Peer-Reviewed Bibliography
This section highlights my peer-reviewed publications. It includes topics of chronic disease prevention and management, social drivers of health, and the application of quality improvement science in clinical and community settings.
You can also access these articles via my NCBI Bibliography
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1. Roth H, DeMarchis E, Kopaskie K, Restall A, Fichtenberg C, Ray S, Azar KMJ, (2025) Measure What Matters: A Survey-Based Examination of Health Equity Tracking and Measurement Practices Across Healthcare Systems in the United States; PLOS ONE Medicine; In press
2. Cozen AE, Hamad R, Park S, Marcus GM, Olgin JE, Faulkner Modrow M, Chiang A, Brandner M, Orozco JH, Azar K, Sudat SEK, Isasi CR, Williams N, Ozluk P, Kitzman H, Knight SJ, Sanchez-Birkhead A, Kornak J, Carton T, Pletcher M.(2025) Associations between local COVID-19 policies and anxiety in the USA: a longitudinal digital cohort study. BMJ Public Health. 2025 Jan 16;3(1):e001135. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-001135. eCollection 2025 Jan.PMID: 40017931
3. Dillon EC, Deng S, Li M., Huang Q, de Vera E, Pesa J., Nguyen T., KigerA., Becker DF, Azar K, (2024) Analysis of Hospitals Switching From a “Danger to Self” Question to Universal Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screening: Impact on Screenings, Identification of Suicide Risk, and Documented Psychiatric Care; Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice, April: 6(2)
4. Main E, Fuller M, Kovacheva V, Elkhateb R, Azar K, Caldwell M, Chiem V, Foster M, Gibbs R, Hughes BL, Johnson R, Kottukapally N, Rosenstein MG, Sanz Cortes M, Shields LE, Sudat S, Sutton CD, Toledo P, Traylor A, Wharton K, Bauer M (2024) Performance Characteristics of Sepsis Screening Tools During Delivery Admissions; Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar 1;143(3):326-335. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005477. Epub 2023 Dec 12.
5. Bauer M, Fuller M, Kovacheva V, Elkhateb R, Azar K, Caldwell M, Chiem V, Foster M, Gibbs R, Hughes BL, Johnson R, Kottukapally N, Rosenstein MG, Sanz Cortes M, Shields LE, Sudat S, Sutton CD, Toledo P, Traylor A, Wharton K, Main E. (2024) Performance Characteristics of Sepsis Screening Tools During Antepartum and Postpartum Admissions; Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar 1;143(3):336-345.Epub 2023 Dec 12.
6. Mudiganti S, Nasrallah C, Brown S, Pressman A, Kiger A, Casey JA, LaMori JC, Pesa J, Azar KMJ. (2024) Homelessness Among Acute Care Patients Within a Large Health Care System in Northern California. Population Health Management, Feb; 27(1): 13-25
7. Nguyen KT, Li J, Peng AW, Azar K, Heidenreich P, Palaniappan L, Yong CM. (2024) Temporal Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence Among Asian American Subgroups. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Apr 16;13(8):e031444. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.031444. Epub 2024 Apr 12. PMID: 38606778
8. Sudat SEK, Huang Q, Szwerinski N, Romanelli RJ, Azar KMJ. (2024) Changes in Healthcare Utilization After Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss. Am J Prev Med. Apr;66(4):619-626. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.10.018. Epub 2023 Oct 29
9. Azar KJM , Sudat S., Huang Q, Pressman AR, Szwerinski N, Nasrallah C, Venditti EM, Romanelli RJ,. Examining paradoxical session attendance and weight loss relationships in a clinic based lifestyle modification intervention. Obesity Science & Practice. (2023)
10. Dillon EC, Huang Q, Deng S, Li M, de Vera E, Pesa J, Nguyen T, Kiger A, Becker DF, Azar K. (2023) Implementing universal suicide screening in a large healthcare system's hospitals: rates of screening, suicide risk, and documentation of subsequent psychiatric care. Transl Behav Med. 2023 Apr 15;13(4):193-205. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibac117. PMID: 36694929
