Journal of general internal medicine
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Falls and fall-related injuries are common in community-dwelling older persons. Longitudinal data on effective fall prevention programs are rare. ⋯ In older community-dwelling persons with high risk of falling, a short-term multi-component exercise intervention reduced falls and injurious falls, as well as fear of falling over 24 months.
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Whether high burden of subclinical vascular disease (SVD) is associated with increased premature mortality among middle-aged adults is not adequately understood. The association of midlife SVD burden with premature mortality among middle-aged adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) could provide further insights into stratifying premature death beyond clinical CVD. ⋯ Midlife SVD burden was associated with premature mortality and it could stratify premature death beyond clinical CVD. It is important to take SVD into account when designing interventions for reducing premature mortality.
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Social risk factors (SRFs) such as minority race-and-ethnicity or low income are associated with quality-of-care, health, and healthcare outcomes. Organizations might prioritize improving care for easier-to-treat groups over those with SRFs, but measuring, reporting, and further incentivizing quality-of-care for SRF groups may improve their care. ⋯ We demonstrated the feasibility of developing and estimating a HESS that is intended to promote and incentivize excellent care for racial-and-ethnic minorities and dually eligible MA enrollees. The HESS measures SRF-specific performance and does not simply duplicate overall plan Star Ratings. It also identifies plans that provide excellent care to large numbers of those with SRFs. Our methodology could be extended to other SRFs, quality measures, and settings.