Adverse Drug reactions in an Ageing PopulaTion (ADAPT) study protocol: a cross-sectional and prospective cohort study of hospital admissions related to adverse drug reactions in older patients

INTRODUCTION

Older people experience greater morbidity with a corresponding increase in medication use resulting in a potentially higher risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and characteristics of ADR-related hospital admissions among older patients (≥65 years) and their associated health and cost outcomes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The proposed study will include a cross-sectional study of ADR prevalence in all patients aged ≥65 years admitted acutely to a large tertiary referral hospital in Ireland over a 9-month period (2016-2017) and a prospective cohort study of patient-reported health outcomes and costs associated with ADR-related hospital admissions. All acute medical admissions will be screened for a suspected ADR-related hospital admission. A number of validated algorithms will be applied to assess the type, causative medications, preventability and severity of each ADR. ADRs will be determined, using a consensus method, by an expert panel. Patients who provide consent will be followed up 3 months post-discharge to establish patient-reported health outcomes (health service use, health-related quality of life, adherence) and costs associated with ADR-related hospital admissions. A random sample of patients admitted to hospital without a suspected ADR will be invited to take part in the study as a control group.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval was obtained from Beaumont Hospital Ethics Committee. Findings will be disseminated through presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

Counting the time lived, the time left or illness? Age, proximity to death, morbidity and prescribing expenditures

The objective is to understand what really drives prescription expenditure at the end of life in order to inform future expenditure projections and service planning. To achieve this objective an empirical analysis of public medication expenditure on the older population (individuals ≥ 70 years of age) in Ireland (n = 231,780) was undertaken. A two part model is used to analysis the individual effects of age, proximity to death (PTD) and morbidity using individual patient-level data from administrative pharmacy records for 2006-2009 covering the population of community medication users. Decedents (n = 14,084) consistently use more medications and incur larger expenditures than similar survivors, especially in the last 6 months of life. The data show a positive and statistically significant impact of PTD on prescribing expenditures with minimal effect for age alone even accounting for patient morbidities. Nevertheless improved measures of morbidity are required to fully test the hypothesis that age and PTD are proxies for morbidity. The evidence presented refutes age as a driver of prescription expenditure and highlights the importance of accounting for mortality in future expenditure projections.

Urban-Rural Variations in Quality-of-Life in Breast Cancer Survivors Prescribed Endocrine Therapy

The number of breast cancer survivors has increased as a result of rising incidence and increased survival. Research has revealed significant urban-rural variation in clinical aspects of breast cancer but evidence in the area of survivorship is limited. We aimed to investigate whether quality of life (QoL) and treatment-related symptoms vary between urban and rural breast cancer survivors prescribed endocrine therapy. Women with a diagnosis of stages I-III breast cancer prescribed endocrine therapy were identified from the National Cancer Registry Ireland and invited to complete a postal survey (N = 1606; response rate = 66%). A composite measure of urban-rural classification was created using settlement size, population density and proximity to treatment hospital. QoL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-G) and an endocrine subscale. The association between urban-rural residence/status and QoL and endocrine symptoms was assessed using linear regression with adjustment for socio-demographic and clinical covariates. In multivariable analysis, rural survivors had a statistically significant higher overall QoL (β = 3.81, standard error (SE) 1.30, p < 0.01), emotional QoL (β = 0.70, SE 0.21, p < 0.01) and experienced a lower symptom burden (β = 1.76, SE 0.65, p < 0.01) than urban survivors. QoL in breast cancer survivors is not simply about proximity and access to healthcare services but may include individual and community level psychosocial factors.

Cardiovascular risk factors-using repeated cross-sectional surveys to assess time trends in socioeconomic inequalities in neighbouring countries

OBJECTIVES

This study compares trends in socioeconomic inequalities related to key cardiovascular risk factors in neighbouring countries Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI).

DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional studies.

SETTING

Population based.

PARTICIPANTS

3500-4000 in national surveys in NI and 5000-9000 in RoI, aged 20-69 years.

MEASURES

Educational attainment was used as a socioeconomic indicator by which the magnitude and direction of trends in inequalities for smoking, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity in NI and RoI were examined between 1997/1998 and 2007/2011. Gender-specific relative and absolute inequalities were calculated using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and Slope Index of Inequality (SII) for both countries.

