Factors influencing the detection rate of drug-related problems in community pharmacy

This study analyzes relationships between the number of drug-related problems detected in community pharmacy practice and the educational level and other characteristics of pharmacy personnel and their work sites. Random samples of pharmacists, prescriptionists and pharmacy technicians were drawn nationwide in Sweden. One hundred and forty-four (63%) of those meeting the inclusion criteria agreed to take part. The participants documented medication-related problems, interventions and patient variables on a data collection form. The drug-related problems were weighted by the number of patients served by each professional. The regression analysis showed the educational level of the professional to have a statistically significant effect on the detection rate, with pharmacists finding on average 2.5 more drug-related problems per 100 patients than prescriptionists and about 3.6 more than technicians. Previous participation in a study or activity on drug-related problems and the size of the pharmacy also had statistically significant effects on the problem detection rate. The use of open-ended questions to create a dialogue with the patient seemed to be a successful means to discover problems. The results of this study indicate the importance of education and training of pharmacy personnel in detection of drug-related problems. This findings speaks in favor of increasing the pharmacist to other personnel ratio, provided the higher costs will be offset by societal benefits.

Utilisation of codeine and propoxyphene: geographic and demographic variations in prescribing, prescriber and recipient categories

OBJECTIVES

To assess (1) whether the utilisation of codeine or propoxyphene differs among the three major Swedish cities (Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö) and between urban and semirural areas; (2) if so, whether it co-varies with the utilisation of other potentially dependence-promoting drugs, benzodiazepines; (3) what influence age, gender and socioeconomic factors have on the prescribing of the two narcotic analgesics; and (4) whether different codeine-prescriber categories have different prescribing habits.

METHODS

In Sweden, all pharmacies are owned by one corporation, Apoteket AB. This corporation collects, stores and compiles statistics on all drug sales in Sweden, and data are available both on national, regional, county and municipal levels. The employed unit is defined daily dose (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Using the pharmacy computer system while dispensing a drug, prescription patterns can be elucidated. This system describes the number of drug items dispensed, drug amounts and age and gender of patients. Furthermore, data from another, ecological study were used to relate codeine and propoxyphene utilisation to that of benzodiazepines and to various socioeconomic data available from records of the city of Malmö.

RESULTS

The utilisation of analgesics in Sweden has increased during a 10-year period. The withdrawal of over-the-counter combinations containing aspirin and low-dose codeine in 1990 resulted only in a transient decrease of codeine use. The utilisation of codeine in Malmö and Göteborg was considerably higher than that in Stockholm and in the rest of Sweden, including the surroundings of Malmö. In Malmö and Göteborg, codeine was most often prescribed by private physicians to middle-aged persons, particularly women. Districts in Malmö with a high utilisation of codeine were associated with unfavourable socioeconomic conditions and a high utilisation of benzodiazepines. The utilisation pattern of propoxyphene showed less or no such deviations.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest an inappropriate use of codeine in two major cities in Sweden.

Effects of antihyperglycaemic therapies on proinsulin and relation between proinsulin and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes

AIM

To assess the effect of oral antihyperglycaemic therapy on fasting proinsulin and the relation between proinsulin levels and cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-five patients with type 2 diabetes, fasting blood glucose concentration (FBG) > or = 6.7 mmol/l, were recruited from five diabetes outpatient clinics in primary health care. Diet and antihyperglycaemic medication, aiming at FBG < 6.7 mmol/l, was maintained for 6 months after completed dose titration in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy trial with metformin (M), glibenclamide (G) and primary combination of both drugs (MG). The study compared M, G and MG in low dose (MGL) and also different high-dose regimens, i.e. G added to M (M/G), M added to G (G/M) and primary combination (MGH). Outcome measures were fasting proinsulin, glycaemia, body mass index, blood pressure, lipids, insulin and C-peptide.

RESULTS

Lower proinsulin levels were found when therapy was initiated with metformin (M vs. G, p = 0.013 and M/G vs. G/M, p = 0.033). M and G were equally effective on glucose levels. In the group as a whole FBG decreased from (mean +/- s.d.) 10.2 +/- 2.7 to 7.0 +/- 1.2 mmol/l with no change in proinsulin. Proinsulin was associated with cardiovascular risk factors, linking high proinsulin to an atherogenic risk marker profile. Mean proinsulin change from baseline was inconsistently associated with markers of insulin resistance. Meal-stimulated glucose (net AUC) decreased after treatment only in those with low baseline proinsulin levels.

