Lithia Springs

Researchers are evaluating a new care strategy for people at increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ASCVD but without symptoms. The study compares a Cleerly Coronary Artery Disease CAD Staging System-based care approach against the usual risk factor-based care to see if it better reduces cardiovascular events. This pragmatic, randomized trial addresses the need for improved methods to identify and personalize treatment for asymptomatic individuals at risk due to age, diabetes, prediabetes, or metabolic syndrome. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. The risk factor-based care group receives usual care managed by their providers, while a cardiology team monitors and supports guideline-based treatment without revealing certain imaging results during the study. The Cleerly stage-based care group gets personalized management from a remote cardiologist-led team using the Cleerly CAD Staging System, which includes imaging to assess coronary atherosclerosis and guides pharmacotherapy and education. Treatment intensity may increase if plaque worsens after 24 months. During the study, participants will have assessments to monitor heart health and treatment adherence over an average of 3.5 years. Researchers will measure cardiovascular events and other related health outcomes to compare the two care strategies. The study involves ongoing medication monitoring, lab tests, and feedback to optimize prevention, with the goal of improving personalized care for cardiovascular risk management.

Researchers are comparing the rates of surgical and minimally invasive interventions, as well as any harms, in Medicare beneficiaries treated with the MILD procedure versus those treated with interspinous process decompression IPD for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication. This observational study uses Medicare claims data to follow patients for 24 months after their initial procedure starting from January 1, 2017. The purpose is to evaluate outcomes between these two types of procedures without requiring prior patient enrollment or consent. The study includes two groups patients who received MILD, which is a percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression performed under fluoroscopic guidance through a dorsal approach to the spine, and patients who received IPD, a different device-based decompression procedure. Data on reoperations and complications will be collected for both groups over a 24-month follow-up period using Medicare claims. Enrollment continues until the sponsor decides to stop. Participants involvement is passive as the study uses existing Medicare claims data. Researchers will monitor rates of harms related to the initial procedure and subsequent surgical or minimally invasive interventions over two years. No direct patient visits or interventions are conducted, and the study is exempt from institutional review board oversight. The total study duration extends to December 2026, covering cases treated since early 2017.