RESULTS

In both countries, the prevalence of diabetes and obesity increased whereas levels of smoking and physical inactivity decreased over time. In NI relative inequalities increased for obesity (RII 1.1 in males and 2.1 in females in 2010/2011) and smoking (RII 4.5 in males and 4.2 in females in 2010/2011) for both genders and absolute inequalities increased for all risk factors in men and increased for diabetes and obesity in women. In RoI greater inequality was observed in women, particularly for smoking (RII 2.8 in 2007) and obesity (RII 8.2 in 2002) and in men for diabetes (RII 3.2 in 2002).

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions to reduce inequalities in risk factors, particularly smoking, obesity and diabetes are encouraged across both countries.

Secondary prevention and cognitive function after stroke: a study protocol for a 5-year follow-up of the ASPIRE-S cohort

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive impairment is common following stroke and can increase disability and levels of dependency of patients, potentially leading to greater burden on carers and the healthcare system. Effective cardiovascular risk factor control through secondary preventive medications may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. However, adherence to medications is often poor and can be adversely affected by cognitive deficits. Suboptimal medication adherence negatively impacts secondary prevention targets, increasing the risk of recurrent stroke and further cognitive decline. The aim of this study is to profile cognitive function and secondary prevention, including adherence to secondary preventive medications and healthcare usage, 5 years post-stroke. The prospective associations between cognition, cardiovascular risk factors, adherence to secondary preventive medications, and rates of recurrent stroke or other cardiovascular events will also be explored.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a 5-year follow-up of a prospective study of the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) cohort of patients with stroke. This cohort will have a detailed assessment of cognitive function, adherence to secondary preventive medications and cardiovascular risk factor control.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for this study was granted by the Research Ethics Committees at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin and Connolly Hospital, Dublin, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Findings will be disseminated through presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

External validation of the Vulnerable Elder's Survey for predicting mortality and emergency admission in older community-dwelling people: a prospective cohort study

Background

Prospective external validation of the Vulnerable Elder’s Survey (VES-13) in primary care remains limited. The aim of this study is to externally validate the VES-13 in predicting mortality and emergency admission in older community-dwelling adults.

Methods

Design: Prospective cohort study with 2 years follow-up (2010–2012). Setting: 15 General Practices (GPs) in the Republic of Ireland. Participants: n = 862, aged ≥70 years, community-dwellers Exposure: VES-13 calculated at baseline, where a score of ≥3 denoted high risk. Outcomes: i) Mortality; ii) ≥1 Emergency admission and ≥1 ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) admission over 2 years. Statistical analysis: Descriptive statistics, model discrimination (c-statistic) and sensitivity/specificity.

Results

Of 862 study participants, a total of 246 (38%) were classified as vulnerable at baseline. Fifty-three (6%) died during follow-up and 246 (29%) had an emergency admission. At the VES-13 cut-point of ≥3 denoting high-risk model discrimination was poor for mortality (c-statistic: 0.61 (95% CI 0.54, 0.67), ≥1 emergency admission (c-statistic: 0.59 (95% CI 0.56, 0.63) and ≥1 ACS emergency admission (c-statistic: 0.63 (95% CI 0.60, 0.67).

Conclusions

In this study the VES-13 demonstrated relatively limited predictive accuracy in predicting mortality and emergency admission. External validation studies examining the tool in different health settings and healthier populations are needed and represent an interesting area for future research.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12877-017-0460-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Disability-adjusted life years lost due to ischemic heart disease in mainland Portugal, 2013

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Estimates of the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD), including geographic differences, should support health policy decisions. We set out to estimate the burden of IHD in mainland Portugal in 2013 by calculating disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and to compare this burden between five regions.

METHODS

Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated by multiplying the number of IHD deaths in 2013 (Statistics Portugal) by the life expectancy at the age at which death occurred. Years lived with disability (YLDs) were computed as the number of cases of acute coronary syndrome, stable angina and ischemic heart failure multiplied by an average disability weight. Crude and age-standardized DALYs (direct method, Standard European Population) were calculated for mainland Portugal and for the Northern, Central, Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve regions.