11. Park S, Marcus GM, Olgin JE, Carton T, Hamad R, Pletcher MJ; COVID-19 Citizen Science Study Consortium. (2023) Unreported SARS-CoV-2 Home Testing and Test Positivity. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jan 3;6(1):e2252684. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.52684. PMID: 36696115
12. Azar, KMJ, Alexander M, Smits K, Tio A, deGhetaldi L (2023) ACO Benchmarks Based On Area Deprivation Index Mask Inequities. Health Affairs Forefront. https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/aco-benchmarks-based-area-deprivation-index-mask-inequities
13. Raphael, E., Azar, K. M. J., Gu, D., Shen, Z., Rubinsky, A., Wang, M., Pantell, M., Lyles, C. R., Fernandez, A., Bibbins-Domingo, K., Pressman, A., Nasrallah, C., & Hamad, R. (2023). Racial and sociodemographic predictors of COVID-19 compared with influenza, appendicitis, and all-cause hospitalization: retrospective cohort analysis. Ethnicity & health, 1–17. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2023.2179021
14. Rosas LG, Lv N, Xiao L, Azar KM, Hooker SP, Venditti EM, Lewis MA, Zavella P, Ma J. Preferences for Technology-Mediated Behavioral Lifestyle Interventions With Different Levels of Coach and Peer Support Among Latino Men: Comparative Study Within One Arm of a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Feb 4;6(2):e29537. doi: 10.2196/29537
15. Azar, KMJ, Pletcher, MJ, Greene, SM, Pressman, AR. Learning health system, positive deviance analysis, and electronic health records: Synergy for a learning health system. Learn Health Sys. 2022;e10348. doi:10.1002/lrh2.10348
16. Huang HC, Szwerinski NK, Nasrallah C, Chopra V, Huang Q, Venditti EM, Romanelli RJ, Azar KMJ. Lifestyle Change Program Outcomes and Engagement in Real-World Clinical Practice: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. Translational Behavioral Medicine.[In Press], 2022
17. Sudat S, Wesson P, Rhoads KF, Brown S, Aboelata N, Pressman AP, Mani A, Azar KMJ, Racial Disparities in Pulse Oximeter Device Inaccuracy and Estimated Clinical Impact on COVID-19 Treatment Course. American Journal of Epidemiology. [In Press], 2022 August.
18. Hamad R, Lyman KA, Lin F, Modrow MF, Ozluk P, Azar KMJ, Goodin A, Isasi CR, Kitzman HE, Knight SJ, Marcus GM, McMahill-Walraven CN, Meissner P, Nair V, O’Brien EC, Olgin JE, Peyser ND, Sylwestrzak GS, Williams N, Pletcher MJ, Carton T. The U.S. COVID-19 County Policy Database: A Novel Resource to Support Pandemic-Related Research. BMC Public Health. 2022 Oct 10;22(1):1882. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14132-6.
19. Pressman, AP, Azar KMJ, Equity in Clinical Research: From Trials to Treatment. J Clin Pathways. 2022;8(4):16-21. doi:10.25270/jcp.2022.5.2
20. Rosas LG, Lv N, Azar K, Xiao L, Hooker S, Lewis M, Venditti E, Ma J. (2022) Comparing Two Programs to Help Latino Men Lose Weight -- The HOMBRE Trial [Internet]. Washington (DC): Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI); PMID: 39813374
21. Rosas LG, Lv N, Xiao L, Azar KM, Hooker SP, Venditti EM, Lewis MA, Zavella P, Ma J. (2022) Preferences for Technology-Mediated Behavioral Lifestyle Interventions With Different Levels of Coach and Peer Support Among Latino Men: Comparative Study Within One Arm of a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Form Res. 2022 Feb 4;6(2):e29537. doi: 10.2196/29537.PMID: 35119377
22. Rosas LG, Lv N, Xiao L, Venditti EM, Lewis MA, Azar KMJ, Hooker SP, Zavella P, Ma J. HOMBRE: A Trial Comparing 2 Weight Loss Approaches for Latino Men. Am J Prev Med. 2022 Sep;63(3):341-353. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.03.032. Epub 2022 May 30