CONCLUSION

It may be advantageous to initiate oral antihyperglycaemic therapy with metformin rather than with sulphonylurea. High proinsulin levels are associated with an atherogenic-risk marker profile and an impaired therapeutic postprandial glucose response after treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes. Proinsulin change after therapy is inconsistently associated with markers of insulin resistance and unrelated to fasting blood glucose reduction.

Utilization of cardiovascular drugs (blood pressure lowering drugs, lipid lowering drugs and nitrates) and mortality from ischaemic heart disease and stroke. An ecological analysis based on Sweden's municipalities

OBJECTIVE

To perform an ecological study in an effort to generate questions concerning the preventive impact of various cardiovascular drugs on mortality from stroke and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in the community, and to explore the association between sales of nitrates and mortality from stroke and IHD.

METHODS

Out-patient drug utilization (sales) of blood pressure lowering drugs, lipid lowering drugs and nitrates were categorized in four groups of equal size by quartiles and compared with mortality from IHD and stroke, using the group of municipalities with the lowest utilization as reference, from 1989 to 1993 in 283 of Sweden's 288 municipalities, by Poisson regression. Adjustments were made for population size, age and gender proportions, the utilization rate of cardiovascular drugs other than the tested drug group and location of the municipality.

RESULTS

Compared with the group of municipalities with the lowest sales and adjusting only for population size, mortality from IHD and stroke increased with the extent of utilization of blood pressure lowering drugs and nitrates. In contrast, mortality decreased with increased utilization of lipid lowering drugs. After further adjustments by percentage of men, age structure, geographical location (mid-points) of the municipalities, and, as a proxy for cardiovascular disease, the sales of cardiovascular drugs other than the tested drug group, the increased risk associated with blood pressure lowering drugs disappeared, and there was a dose-response association between sales of diuretics and old antihypertensives and decreasing mortality, sales of nitrates continued to be associated with an increased risk, and the low mortality risk associated with sales of lipid lowering drugs persisted.

CONCLUSION

Lipid lowering drugs may have a preventive impact in the general population, but the preventive impact of blood pressure lowering drugs, with the exception of diuretics and old antihypertensives, may be low in many municipalities. The safety of nitrates needs more investigation at the individual level.

Differences in treatment and metabolic abnormalities between normo- and hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes: the Skaraborg Hypertension and Diabetes Project

AIM

To examine treatment and glucose control in type 2 diabetes patients with and without hypertension, and to explore differences in markers for insulin resistance and beta cell function.

METHODS

A community-based, cross-sectional observational study was carried out at the hypertension and diabetes outpatient clinic in primary health care, Skara, Sweden. The subjects were all the 400 patients with type 2 diabetes (202 men, 198 women) who underwent annual follow-up from May 1992 through September 1993; 204 of these also had hypertension.

RESULTS

The patients with both type 2 diabetes and hypertension had a higher b.m.i. (mean; 28.9 kg m(-2) (s.d.; 4.4) vs. 27.4 kg m(-2)(4.6)), higher triglycerides (2.0 mmol l(-1)(1.1) vs. 1.7 mmol l(-1)(1.1)), higher LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio (4.3(1.4) vs. 4.1(1.2)) and higher fasting insulin (8.5 mU l(-1)(1.1) vs. 6.6 mU l(-1)(1.1)). Conversely, glucose levels were lower; HbA1c (6.4%(1.4) vs. 6.8%(1.6)) and fasting blood glucose (8.1 mmol l(-1)(2.3) vs. 8.9 mmol l(-1)(2.7)) than in patients with type 2 diabetes alone. By the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), patients with type 2 diabetes alone had more impaired beta cell function. They also had a higher frequency of insulin treatment (20% vs. 12%) and were less often treated non-pharmacologically (33% vs. 50%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension constitute a high risk category with a more atherogenic risk factor profile related to the insulin resistance syndrome. Patients with type 2 diabetes without hypertension seem to constitute a subgroup of type 2 diabetes with predominately impaired beta cell function.

Intra-urban variation of antibiotic utilization in children: influence of socio-economic factors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the intra-urban variation of antibiotic utilization in children in Malmö and to evaluate the influence of socio-economic factors on this variation.