RESULTS

In 2013, 95413 DALYs were lost in mainland Portugal due to IHD. YLLs accounted for 88.3% of the disease burden. Age-standardized DALY rates per 1000 population were higher in men than in women, across the entire country (8.9 in men; 3.4 in women) and within each region, ranging from 7.3 in the Northern and Central regions to 11.8 in the Algarve in men, and from 2.6 in the Northern region to 4.6 in Lisbon in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 100000 DALYs were lost to IHD in Portugal, mostly through early mortality. This study enables accurate comparisons with other countries and between regions; however, it highlights the need for population-based studies to obtain specific data on morbidity.

A multicenter randomized trial comparing the effectiveness and safety of a novel vascular closure device to manual compression in anticoagulated patients undergoing percutaneous transfemoral procedures: The CELT ACD trial

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the performance of Celt ACD^® , a novel stainless steel based vascular closure device versus manual compression (MC) for femoral arteriotomy site hemostasis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary procedures.

BACKGROUND

Optimal access site management after percutaneous transfemoral procedures remains controversial.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in this multicenter, randomized open label trial underwent 6-F diagnostic or interventional procedures and were assigned 2:1 to Celt ACD^® versus MC. All patients were on full anticoagulation. The primary efficacy end point was time to hemostasis (TTH) and the primary safety end points were 30-day incidence of major procedural and access site related complications.

RESULTS

The trial allocated 207 patients to Celt ACD^® (n = 148) versus MC (n = 59) at 5 investigational sites. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. Median TTH was 0 (Interquartile range (IQR): 0, 0.33) in the Celt ACD^® compared to 8 min (IQR: 0, 20; P < 0.0001) in the MC group. Procedural success was 99.3% in the Celt ACD^® versus 98.1% in the MC group (P = NS). There was a single major adverse event due to device maldeployment and embolization with successful percutaneous retrieval. The 30-day major complication rate was 0.7% in the Celt ACD^® and 0% in the MC group (P = NS).

CONCLUSIONS

After 6-F percutaneous invasive procedures in fully anticoagulated patients, TTH was significantly reduced in patients assigned to Celt ACD^® compared to patients managed with MC. The 30-day rates of vascular complications were similarly low in both groups. (CELT ACD Trial; NCT01600482) © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Developing and validating a theoretical measure of modifiable influences on hormonal therapy medication taking behaviour in women with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

Taking adjuvant hormonal therapy for 5-10 years is recommended to prevent breast cancer recurrence in those with oestrogen positive disease. Despite proven clinical efficacy many women do not take their hormonal therapy as prescribed. This study reports the development and initial validation of a questionnaire measuring the behavioural determinants of hormonal therapy medication taking behaviour (MTB) based on the theoretical domains framework (TDF).

DESIGN

Women with Stage I-III breast cancer (N = 223) completed the questionnaire based on the TDF. The TDF is an integrative framework consisting of 14 domains of behaviour change determinants to inform intervention design.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Items were developed from previous research, in-depth patient interviews and consultation with health professionals. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was undertaken to generate the model of best fit.

RESULTS

The final questionnaire consisted of eight domains and CFA produced a reasonable fit (χ²(810) = 942, p < .001; RMSEA = .03; CFI = .93 and WRMR = .91) as well as internal consistency (r = .16 to .64). There were adequate levels of discriminant validity for the majority of the domains.

CONCLUSIONS

A TDF-based measure of the behavioural determinants of MTB was developed. Further research is needed to confirm the reliability and validity of this measure.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules: factors affecting diagnostic outcomes and confounding variables