23. Pressman AR, Lockhart SH, Wilcox J, Smits K, Etzell J, Albeiroti S, DeRee M, Flaherty C, Genolaga S, Goodreau M,Refai F, Restall A, Lanner-Cusin K, Azar KMJ. COVID-19 in Pregnancy by Race and Ethnicity: Implications for Development of a Vaccination Strategy. Women’s Health.2022
24. Berkowitz, R.L., Bui, L., Shen, Z., Pressman, A.R., Moreno, M., Brown, S., Nilon, A., Miller-Rosales, C., & Azar, K.M.J. Evaluation of a Social Determinants of Health Screening Questionnaire and Workflow Pilot within an Adult Ambulatory Clinic. BMC Family Practice.2021
25. Cooper- DeHoff RM, Fontil V, Carton T, Chamberlain A, Tood J, Ford D, Tecson KM, Dennar PE, Ahmad F, Wu S, McClay JC, Azar K, Singh R, Modrwo MF, Shay CM, Rakotz M, Wozniak G, Pletcher MJ. Tracking Blood Pressure Control Performance and Process Metrics in 25 US Health Systems: The PCORnet Blood Pressure Control Laboratory. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021;10:e022224. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.121.022224
26. Moreno M, Sherrets B, Roberts DJ, Azar K. Health equity and quantifying the patient experience: A case study. 2021; 8(2): 94-99
27. Azar KMJ. The Evolving Role of Nurse Leadership in the Fight for Health Equity. Nurse Lead. 2021 Sep 14. doi: 10.1016/j.mnl.2021.08.006. Online ahead of print. PMID: 34539261 Free PMC article.
28. Bui LN, Berkowitz RL, Jilek W, Bordner AJ, Azar KMJ, Pressman A, Romanelli RJ. Public Protests and the Risk of Novel Coronavirus Disease Hospitalizations: A County-Level Analysis from California. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 8;18(18):9481. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189481. PMID: 34574407
29. Azar KMJ, Lockhart S, Shen Z, Romanelli RJ, Brown S, Smits K, Robinson S, Pressman A. Disparities among Racially/Ethnically Marginalized Groups in the COVID-19 Pandemic Persist Regardless of Statewide Shelter-in-Place Policies: An Analysis from Northern California. American Journal of Epidemiology. [In Press], 2021 June 25.
30. Pressman A.R., Lockhart SH, Shen Z, Azar KMJ. Measuring and Promoting Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Vaccine Equity: Development of a Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Equity Index. Health Equity. 2021 May 21; 5(1). doi: 10.1089/heq.2021.0047
31. Rosas LG, Lv N, Xiao L, Lewis MA, Venditti EM, Zavella P, Azar KMJ, Ma J. Effect of a culturally-adapted behavioral intervention for Latinos on weight loss over 2 years: The Vida Sana Trial. JAMA Network Open. [Accepted Oct 2020]
32. Lv N, Xiao L, Majd M, Lavori PW, Smyth JM, Rosas LG, Venditti EM, Snowden MB, Lewis MA, Ward E, Lesser LI, Williams LM, Azar KMJ, Ma J. (2020) Correction: Variability in engagement and progress in efficacious integrated collaborative care for primary care patients with obesity and depression: Within-treatment analysis in the RAINBOW trial.PLoS One.;15(8):e0238276. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238276. PMID: 32822417
33. Romanelli RJ, Huang HC, Sudat S, Pressman AR, Azar KJM. Effectiveness of a Group-Based Lifestyle Change Program versus Usual Care: An Electronic Health Records, Propensity-Score Matched Cohort Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. [Accepted 10 July 2020]
34. Romanelli RJ, Azar KMJ, Sudat S, Hung D, Frosch DL, Pressman AR. The Learning Health System in Crisis: Lessons from the Novel Coronavirus Disease Pandemic. 2020 Oct 29. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes
35. Azar KMJ, Shen Z, Romanelli RJ, Lockhart S, Smits K, Robinson S, Brown S, Pressman A. Disparities in
Outcomes Among COVID-19 Patients in a Large Health Care System in California. Health Affairs. [Epub ahead of print], 2020 May 21.