METHODS

In an ecological analysis, the variations in antibiotic utilization in children, expressed as defined daily dose (DDD) or as the number of prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants per day, were compared with variations in socio-economic and demographic factors in the 17 administrative districts of the Swedish city of Malmö (235000 inhabitants).

RESULTS

There were large between-area differences in antibiotic utilization, especially in children aged 0-6 years. Socio-economic factors reflecting a privileged situation correlated positively with antibiotic utilization. Thus, in districts with a high median family income and a high employment rate, the utilization of antibiotics was higher than in other districts. Conversely, in districts with a high proportion of blue-collar workers, people with foreign backgrounds and recipients of social benefit, antibiotic utilization was comparatively low. In contrast, the utilization of penicillin V relative to other antibiotics showed an opposite pattern, including positive correlations with the proportion of social benefit, immigrants and blue-collar workers and a negative correlation with employment rate. Conversely, the utilization of macrolides in relation to other antibiotics in children aged 0-6 years was highest in districts inhabited by those who were socio-economically privileged.

INTERPRETATION

The findings suggest that utilization of antibiotics in children may vary considerably within a city, that it may increase with the degree of parental affluence, and that such affluence may reduce the utilization of penicillin V relative to other antibiotics.

Pharmacological intervention: the antidiabetic approach

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) progresses to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in many but not all IGT subjects. It remains unsettled whether long-term antidiabetic (i.e. antihyperglycaemic) pharmacotherapy delays the development of NIDDM, and whether such treatment influences macrovascular morbidity and mortality. This report summarizes the results from long-term (> 4 years) antihyperglycaemic interventions addressing these issues. In an American study, tolbutamide (0.5 g 2-3 times daily) promoted a 4-year improvement of glucose tolerance in young, non-obese, mildly diabetic asymptomatic subjects who apparently comprised a mixture of IGT and NIDDM. In a Swedish 5-year study on 178 survivors of myocardial infarction, of whom 79 had intravenous IGT, tolbutamide treatment was associated with improved glucose tolerance, reduced triglyceride levels, and improved 18-month survival. A British 5-year study on a subgroup of about 200 middle-aged men from the Whitehall cohort indicated that phenformin (50 mg once daily) did not influence the deterioration of glucose levels. In a 10-year British study, 241 middle-aged men and women were 4-square randomized to control, weight reduction, placebo and tolbutamide (0.5 g twice daily). A non-lasting reduction of arterial disease was recorded in those on tolbutamide. No reduction of NIDDM development was seen. In a Swedish 10-year study on middle-aged men with IGT, follow-up comprised 59 controls, 98 on diet advice with or without placebo, and 23 on tolbutamide (0.5 g three times daily) added to diet advice. A total of 29% developed NIDDM among controls and 13% in the diet group. In contrast, no subject maintaining tolbutamide treatment developed NIDDM. Moreover, the tolbutamide-treated subjects had reduced blood pressure, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, as well as fewer macrovascular complications. Recently, a lower mortality rate at 22 years after the start of tolbutamide treatment has been recorded. To summarize, treatment with insulin-releasing drugs might help to reduce the development of NIDDM and macrovascular disease in IGT subjects. However, further studies are needed to verify or refute this notion.

Socioeconomic factors, morbidity and drug utilization—an ecological study

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relations between demographic and socioeconomic factors, morbidity and the utilization of major drug groups in an urban Swedish population. The study was performed as an ecological analysis during November 1991 in the 17 different districts of Malmö, the third largest Swedish city (235,000 inhabitants). The material comprised 86,228 ACT-coded drug items which corresponded to 76% of all prescriptions dispensed during the study month. Of these, 43,032, dispensed to patients aged 15-64 years, were analysed in the present work. Age standardized drug utilization was expressed as the number of dispensed Defined Daily Doses per 1000 inhabitants per day. Morbidity was measured in terms of reimbursed days on sick leave. The sociodemographic parameters used were socioeconomic status (SES), employment rate, median income per family, households on social allowance, and ethnicity. For four of the five major pharmacological groups (ATC-groups A, C, J, N and R, i.e. alimentation, circulation, infectious diseases, nervous system and respiration), most pronouncedly group N and least so group R, utilization correlated positively with not only the extent of morbidity but also with an unfavourable socioeconomic situation, high proportion of immigrants, and households on social allowance or with low income and/or with a low employment rate. The utilization of antibiotics (group J), however, instead correlated negatively with these parameters. For all five drug groups, these trends were similar among men and women, albeit with varying strength. In conclusion, socioeconomic factors may have a profound influence on the utilization of several major drug groups. At least in the case of antibiotics, the consequence of this influence is irrational drug use.