Background The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing in men and women. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is an accepted technique to assess thyroid nodules but is associated with a high rate of non-diagnostic sampling. Purpose To assess the diagnostic performance of ultrasound-guided FNA of thyroid nodules and identify factors associated with non-diagnostic sampling. Material and Methods A retrospective review of thyroid FNAs was performed between 2006 and 2013. Patient demographics, nodule characteristics, procedural technique, cytology, and complications were recorded. Cytology was categorized THY1-5 based on the British Thyroid Association guidelines. Descriptive and multivariable analysis were conducted to identify factors associated with non-diagnostic sampling. Results A total of 724 procedures were identified with 597 (82.5%) in women, and an overall mean age of 40 years (age range, 17-87 years). Factors associated with a non-diagnostic outcome in the multivariable regression analysis included increasing lesion depth (OR, 1.05 per mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.007-1.10), age (OR, 1.012 per year; 95% CI, 1.0-1.025) and number of FNA passes (1 vs. 4+; OR, 6.07; 95% CI, 2.27-16.21). The complication rate was 1.1% related to perilesional hematomas and vaso-vagal episodes. Conclusion Thyroid FNA is a safe and reliable procedure for cytological assessment of thyroid nodules. Deeper nodules and older patients are more likely to have non-diagnostic samples.

Can demographic, clinical and treatment-related factors available at hormonal therapy initiation predict non-persistence in women with stage I-III breast cancer?

PURPOSE

To investigate whether demographic, clinical and treatment-related risk factors known at treatment initiation can be used to reliably predict future hormonal therapy non-persistence in women with breast cancer, and to inform intervention development.

METHODS

Women with stage I-III breast cancer diagnosed 2000-2012 and prescribed hormonal therapy were identified from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) and linked to pharmacy claims data from Ireland's Primary Care Reimbursement Services (PCRS). Non-persistence was defined as a treatment gap of ≥180 days within 5 years of initiation. Seventeen demographic, clinical and treatment-related risk factors, identified from a systematic review, were abstracted from the NCRI-PCRS dataset. Multivariate binomial models were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and risk differences (RD) for associations between risk factors and non-persistence. Calibration and discriminative performance of the models were assessed. The analysis was repeated for early non-persistence (<1 year of initiation).

RESULTS

Within 5 years of treatment initiation 680 women (19.9%) were non-persistent. Women aged <50 years (adjusted RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16-1.70) and those prescribed antidepressants (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.45) had increased risk of non-persistence. Married women (RR 0.82 95% CI 0.71-0.94) and those with prior medication use (RR 0.62 95% CI 0.51-0.75) had reduced risk of non-persistence. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for non-persistence was 0.61. Findings were similar for early non-persistence.

CONCLUSION

The risk prediction model did not discriminate well between women at higher and lower risk of non-persistence at treatment initiation. Future studies should consider other factors, such as psychological characteristics and experience of side-effects.

Identifying Incomplete Atypical Femoral Fractures With Single-Energy Absorptiometry: Declining Prevalence

Background:

Atypical femur fractures (AFFs) are associated with long-term bisphosphonate (BP) therapy. Early identification of AFF prior to their completion provides an opportunity to intervene, potentially reducing morbidity associated with these fractures. Single-energy X-ray absorptiometry (SE) is an imaging method recently shown to detect incomplete AFF (iAFF) prior to fracture completion.

Methods:

Between May 2013 and September 2014, we assessed 173 patients who had been prescribed BP therapy for >5 years for iAFF using SE at their presentation for routine bone mineral density testing. We compared these findings with those of our previously published prospective study (n = 257) in which the femur was imaged for iAFF using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In addition, we estimated the yearly prevalence of complete AFF among patients with subtrochanteric fracture at our institution from 2006 to 2014, and we evaluated prescribing trends for BP in Ireland from 2009 to 2014.

Results:

No patients had iAFF using SE femur compared with a prevalence of 2.7% in the earlier study. Between 2006 and 2014, we observed a rise and decline in AFFs at our hospital and a similar national trend in BP prescribing.

Conclusions:

AFFs appear to be decreasing. New customized scan modes of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry systems, which visualize the entire femur at high image quality and take measurements, have the potential to identify iAFF prior to fracture completion and to ascertain those at highest risk of AFF.

Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced (PEECE): developing and testing a measurement instrument

OBJECTIVES

The Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced (PEECE) is a 12-item questionnaire which measures the mental well-being state of emotional comfort in patients. The instrument was developed using previous qualitative work and published literature.

DESIGN

Instrument development.

SETTING

Acute Care Public Hospital, Western Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Sample of 374 patients.

INTERVENTIONS

A multidisciplinary expert panel assessed the face and content validity of the instrument and following a pilot study, the psychometric properties of the instrument were explored.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis assessed the underlying dimensions of the PEECE instrument; Cronbach's α was used to determine the reliability; κ was used for test-retest reliability of the ordinal items.

