Author Interviews / 29.05.2024
DDW2024: SonarMD Program Reduced ER Visits and Health Care Costs for IBD Patients
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_61816" align="alignleft" width="125"]
Dr. Kosinski[/caption]
Dr. Larry Kosinski, MD
Gastroenterologist and SonarMD Founder & Board Member
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain what is meant by the IBD group of diseases?
Response: Affecting up to 70 million Americans, the U.S. spends $136 billion each year on digestive health as these conditions are complex to predict, treat and manage. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) includes people specifically diagnosed with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, and these conditions require close monitoring to reduce the risk for complications that lead to lengthy hospital stays and significant medical spend. In addition to providing a holistic health program, the SonarMD digital platform risk stratifies patients and performs continuous symptom checks to identify deteriorating symptoms sooner and communicate changes to physicians, meaning that care teams can intervene faster to keep patients healthier and lower the overall cost of care.
The two large, longitudinal studies that we presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024 evaluated several major drivers of medical costs in people living with IBD and enrolled in the SonarMD end-to-end, digital care coordination program to determine if SonarMD’s program reduced healthcare utilization and concurrently produced better health outcomes. To assess this, we looked at Emergency Department visits and In-patient Admissions compared to risk-matched control groups.
Dr. Kosinski[/caption]
Dr. Larry Kosinski, MD
Gastroenterologist and SonarMD Founder & Board Member
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain what is meant by the IBD group of diseases?
Response: Affecting up to 70 million Americans, the U.S. spends $136 billion each year on digestive health as these conditions are complex to predict, treat and manage. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) includes people specifically diagnosed with either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, and these conditions require close monitoring to reduce the risk for complications that lead to lengthy hospital stays and significant medical spend. In addition to providing a holistic health program, the SonarMD digital platform risk stratifies patients and performs continuous symptom checks to identify deteriorating symptoms sooner and communicate changes to physicians, meaning that care teams can intervene faster to keep patients healthier and lower the overall cost of care.
The two large, longitudinal studies that we presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024 evaluated several major drivers of medical costs in people living with IBD and enrolled in the SonarMD end-to-end, digital care coordination program to determine if SonarMD’s program reduced healthcare utilization and concurrently produced better health outcomes. To assess this, we looked at Emergency Department visits and In-patient Admissions compared to risk-matched control groups.
The High-Stress Environment of Nursing
The knees are equally essential for us all — athlete or not. It’s the single most important joint for basic mobility. But, for MMA practitioners, it means much more than that. Due to the dynamic nature of the sport, the knees go through immense strain during training and fights. From kicking, takedowns, and submission defense, the knees do the heavy lifting for it all. To make matters worse, a “leg kick” to the knee can sometimes be enough to cause a fracture then and there.
With all that in mind, it makes sense that ligament tears, strains, and knee sprains aren’t uncommon in this sport. Problems usually stem from insufficient rest or overuse, conditioning, poor technique, or just bad luck (for example if you’re fighting Justin Gaethje, the meanest leg-kicker).
Your best bet against these risk factors is to build and maintain optimal knee health all year round. Have a proactive approach by incorporating knee rehab and strengthening exercises. Even if your knees aren’t injured, they can still be inflamed or overworked, so some rehabilitation movements could go a long way.
Dr. Alexis[/caption]
Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH
Vice-Chair for Diversity and Inclusion
Department of Dermatology
Dermatologist
Center for Diverse Skin Complexions
Weill Cornell Medicine – NY
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main types of skin cancer? Is the incidence changing?
Response: The 3 main types of skin cancer are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States1 and 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. (2)
The overall incidence has changed as follows:
• Melanoma: Rates doubled over past 30 years from 1982 to 2011.3 It differs by age group.
o Adolescents and adults age 30 and younger: incidence rate is declining
o Older age groups (e.g. 80 and older): incidence rate is increasing
• Squamous Cell Cancer:
o Incidence increased 263% between 1976-1984 and 2000-20104
• Basal Cell Cancer:
o Incidence increased 145% between 1976-1984 and 2000-20104
Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood lifters. This biochemical shift is crucial for 
Dr. Parekh[/caption]
Ankit Parekh, PhD
Director of the Sleep And Circadian Analysis (SCAN) Group
Assistant Professor of Medicine
(Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine)
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Sleep apnea is associated with incident cardiovascular disease, and is a common chronic condition affecting over a billion people worldwide. In diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, it is imperative to establish the type of sleep apnea—whether it is obstructive or central sleep apnea. The differential contribution of central vs. obstructive sleep apnea toward incidental cardiovascular disease in those with significant sleep apnea has not been well studied.
Our group has developed an automated algorithm that deduces on a breath-by-breath level whether reductions in airflow are predominantly due to obstructive or central phenomena. Our algorithm uses several features that are known to be key in distinguishing the type of events and derives a probability of obstruction across each “small” (reduced amplitude) breath. The breath-by-breath probability is then used to determine whether a patient’s burden of sleep apnea is predominantly obstructive or central.
In this work, we analyzed sleep study data from The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) cohort (N=2793) consisting of elderly men, across two visits separated on average by 6.5 years, and derived the probability of obstruction on a breath-by-breath level. The median probability of obstruction for each subject was computed and analyzed against outcomes of cardiovascular disease. We also assessed the stability of the metric in those without any prevalent cardiovascular disease. We find that median probability of obstruction was stable across the two visits, and those with any incident cardiovascular disease had a lower median probability of obstruction: patients with incident cardiovascular outcomes had a significant burden of sleep apnea that was predominantly “central” in nature.
As technology continues to evolve within the healthcare sector, creating new opportunities for enhancing patient care, it's crucial that empathy doesn't get lost in the shuffle. Innovative tools and systems should be seen as avenues to deepen our understanding and connection with patients, rather than as barriers to the human touch. Embracing technology with empathetic intention can lead to an even greater level of personalized care.
One specific area where empathy can play a transformative role is in addressing 
Dr. Haigh[/caption]
Cathryn Haigh, Ph.D.
In recent years, our communities have faced unprecedented challenges to public health and hygiene, especially after the most recent global pandemic. Beyond the immediate crises, longstanding issues like poor dietary choices and the rising stress levels in people worldwide have further highlighted the critical need for robust health and hygiene practices.
These concerns, while global in scale, demand local solutions—initiatives that begin in our own neighborhoods. Promoting health and hygiene at a community level not only addresses these urgent issues but also sets the foundation for broader national change. This article offers ten tips for anyone eager to lead such transformative efforts within their community, underscoring that even the smallest steps can pave the way to significant health improvements for all.
According to the 
The reaction triggers the symptoms you recognize as your allergy, such as a runny nose and itchy eyes. 
