research
David Au
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine and Pharmacy
MD
Faculty Web Page
Last updated: January 12, 2011
Research Focus
My research focuses primarily on the quality and delivery of care for patients with chronic lung diseases, in particular, for patients with COPD and lung cancer. Our research program encompasses a number of research areas that utilize state of the art clinical research methodology, including clinical trials design, comparative effectiveness research, implementation sciences, health services research and clinical epidemiology. Our research group is interested in the effects of multimorbidity using pharmacoepidemiology of COPD and non-COPD treatments on patient centered outcomes. We are also interested in patient health behaviors and the effects of health behaviors on outcomes. One of our primary research focuses is on identifying and intervening upon potential gaps in the quality of care for patients with lung cancer and COPD. These gaps include a focus on the quality of end-of-life communication and care, delivery of high quality palliative care, heterogeneity in care, and whether health care delivery is concordant with best available evidence.
Relevant Publications
Au DH, Lemaitre RM, Curtis JR, Smith NL, Psaty BM. The risk of myocardial infarction associated with beta-adrenoceptor agonists. Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2000;161:827-830
Au DH, McDonell MB, Martin DC, Fihn SD. Regional variations in health status. Medical Care 2001;39:879-888
Au DH, Bryson CL, Fan VS, Curtis JR, Udris EM, McDonell MB, Fihn SD. Beta-Blockers as Single Agent Therapy for Hypertension and the Risk of Mortality among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Med. 2004 Dec 15;117(12):925-31.
Au DH, Udris EM, Fihn SD, McDonell MB, Curtis JR. Differences in Health Care Utilization at the End-of-Life among patients with COPD and patients with lung cancer. Archives of Int Med 2006 Feb 13;166(3):326-31.
Parimon T, Au DH, Martin P, Chien JW. Pretransplant Assessment of Mortality Risk after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation. Ann Int. Med. 2006 Feb 13;166(3):326-31.
Bryson CL, Au DH, Sun H, Williams E, Kivlahan DR, Bradley KA. Alcohol Screening Scores Are Associated with Adherence to Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Medications. Ann Int. Med2008 Sep 16;149(11):795-803
Greene CC, Bradley KA, Bryson CL, Blough DK, Evans LE, Udris EM, Au DH. The Association between Alcohol Consumption and Risk of COPD Exacerbation among the Veteran Population. Chest. 2008 Oct;134(4):761-7.
Slatore CS, Bryson CL, Au DH. The Association between Inhaled Corticosteroid Use and Serum Glucose Concentration in a Large Cohort. Am J Med. 2009,122(5): 472-478
Au DH, Bryson CL, Chien JW, Sun H, Udris EM, Evans LE, Bradley KB The Effects of Smoking Cessation on Risk of COPD Exacerbations. J. Gen Internal Med 2009 Apr; 24(4):457-63.
Slatore CG, Cecere LM, Reinke LF, Ganzini L, Udris EM, Moss BR, Bryson CL, Curtis JR, Au DH. Patient-Clinician Communication: Associations with Important Health Outcomes among Veterans with COPD. Chest. 2010 Sep;138(3):628-34.
Active Funding
Funding Source |
Project Title |
Investigator Role |
Funding Dates |
National Heart |
COPD Outcomes-based Network for Clinical Effectiveness and Research Translation – Comparative Effectiveness Research |
PI |
10/2009 - 9/2011 |
National Heart |
Long-term Oxygen Treatment Trial (LOTT) – University of Washington Regional Clinical Centers |
PI |
11/2006 - 10/2012 |
American Lung |
The effects of medication adherence on outcomes and costs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
PI |
7/2007 - 6/2011 |
Agency for |
Enhancing comparative effectiveness research with standardized natural language processing of EMR data |
Site PI/Co-PI |
10/2010 - 9/2013 |
Department of |
Using the AUDIT-C to Monitor Outcomes in Patients with Alcohol Misuse Direct |
Co-Investigator |
10/2009 - 9/2012 |
Department of |
Organizational Factors Related to Hospital Readmissions |
Co-Investigator |
Approved |
Department of |
Organizational Correlates of Adherence to Medications |
Co-Investigator |
5/2008 - 6/2011 |
Current Mentees
Name |
Degree |
Project |
| Christopher G Slatore | MD MS | Communication quality and lung cancer quality of care |
| Min J Joo | MD MS | Improving delivery of COPD care in primary care setting |
| Laura M Cecere | MD MS | Improving delivery of critical care in the out-of-hospital setting |
| Lynn F Reinke | ARNP PhD |
Palliative care for patients with COPD and lung cancer |
| David Ramenofsky | MD | Accuracy of empiric therapy for COPD |
| Anne C Melzer | MD | Evidence based therapies after COPD exacerbations |
Past Mentees
Name |
Degree |
Current title |
Location |
| Laura Evans | MD MS | Assistant Professor | New York University |
| Saadia Akhtar | MD | Private Practice | Boise, ID |
| Tanyalak Parimon | MD | Assistant Professor | University of Washington |
| Sarika Ogale | PhD | Health Economist | Genentech, San Francisco |
| Tyler Lee | MD | Clinical Instructor | University of Washington |