RESULTS

2 factors were identified in the instrument and named 'positive emotions' and 'perceived meaning'. A greater proportion of male patients were found to report positive emotions compared with female patients. The instrument was found to be feasible, reliable and valid for use with inpatients and outpatients.

CONCLUSIONS

PEECE was found to be a feasible instrument for use with inpatient and outpatients, being easily understood and completed. Further psychometric testing is recommended.

Patterns of statin initiation and continuation in patients with breast or colorectal cancer, towards end-of-life

Purpose

Cross-sectional studies show that statins, used in cardiovascular disease prevention, are often discontinued approaching death. Studies investigating associations between statin exposure and cancer outcomes, not accounting for these exposure changes, are prone to reverse causation bias. The aim of this study was to describe longitudinally the changes in statin initiation and continuation prior to death in patients with breast or colorectal cancer, thus establishing an appropriate exposure lag time.

Methods

This study was carried out using linked cancer registry and prescribing data. We identified patients who died of their cancer (cases) and cancer survivors were used as controls. The probability of initiating or continuing statin use was estimated up to 5 years prior to death (or index date). Conditional binomial models were used to estimate relative risks and risk differences for associations between approaching cancer death and statin use.

Results

Compared to controls, the probability of continued statin use in breast cancer cases was significantly lower 3 months prior to death (RR 0.86 95% CI 0.79, 0.94). Similarly, in colorectal cancer cases, the probability of continued statin use was significantly lower 3 months prior to colorectal cancer death (RR 0.77 95% CI 0.68, 0.88).

Conclusion

A significant proportion of patients will cease statin treatment in the months prior to a colorectal or breast cancer death.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3576-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The 2014 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada on Mood and Anxiety Disorders: a methodological overview

INTRODUCTION

There is a paucity of information about the impact of mood and anxiety disorders on Canadians and the approaches used to manage them. To address this gap, the 2014 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada-Mood and Anxiety Disorders Component (SLCDC-MA) was developed. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology of the 2014 SLCDC-MA and examine the sociodemographic characteristics of the final sample.

METHODS

The 2014 SLCDC-MA is a cross-sectional follow-up survey that includes Canadians from the 10 provinces aged 18 years and older with mood and/or anxiety disorders diagnosed by a health professional that are expected to last, or have already lasted, six months or more. The survey was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) through an iterative, consultative process with Statistics Canada and external experts. Statistics Canada performed content testing, designed the sampling frame and strategies and collected and processed the data. PHAC used descriptive analyses to describe the respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, produced nationally representative estimates using survey weights provided by Statistics Canada, and generated variance estimates using bootstrap methodology.

RESULTS

The final 2014 SLCDC-MA sample consists of a total of 3361 respondents (68.9% response rate). Among Canadian adults with mood and/or anxiety disorders, close to twothirds (64%) were female, over half (56%) were married/in a common-law relationship and 60% obtained a post-secondary education. Most were young or middle-aged (85%), Canadian born (88%), of non-Aboriginal status (95%), and resided in an urban setting (82%). Household income was fairly evenly distributed between the adequacy quintiles; however, individuals were more likely to report a household income adequacy within the lowest (23%) versus highest (17%) quintile. Forty-five percent reported having a mood disorder only, 24% an anxiety disorder only and 31% both kinds of disorder.

CONCLUSION

The 2014 SLCDC-MA is the only national household survey to collect information on the experiences of Canadians living with a professionally diagnosed mood and/or anxiety disorder. The information collected offers insights into areas where additional support or interventions may be needed and provides baseline information for future public health research in the area of mental illness.

Propranolol and survival from breast cancer: a pooled analysis of European breast cancer cohorts

BACKGROUND

Preclinical studies have demonstrated that propranolol inhibits several pathways involved in breast cancer progression and metastasis. We investigated whether breast cancer patients who used propranolol, or other non-selective beta-blockers, had reduced breast cancer-specific or all-cause mortality in eight European cohorts.