36. Romanelli RJ, Ito MK, Karalis DG, Huang HC, Iorga SR, Kam IW, Thompson S, Azar KMJ. Statin utilization and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in statin-treated patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: trends from a community-based health care delivery system, 2002-2016. J Clin Lipidol. pii: S1933-2874(20)30068-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2020.03.006. [Epub ahead of print], 2020 Apr 10
37. Azar KMJ, Halley M, Lv N, Wulfovich S, Gillespie K, Liang L, Goldman Rosas L. Differing views regarding diet and physical activity: adolescents versus parents' perspectives. BMC Pediatr.2020 Mar 27;20(1):137. doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02038-4. PubMed PMID: 32220230; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7099828.
38. Halley M, Petersen J, Nasrallah N, Szwerinski N, Romanelli R, Azar KMJ. Barriers and Facilitators to Real-world Implementation of the Diabetes Prevention Program in Large Healthcare Systems: Lifestyle Coach Perspectives. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2020 In Print
39. Rosas LG, Azar KMJ, (co-first authors) Lv N, Xiao L, Goldhaber-Fiebert JD, Snowden MB, Venditti EM, Lewis MM, Goldstein-Piekarski AN, Ma J. Effect of an Intervention for Obesity and Depression on Patient-Centered Outcomes: An RCT. Am J Prev Med. 2020 Feb 14. pii: S0749-3797(19)30512-4.
40. Azar, KMJ, Shen Z, Nasrallah C, Pesa J, LaMori J, Petersen J and Pressman AR. Serious Mental Illness and Health-related Factors Associated with Regional Emergency Department. Population Health Management. 2019 Dec 9. doi: 10.1089/pop.2019.0161.
41. Azar KMJ, Nasrallah C, Szwerinski NK, Petersen JJ, Halley MC, Greenwood D, Romanelli RJ. Implementation of a group-based diabetes prevention program within a healthcare delivery system.BMC Health Serv Res. 2019 Oct 15;19(1):694. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4569-0.
42. Romanelli RJ, Huang HC, Chopra V, Ma J, Venditti EM, Sudat S, Greenwood DA, Pressman AR, Azar KMJ. Longitudinal Weight Outcomes from a Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention in Clinical Practice. Diabetes Educ. Diabetes Educ. 2019 Oct;45(5):529-543. doi: 10.1177/0145721719872553
43. Romanelli RJ, Sudat S, Huang Q, Ma J, Venditti EM, Greenwood DA, Pressman AR, Azar KMJ. Short-term weight trajectories and long-term weight outcomes from a lifestyle intervention in real-world clinical practice.Transl Behav Med. 2019 Aug 1. pii: ibz118. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibz118. [Epub ahead of print]
44. Brockie T, Azar K, Wallen G, O’Hanlon Solis M, Adams K, Kub J. A conceptual model for establishing collaborative partnerships between universities and Native American communities. Nurse Researcher 2019. doi: 10.7748/nr.2019.e1613. PMID: 31468833
45. Pressman A, Lockhart S, Petersen J, Robinson S, Moreno M, Azar KMJ. Measuring Health Equity for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions in a Large Integrated Healthcare System: the development of an index. Health Equity 2019; 3.1. DOIL 10.1089/heq.2018.0092
46. Rosas LG, Lv N, Azar KMJ, Xiao L, Hooker SP, Lewis MA, Zavella P, Venditti EM, Ma J. HOMBRE: A randomized controlled trial to compare two approaches to weight loss for overweight and obese Latino men (Hombres con Opciones para Mejorar el Bienestar y bajar el Riesgo de Enfermedades cronicas; men with choices to improve well-being and decrease chronic disease risk). Contemp Clin Trials 2018;68:23-34.
47. Azar KMJ, Bennett GG, Nolting LA, Rosas LG, Burke LE, Ma J. A framework for examining the function of digital health technologies for weight management. Transl Behav Med 2018;8:280-94.
48. Lv N, Azar KMJ, Rosas LG, Wulfovich S, Xiao L, Ma J. Behavioral lifestyle interventions for moderate and severe obesity: A systematic review. Prev Med 2017;100:180-93.