Prolonged elimination of tolbutamide in a premature newborn with hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia

So far, gestational diabetes treated with tolbutamide has never been associated with severe hypoglycaemia in the newborn when the mother's diabetes was well controlled. We report a case of a premature neonate, gestational age 34 weeks, with severe and long-standing hypoglycaemia from birth. The mother had well-controlled gestational diabetes, treated with tolbutamide from the 24th week of gestation until delivery. The neonate had inappropriately high levels of serum proinsulin, insulin and C-peptide relative to blood glucose concentrations. From day 19 after birth, the levels were normalized. Serum tolbutamide was 140.6 micromol/l (38 microg/ml) at 3 h after birth. Zero-order kinetics were seen during the first 90 postnatal hours. The half-life of serum tolbutamide decreased from 46 to 6 h. It is suggested that tolbutamide, when given to the mother until delivery, may cause severe and prolonged hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in premature neonates. The initially prolonged tolbutamide half-lives and zero-order kinetics suggest immaturity of hepatic elimination during the first 2 days of postnatal life.

Use of calcium channel blockers and risk of suicide: ecological findings confirmed in population based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate possible associations between use of cardiovascular drugs and suicide.

DESIGN

Cross sectional ecological study based on rates of use of eight cardiovascular drug groups by outpatients. A population based cohort study including users of drugs to control hypertension.

SUBJECTS

The ecological study included 152 of Sweden's 284 municipalities. The cohort study included all inhabitants of one Swedish municipality who during 1988 or 1989 had purchased cardiovascular agents from pharmacies within the municipality. Six hundred and seventeen subjects (18.2%) were classified as users of calcium channel blockers and 2780 (81.8%) as non-users.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Partial correlations (least squares method) between rates of use of cardiovascular drugs and age standardised mortality from suicide in Swedish municipalities. Hazard ratios for risk of suicide with adjustments for difference in age and sex in users of calcium channel blockers compared with users of other hypertensive drugs.

RESULTS

Among the Swedish municipalities the use of each cardiovascular drug group except angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors correlated significantly and positively with suicide rates. After adjustment for the use of other cardiovascular drug groups, as a substitute for the prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity, only the correlation with calcium channel blockers remained significant (r = 0.29, P < 0.001). In the cohort study, five users and four non-users of calcium channel blockers committed suicide during the follow up until the end of 1994. The absolute risk associated with use of calcium channel blockers was 1.1 suicides per 1000 person years. The relative risk, adjusted for differences in age and sex, among users versus non-users was 5.4 (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 20.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of calcium channel blockers may increase the risk of suicide.

Risk factor clustering in patients with hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The Skaraborg Hypertension Project

OBJECTIVES

To assess the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes, associations with cardiovascular risk factors and the achievement of current treatment goals.

DESIGN

A community-based, cross-sectional, observational study.

SETTING

Hypertension and diabetes outpatient clinics in primary health care, Skara, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

All patients (n = 1116; 488 men, 628 women) who performed an annual follow-up from May 1992 to September 1993.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), blood pressure, fasting B-glucose, lipids, HbAlc, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR).

RESULTS

Hypertension alone was found in 286 men and 430 women, hypertension and NIDDM combined in 102 men and 102 women, and NIDDM alone in 100 men and 96 women. Taking new cases into account, the proportion of hypertension among NIDDM patients was 57%, and the proportion of NIDDM among hypertensives was 26%. Men and women with both hypertension and NIDDM had a higher systolic blood pressure and women also had a higher diastolic blood pressure (men 168/88 mmHg, women 165/86 mmHg) than those with hypertension alone (men 152/87 mmHg, women 156/82 mmHg) (P < or = 0.001). Cardiovascular risk factors accumulated in patients with both hypertension and NIDDM (triglycerides, BMI and WHR). A diastolic blood pressure < or = 90 mmHg was achieved by 71% men and 84% women with hypertension. HbAlc < 7.5% was attained by 71% men and 70% women with NIDDM.