METHODS

Incident breast cancer patients were identified from eight cancer registries and compiled through the European Cancer Pharmacoepidemiology Network. Propranolol and non-selective beta-blocker use was ascertained for each patient. Breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality were available for five and eight cohorts, respectively. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer-specific and all-cause mortality by propranolol and non-selective beta-blocker use. HRs were pooled across cohorts using meta-analysis techniques. Dose-response analyses by number of prescriptions were also performed. Analyses were repeated investigating propranolol use before cancer diagnosis.

RESULTS

The combined study population included 55,252 and 133,251 breast cancer patients in the analysis of breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality respectively. Overall, there was no association between propranolol use after diagnosis of breast cancer and breast cancer-specific or all-cause mortality (fully adjusted HR = 0.94, 95% CI, 0.77, 1.16 and HR = 1.09, 95% CI, 0.93, 1.28, respectively). There was little evidence of a dose-response relationship. There was also no association between propranolol use before breast cancer diagnosis and breast cancer-specific or all-cause mortality (fully adjusted HR = 1.03, 95% CI, 0.86, 1.22 and HR = 1.02, 95% CI, 0.94, 1.10, respectively). Similar null associations were observed for non-selective beta-blockers.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large pooled analysis of breast cancer patients, use of propranolol or non-selective beta-blockers was not associated with improved survival.

Association of anticholinergic burden with adverse effects in older people with intellectual disabilities: an observational cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

No studies to date have investigated cumulative anticholinergic exposure and its effects in adults with intellectual disabilities.

AIMS

To determine the cumulative exposure to anticholinergics and the factors associated with high exposure.

METHOD

A modified Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale score was calculated for a representative cohort of 736 people over 40 years old with intellectual disabilities, and associations with demographic and clinical factors assessed.

RESULTS

Age over 65 years was associated with higher exposure (ACB 1-4 odds ratio (OR) = 3.28, 95% CI 1.49-7.28, ACB 5+ OR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.20-7.63), as was a mental health condition (ACB 1-4 OR = 9.79, 95% CI 5.63-17.02, ACB 5+ OR = 23.74, 95% CI 12.29-45.83). Daytime drowsiness was associated with higher ACB (P<0.001) and chronic constipation reported more frequently (26.6% ACB 5+ v. 7.5% ACB 0, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Older people with intellectual disabilities and with mental health conditions were exposed to high anticholinergic burden. This was associated with daytime dozing and constipation.

Does the EQ-5D capture the effects of physical and mental health status on life satisfaction among older people? A path analysis approach

PURPOSE

To examine the extent to which EQ-5D utility scores capture the effect of mental and physical health status on life satisfaction (LS) in older adults.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 884 patients aged ≥70 years from 15 general practices in Ireland, including medical records, pharmacy claims, and self-completion questionnaire. Path analysis was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of: (1) chronic disease burden (based on medications data); (2) activity limitation (basic and instrumental activities of daily living); (3) anxiety symptoms and; (4) depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) on LS (Life Satisfaction Index Z), via a utility score based on responses to the EQ-5D scale. Utility scores were calculated using UK time trade-off utility weights. Covariates included age and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

The final path model fitted the data well (goodness of fit χ² = 7.5, df (7), p = 0.37). The direct effects of chronic disease burden and disability on LS were not statistically significant and were excluded from the final model, indicating that EQ-5D score mediated 100% of the total effect on LS. The direct and indirect effects of anxiety and depression on LS were statistically significant, but the size of the indirect effect was small (4% of the total effect for anxiety and 6% of the total effect for depression).

CONCLUSION

The EQ-5D does not adequately capture the effects of anxiety and depression on LS among older adults, suggesting that it may lead to inaccurate assessments of the effectiveness of interventions in this cohort.

External validation of the Probability of repeated admission (Pra) risk prediction tool in older community-dwelling people attending general practice: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Emergency admission is associated with the potential for adverse events in older people and risk prediction models are available to identify those at highest risk of admission. The aim of this study was to externally validate and compare the performance of the Probability of repeated admission (Pra) risk model and a modified version (incorporating a multimorbidity measure) in predicting emergency admission in older community-dwelling people.

SETTING

15 general practices (GPs) in the Republic of Ireland.

PARTICIPANTS

n=862, ≥70 years, community-dwelling people prospectively followed up for 2 years (2010-2012).

