VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on tailored health care, paralyzed Veterans and cirrhosis

VA’s Office of Research and Development recently published three News Briefs highlighting research findings on health care tailored to meet Women Veterans’ needs, a brain-computer interface to help paralyzed Veterans communicate, and new details on better cirrhosis outcomes.

VA’s tailored care helps meet Women Veterans’ needs

Researchers from the Palo Alto and Greater Los Angeles VA systems showed that Women Veterans seen by designated women’s health primary care providers were 51% less likely to leave VA care than those seen by general primary care providers over a two-year period.

The study included data on more than 15,000 Women Veterans new to VA health care, of whom 20.5% seen by a general practitioner had left VA care, whereas only 9.4% seen by a women’s health provider left. Thanks to specialized clinician training tailored to women’s needs, such as the Women’s Health Mini-Residency, even the overall attrition rate of Women Veterans from VA care is roughly half what it was in 2009. The findings show that ensuring the growing population of Women Veterans have access to care tailored to their needs supports VA’s mission to provide high-quality, patient centered care to all Veterans.

Brain-computer interface allows paralyzed Veterans to type

Researchers with the VA Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology in Providence, R.I., developed an implanted brain-computer interface to restore rapid typing in paralyzed patients.

Two participants, one with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and one with a spinal cord injury, were able to reach typing speeds of 110 characters per minute, which resulted in 22 words per minute with a word error rate of 1.6%. This result resembles able-bodied typing accuracy and provides faster communication than even current, state-of-the-art, hand motor brain-computer interface systems. Typing with the device involves only attempting the familiar finger movements of using a standard QWERTY keyboard, with the computer interpreting the brain signals as keystrokes. The new interface provides an intuitive, easy-to-learn method for individuals with paralysis to regain the ability to communicate.

Dental care can improve cirrhosis outcomes

Richmond VA researchers and their colleagues demonstrated how regular dental care can protect against cirrhosis complications.

The team studied the records of almost 48,000 Veterans with cirrhosis; those receiving regular preventative dental care at least once a year in the two years before a cirrhosis diagnosis and the two years after diagnosis had 27% lower odds of liver cancer, 19% lower odds of hepatic encephalopathy, 15% lower odds of fluid build-up, 15% lower odds of all-cause hospitalization, and 20% lower odds of liver-related hospitalization.

While it was already known that poor oral health is often associated with systemic inflammation and unfavorable outcomes in chronic diseases, including cirrhosis, this study was able to prove the opposite is also true. The results show regular dental cleaning and maintenance may be an important tool to improve cirrhosis severity.

For more Office of Research and Development updates, visit ORD online or go to https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/.