CONCLUSIONS

A considerable coexistence of hypertension and NIDDM was demonstrated. Cardiovascular risk factors clustered in patients with both diseases and their blood pressure was less controlled. These patients thus comprised a clinically defined group at high risk. By current guidelines, control of hypertension and NIDDM seemed appropriate.

Is there a concentration-effect relationship for sulphonylureas?

Sulphonylureas have remained the mainstay of oral therapy for type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). They stimulate insulin release from pancreatic beta cells. Pharmacokinetic differences between the various sulphonylureas are of clinical importance in terms of the time to onset of action, timing of drug administration in relation to food intake, magnitude and duration of the glucose-lowering effect and the risk of serious hypoglycaemia. Recent studies with improved analytical sensitivity have shown that the elimination half-life of glibenclamide is longer than previously thought and that 2 metabolites of glibenclamide have significant hypoglycaemic activity. Furthermore, single dose studies in healthy volunteers using an integrated pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model have identified clear concentration-effect relationships for both glibenclamide and its metabolites after oral and intravenous administration. Under multiple dose conditions, kinetic-dynamic relations have been identified with shorter-acting drugs in dosages that give discontinuous sulphonylurea exposure. However, at continuous exposure, i.e. sustained 24-hour therapeutic concentrations in plasma, there is evidence indicating the development of tolerance, which may be caused by downregulation of beta cell sensitivity. As more sophisticated concentration-effect studies appear, it has become evident that currently recommended maximum daily doses of many sulphonylureas are too high.

Pharmacokinetics of glibenclamide and its metabolites in diabetic patients with impaired renal function

BACKGROUND

Glibenclamide (Gb) may provoke long-lasting hypoglycaemic reactions, and one of the known risk factors is impaired renal function. We have demonstrated Gb to have a terminal elimination half-life of 15 h, and the main metabolites have a hypoglycaemic effect. With few exceptions, detailed studies on second generation sulphonylureas in diabetics with impaired renal function are lacking. Therefore, we analysed the pharmacokinetics of Gb and its active metabolites, 4-trans-hydroxyglibenclamide (M1) and 3-cis-hydroxy-glibenclamide (M2) in this patient group.

METHODS

Two groups of 11 diabetic patients with impaired renal function (IRF, iohexol clearance range 7-42 ml.min(-1) . 1.73 m(-2)) or normal renal function (NRF, iohexol clearance range 75-140 ml.min(-1) . 1.73 m(-2)) were compared. A single oral 7-mg dose of Gb was administered after overnight fasting. Serum samples and urine collections were obtained over 48 h and 24 h, respectively. Concentrations of Gb, M1 and M2 were determined by a sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography assay.

RESULTS

Peak serum values of M1 (24-85 ng.ml(-1) vs 16-57 ng.ml(-1)), M2 (7-22 ng.ml(-1) vs <5-18 ng.ml(-1)) and M1 + M2 (32-100 ng.ml(-1) vs 23-76 ng.ml(-1)) were higher in the IRF group. AUC and Cmax of Gb were lower and the clearance to bioavailability ratio (CL/f) was higher in the IRF group. AUC and Cmax of M1 were higher and CL/f lower in the IRF group. Much lower amounts of M and M2 were excreted in the urine in the IRF group (7.2% vs 26.4% in 24 h). The fraction of the Gb dose excreted as metabolites (fe(met) 0-24 h), ranged between 0.005 and 0.36 and correlated significantly with renal function measured by iohexol clearance. No other pharmacokinetic differences were found.

CONCLUSION

The differences in AUC, Cmax and CL/f of Gb may be explained by a higher free fraction in the IRF group which would increase Gb metabolic clearance. The inverse findings regarding M1 may be explained by the fact that the metabolites are primarily eliminated by the kidneys. After a single dose of Gb, neither Gb, M1 nor M2 seemed to accumulate in diabetic subjects with IRF. As only small amounts of M1 and M2 were excreted in the urine, this indicates one or several complementary non-renal elimination routes, e.g. shunting of metabolised Gb to the biliary excretion route and/or enterohepatic recycling of both metabolites and unmetabolised Gb.

