Background HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of cardiac screenings for HIV-positive men at intermediate or greater CAD risk. Design We developed a lifetime microsimulation model of CAD incidence and progression in HIV-infected men. Methods Input parameters were derived from two HIV cohort studies and the literature. We compared no CAD screening with stress testing and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based strategies. Patients with test results indicating 3-vessel/left main CAD underwent invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and received coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In the “Stress-testing+Medication”/“CCTA+Medication” strategies, patients with 1-/2-vessel CAD results received lifetime medical treatment without further diagnostics whereas in the “Stress-testing+Intervention”/“CCTA+Intervention” strategies, patients with these results underwent ICA and received percutaneous coronary intervention. Results Compared to no screening, the “Stress-testing+Medication”, “Stress-testing+Intervention”, “CCTA+Medication” and “CCTA+Intervention” strategies resulted in 14, 11, 19, and 14 quality-adjusted life days per patient and incremental cost effectiveness ratios of 49,261, 57,817, 34,887 and 56,518 € per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), respectively. Screening only at higher CAD risk thresholds was more cost-effective. Repeated screening was clinically beneficial compared to one-time screening but only “Stress-testing+Medication” every five years remained cost-effective. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of 83,000 €/QALY (~100,000 US$/QALY), implementing any CAD screening was cost-effective with a probability of 75-95%. Conclusion Screening HIV-positive men for CAD would be clinically beneficial and comes at a cost-effectiveness ratio comparable to other accepted interventions in HIV care.

Background: Resident-to-resident elder mistreatment (RREM) in nursing homes has serious physical and psychological consequences, but factors related to RREM occurrence remain unclear. This study identifies individual and environmental characteristics associated with involvement in RREM episodes. Methods:The design was an observational study carried out in five urban and five suburban New York state nursing homes randomly selected on the basis of size and location. The sample consisted of 2011 residents in 10 facilities; 83% of facilities and 84% of eligible residents participated. RREM and potential correlates were identified through resident interviews, staff interviews, shift coupons, observation, chart review, and accident or incident reports. Results: A multivariate analysis controlling for relevant covariates found that individuals involved in RREM incidents exhibit milder dementia, show behavioral symptoms, and are less functionally impaired. Although special care units (SCU) for dementia have benefits for residents, one potential hazard for SCU residents is elevated risk for RREM. Conclusions: Interventions to prevent and intervene in RREM incidents are greatly needed. The correlates identified in this research point to the need for targeted interventions, specifically for residents with milder impairment and with behavioral symptoms and individuals in SCUs.