Study outcomes were death and respiratory-related …

Rural/Urban Differences In Five-Year Survivorship In Pediatric Cancer In United States, Hong Li

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: In the United States, five-year survival rates for pediatric (ages 0-19 years) cancer have improved since the mid-1970s due to treatment improvement. Research on adult cancer patients suggested rural patients have worse survival than urban patients. However, there is a dearth of research on survivorship among children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer.

Aims: The aims of the study were to: 1) examine differences in five-year relative survival rates of pediatric cancer in the United States between children living in urban and rural areas from 2000-2014 and 2) examine differences in a risk of dying from pediatric cancer between children …

The Epidemiology Of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales In Nebraska, 2018 – 2021, Axel A. Vazquez Deida

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales are considered a serious public health threat by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, surveillance of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales is currently limited to select states and the epidemiology of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Nebraska is still not well understood.

Objective: To describe the incidence of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales across local health department (LHD)-jurisdictions as well as at the state-level over time and assess population-specific factors associated with infection or colonization with these pathogens in Nebraska.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of public health surveillance data reported to the Nebraska Department of …

The Migration Of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii From The Battlefields Of Iraq And Afghanistan To The Healthcare Facilities Of The Veterans Health Administration, Jeffery Rogers

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) pose a great threat to health across the globe. That threat is also felt in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Wounded warriors returning home from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan may have brought with them MDROs, such as the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, as they have transitioned from military service into the VHA facilities. This study investigates the interconnectedness of military service in the Department of Defense (DoD) and a lifetime of care at VHA through a longitudinal tracking of a linked cohort of combat veterans with battlefield injuries and subsequent MDR infections of A. baumannii. …

Association Between Gastroduodenal Ulcer And Age Of Diagnosis Of Head And Neck, Gastroduodenal And Pancreatic Cancer, Rukevwe Madusor

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States and remains a major public health problem worldwide. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is linked to ulcers and most cancers. Although studies have investigated the role of IGF1 in ulcer healing and cancer pathogenesis, the link between ulcer and cancer remains unclear. Hence, we assessed the relationship between ulcers and cancers.

Methods: This study consists of a sample of 180 cancer patients obtain by convenience sampling who were seen at Nebraska Medicine and were enrolled in the integrated cancer repository for cancer …

Characterization Of Cancer Incidence In Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Single Center Study, 2008 – 2018, Jagadeesh Puvvula

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the significance of lower Glomerular filtration rate on incidence and mortality from cancer is uncertain. There is evidence that cancer risk and cancer mortality may be increased in individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis or after renal transplantation but whether less severe kidney disease is associated with cancer remains poorly understood.

Some studies indicate that these associations do appear to be organ specific. It has been reported that reduced renal function is associated with an increased risk of cancers of the kidney and …

Matters Of Trust: Examination Of The Patient-Provider Relationship In Cancer Care, Krista A. Brown

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: The intangible concept of trust is critical in the patient-provider relationship. Cancer patients may experience positive and negative impacts of trust in this relationship to a higher degree due to the inherently serious nature of their disease and the level of dependence upon treatment providers.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare colorectal cancer patients’ levels of trust in their primary care physician and oncologist, along with examining trust differences associated with demographics and other characteristics.

Methods: Colorectal cancer patients (n=158) treated at Nebraska Medicine and consented into the Integrated Cancer Repository for Cancer Research IRB …