Glucose tolerance and mortality, including a substudy of tolbutamide treatment

Mortality according to glucose tolerance was studied to determine the prognosis of impaired glucose tolerance. Among 2500 persons tested in a community screening programme in 1962-1965 and followed-up for mortality to the end of 1987, age-sex-adjusted mortality rates were 37.9 +/- 1.9, 53.6 +/- 4.2, and 70.1 +/- 3.6 deaths per 1000 person-years (+/-SE) in those with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes by World Health Organization criteria at baseline. Age-sex-adjusted mortality rates due to ischaemic heart disease were 14.3 +/- 1.1, 16.3 +/- 2.4, and 25.8 +/- 2.0 deaths per 1000 person-years, respectively. Using criteria predating those of the World Health Organization 147 men with abnormal glucose tolerance were entered into a randomized clinical trial in which 49 were treated with tolbutamide for approximately 10 years. Those treated had lower mortality rates from all causes (mortality rate ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval = 0.39, 1.10) and from ischaemic heart disease (mortality rate ratio = 0.42, 95% confidence interval = 0.16, 1.12) than those not receiving tolbutamide. Thus mortality rates are increased in persons with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes, and the small clinical trial suggests that tolbutamide may be beneficial in men with abnormal glucose tolerance.

Concentration-effect relations of glibenclamide and its active metabolites in man: modelling of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

AIMS

The main purpose of this paper is to describe the relationship between serum concentrations of glibenclamide and its main metabolites and the effects on blood glucose levels, the clinically most relevant parameter to assess in diabetes.

METHODS

Serum concentrations and blood glucose lowering effects (expressed as percent blood glucose reduction vs placebo) of glibenclamide (Gb) and its active metabolites, 4-trans-hydroxy-(M1) and 3-cis-hydroxy-glibenclamide (M2), were analysed in eight healthy subjects participating in a placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blind crossover study, using intravenous administration of each compound as well as oral administration of Gb.

RESULTS

Plots of % blood glucose reduction vs log serum concentration demonstrated counter-clockwise hysteresis for parent drug and its metabolites. An effect compartment was linked to appropriate pharmacokinetic models and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling was used to fit the pharmacokinetics of Gb by both routes and the metabolites for each individual. Based on the individual concentration-time profiles a PK/PD-model was applied to all effect data simultaneously. An increase in the steady-state serum concentration when the effect is 50% of maximal, CEss50, was found in the sequence M1 (23 ng ml-1), M2 (37 ng ml-1) and Gb (108 ng ml-1). Corresponding interindividual variabilities expressed as CV% were 25%, 47% and 26%. The elimination rate constants from the effect site (kEO) were estimated and increased in the order M1 (0.178 h-1, CV 13%), M2 (0.479 h-1, CV 8.5%) and Gb (1.59 h-1, CV 36%). Corresponding equilibration half-lives for the effect site (kEO-HL) were 3.9 h, 1.4 h and 0.44 h. Estimated Emax-values obtained for M1, M2 and Gb were 40% (CV 30%), 27% (CV 56%) and 56% (CV 14%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that the two major metabolites of Gb are hypoglycaemic in man, that they may have higher activity at low concentrations and that they may have a longer effect duration than the parent drug.

Oral antidiabetic drugs: an overview

Chronic hyperglycaemia, i.e. impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and NIDDM, conveys a great risk of macrovascular disease. Both insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion seem necessary to establish chronic hyperglycaemia, and untreated it appears to promote and worsen both insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. The prevention and treatment of chronic hyperglycaemia should include measures directed at both derangements, and the therapeutic goal should be normoglycaemia. As this is rarely achieved by non-pharmacologic treatment alone, addition of oral antidiabetic drugs are often indicated. Their ability to attain euglycaemia is greater the earlier they are employed, but they should never be introduced until after optimization of non-pharmacologic measures. Delayed early insulin response to glucose or a meal always accompanies chronic hyperglycaemia and is not normalized by non-pharmacologic treatment. This justifies the use of insulin-releasing drugs with a rapid onset of action, e.g. the sulphonylurea glipizide. The non-sulphonylureas, repaglinide and A-4166, are even more rapid- and also short-acting, representing a reduced risk of long-lasting, and hence dangerous, hypoglycaemia. Continuous exposure to high concentrations of sulphonylureas may downregulate beta-cell sensitivity. Maximum doses are much lower than previously assumed. The most effective improvers of insulin action seem to be the thiazolidinediones, but they are not yet marketed. Metformin is the only globally available drug for improving insulin action. It is as antihyperglycaemic as sulphonylureas but does not cause hyperinsulinaemia, weight increase or hypoglycaemia. The risk of lactic acidosis can be minimized by avoiding metformin in subjects with renal impairment. Combined treatment with sulphonylurea and metformin can be highly effective even in advanced NIDDM.