49. Block G, Azar KM , Romanelli RJ, Block TJ, Palaniappan LP, Dolginsky M, Block CH. Improving diet, activity and wellness in adults at risk of diabetes: randomized controlled trial. Nutr Diabetes 2016;6:e231.
50. Rosas LG, Lv N, Azar K, Xiao L, Yank V, Ma J.Applying the Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary Model in a Primary Care-Based Lifestyle Intervention Trial.Am J Prev Med. 2015 Sep;49(3 Suppl 2):S208-14. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.05.011.PMID: 26296556 Clinical Trial.
51. Azar KM, Koliwad S, Poon T, Xiao L, Lv N, Griggs R, Ma J. The Electronic CardioMetabolic Program (eCMP) for Patients With Cardiometabolic Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 2016;18:e134.
52. Pu J, Romanelli R, Zhao B, Azar KMJ, Hastings KG, Nimbal V, Fortmann SP, Palaniappan LP. Review: Dyslipidemia in Special Ethnic Populations. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2016;45:205-16.
53. Block G, Azar KM (co-first authors), Romanelli RJ, Block T, Hopkins D, Carpenter HA, Dolginsky MS, Hudes ML, Palaniappan LP, Block C. Diabetes Prevention and Weight Loss with a Fully Automated Behavioral Intervention by Email, Web, and Mobile Phone: A Randomized Controlled Trial Among Persons with Prediabetes. J Med Internet Res 2015;17:e240.
54. Burke LE, Ma J, Azar KM, et al. Current Science on Consumer Use of Mobile Health for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2015;132:1157-213.
55. Azar KM, Chung S, Wang EJ, Beinan Z, Linde RB, Lederer J, Palaniappan LP. Impact of Education on Weight in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: Every Little Bit Helps. PLoS One 2015;10:e0129348.
56. Pu J, Romanelli R, Zhao B, Azar KMJ, Hastings KG, Nimbal V, Fortmann SP, Palaniappan LP. Dyslipidemia in special ethnic populations. Cardiol Clin 2015;33:325-33.
57. Azar KM, Aurora M, Wang EJ, Muzaffar A, Pressman A, Palaniappan LP. Virtual small groups for weight management: an innovative delivery mechanism for evidence-based lifestyle interventions among obese men. Transl Behav Med 2015;5:37-44.
58. Block G, Azar KM, Block TJ, et al. A Fully Automated Diabetes Prevention Program, Alive-PD: Program Design and Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. JMIR Res Protoc 2015;4:e3.
59. Chung S, Azar KM, Baek M, Lauderdale DS, Palaniappan LP. Reconsidering the age thresholds for type II diabetes screening in the U.S. Am J Prev Med 2014;47:375-81.
60. Frank AT, Zhao B, Jose PO, Azar KM, Fortmann SP, Palaniappan LP. Racial/ethnic differences in dyslipidemia patterns. Circulation 2014;129:570-9.
61. Azar KM, Xiao L, Ma J. Baseline obesity status modifies effectiveness of adapted diabetes prevention program lifestyle interventions for weight management in primary care. Biomed Res Int 2013;2013:191209
62. Azar KM, Lesser LI, Laing BY, Stephens J, Aurora MS, Burke LE, Palaniappan LP. Mobile applications for weight management: theory-based content analysis. Am J Prev Med 2013;45:583-9.
63. Bhalla V, Zhao B, Azar KM, Wang EJ, Choi S, Wong EC, Fortmann SP, Palaniappan LP. Racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of proteinuric and nonproteinuric diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes Care 2013;36:1215-21.
64. Azar KM, Chen E, Holland AT, Palaniappan LP. Festival foods in the immigrant diet. J Immigr Minor 29. Health 2013;15:953-60.
65. Azar KM, Moreno MR, Wong EC, Shin JJ, Soto C, Palaniappan LP. Accuracy of data entry of patient race/ethnicity/ancestry and preferred spoken language in an ambulatory care setting. Health Serv Res 2012;47:228-40.
66. Dixit AA, Azar KM, Gardner CD, Palaniappan LP. Incorporation of whole, ancient grains into a modern Asian Indian diet to reduce the burden of chronic disease. Nutr Rev 2011;69:479-88.