Postural and symptomatic improvement after physiotherapy in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin

OBJECTIVE

To assess postural performance in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin in whom extracervical causes had been excluded, and to assess the effects of physiotherapy on postural performance and subjective complaints of neck pain and dizziness.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

Primary care centers and a tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS AND SUBJECTS

Of 65 referrals, 43 patients were excluded because extracervical etiology was suspected. Of the remaining 22 patients, 17 completed the study (15 women, 2 men, x age 37 yr, range 26-49). The controls were 17 healthy subjects (15 women, 2 men, x age 36 yr, range 25-55).

INTERVENTION

Physiotherapy based on analysis of symptoms and findings, and aimed to reduce cervical discomfort. Patients were randomized either to receive immediate physiotherapy (n = 9), or to wait 2 months, undergo repeat measurements, and then receive physiotherapy (n = 8).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Posturography, measuring velocity and variance of vibration-induced body sway and variance of galvanically induced body sway. Subjective intensity of neck pain (Visual Analog Scale ratings, 0-100), intensity and frequency of dizziness (subjective score 0-4).

RESULTS

The patients manifested significantly poorer postural performance than did healthy subjects (.05 > p > .0001). Physiotherapy significantly reduced neck pain and intensity and the frequency of dizziness (p < .01), and significantly improved postural performance (.05 > p > .0007).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin are characterized by impaired postural performance. Physiotherapy reduces neck pain and dizziness and improves postural performance. Neck disorders should be considered when assessing patients complaining of dizziness, but alternative diagnoses are common.

Incidence of myocardial infarction in elderly men being treated with antihypertensive drugs: population based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the association between use of antihypertensive treatment, diastolic blood pressure, and long term incidence of ischaemic cardiac events in elderly men.

DESIGN

Population based cohort study. Baseline examination in 1982-3 and follow up for up to 10 years.

SETTING

Malmŏ, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

484 randomly selected men born in 1914 and living in Malmŏ during 1982.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Observational comparisons of incidence rates and rate and hazard ratios of ischaemic cardiac events (myocardial infarction or death due to chronic ischaemic cardiac disease).

RESULTS

The crude incidence rate of ischaemic cardiac events was higher in those subjects who were taking antihypertensive drugs than in those who were not (rate ratio 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 3.9)). After adjustment for potential confounders (differences in baseline smoking habits, blood pressure, time since diagnosis of hypertension, ischaemic or other cardiovascular disease, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and raised serum creatinine concentration) this rate was reduced but still raised (hazard ratio 1.9 (1.0 to 3.7)). In men with diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg, antihypertensive treatment was associated with a twofold increase in the incidence of ischaemic cardiac events (rate ratio 2.0 (1.1 to 3.6)), which vanished after adjustment for potential confounders (hazard ratio 1.1 (0.5 to 2.6)). In those subjects with diastolic blood pressure < or = 90 mm Hg, antihypertensive treatment was associated with fourfold increase in incidence (rate ratio 3.9 (2.1 to 7.1)), which remained after adjustment for potential confounders (hazard ratio 3.8 (1.3 to 11.0)).

CONCLUSION

Antihypertensive treatment may increase the risk of myocardial infarction in elderly men with treated diastolic blood pressures < or = 90 mm Hg.

Comparison of dose standard units for drug utilisation studies

OBJECTIVE

As employment of different dose standards would be impractical and confusing, the aim of this article is to compare the define daily dose (DDD) with some more recently proposed standards, namely, the minimum marketed dose (MMD), the equipotential dose (ED), the average daily dose (ADD), and the non-standard prescribed daily dose (PDD).

METHODS

Literature review, critical comparative analysis.

RESULTS

The DDD, defined by an independent scientific committee assisting the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drugs Statistics Methodology, has been employed in a large number of national and international comparative studies at the population level, usually as number of DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day. However, the DDD can also be used at the individual level. The PDD, not being a standard unit, can be appropriately used in a second step to explain differences detected by the DDD methodology.

CONCLUSIONS

A globally accepted dose standard unit is important in drug utilisation studies, particularly if different investigations are to be compared. None of the alternatives seemed to offer any advantage over the DDD. Hence there is reason to advocate use of the DDD as the sole standard dose unit in all pharmacoepidemiologic studies.