EXPOSURE

Pra risk model (original and modified) calculated for baseline year where ≥0.5 denoted high risk (patient questionnaire, GP medical record review) of future emergency admission.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

Emergency admission over 1 year (GP medical record review).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

descriptive statistics, model discrimination (c-statistic) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic).

RESULTS

Of 862 patients, a total of 154 (18%) had ≥1 emergency admission(s) in the follow-up year. 63 patients (7%) were classified as high risk by the original Pra and of these 26 (41%) were admitted. The modified Pra classified 391 (45%) patients as high risk and 103 (26%) were subsequently admitted. Both models demonstrated only poor discrimination (original Pra: c-statistic 0.65 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.70); modified Pra: c-statistic 0.67 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.72)). When categorised according to risk-category model, specificity was highest for the original Pra at cut-point of ≥0.5 denoting high risk (95%), and for the modified Pra at cut-point of ≥0.7 (95%). Both models overestimated the number of admissions across all risk strata.

CONCLUSIONS

While the original Pra model demonstrated poor discrimination, model specificity was high and a small number of patients identified as high risk. Future validation studies should examine higher cut-points denoting high risk for the modified Pra, which has practical advantages in terms of application in GP. The original Pra tool may have a role in identifying higher-risk community-dwelling older people for inclusion in future trials aiming to reduce emergency admissions.

Characterizing Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Older People in Primary Care in Ireland from 1997 to 2012

OBJECTIVES

To characterize prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and medicines that increase gastrointestinal bleeding risk (ulcerogenic) in older people from 1997 to 2012 and assess factors associated with maximal-dose prescribing in long-term PPI users.

DESIGN

Repeated cross-sectional study of pharmacy claims data.

SETTING

Eastern Health Board region of Ireland.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals aged 65 and older from a means-tested health plan in 1997, 2002, 2007, and 2012 (range 78,489-133,884 individuals).

MEASUREMENTS

PPI prescribing prevalence was determined per study year, categorized according to duration (≤8 or >8 weeks), dosage (maximal or maintenance), and co-prescribed drugs. Logistic regression in long-term PPI users was used to determine whether age, sex, polypharmacy, and ulcerogenic medicine use were associated with being prescribed a maximal dose rather than a maintenance dose. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are presented.

RESULTS

Half of this older population received a PPI in 2007 and 2012. Long-term use (>8 weeks) of maximal doses rose from 0.8% of individuals in 1997 to 23.6% in 2012. Although some ulcerogenic medicines and polypharmacy were significantly associated with maximal PPI doses, any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use was significantly associated with lower odds of maximal PPI dose (adjusted OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.85-0.89), as were aspirin use and older age. Adjusting for medication and demographic factors, odds of being prescribed a maximal PPI dose were significantly higher in 2012 than in 1997 (adjusted OR = 6.30, 95% CI = 5.76-6.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term maximal-dose PPI prescribing is highly prevalent in older adults and is not consistently associated with gastrointestinal bleeding risk factors. Interventions involving prescribers and patients may promote appropriate PPI use, reducing costs and adverse effects of PPI overprescribing.

Comparison of count-based multimorbidity measures in predicting emergency admission and functional decline in older community-dwelling adults: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Multimorbidity, defined as the presence of 2 or more chronic medical conditions in an individual, is associated with poorer health outcomes. Several multimorbidity measures exist, and the challenge is to decide which to use preferentially in predicting health outcomes. The study objective was to compare the performance of 5 count-based multimorbidity measures in predicting emergency hospital admission and functional decline in older community-dwelling adults attending primary care.

SETTING

15 general practices (GPs) in Ireland.

PARTICIPANTS

n=862, ≥70 years, community-dwellers followed-up for 2 years (2010-2012). Exposure at baseline: Five multimorbidity measures (disease counts, selected conditions counts, Charlson comorbidity index, RxRisk-V, medication counts) calculated using GP medical record and linked national pharmacy claims data.

PRIMARY OUTCOMES

(1) Emergency admission and ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) admission (GP medical record) and (2) functional decline (postal questionnaire).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistics and measure discrimination (c-statistic, 95% CIs), adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

Median age was 77 years and 53% were women. Prevalent rates ranged from 37% to 91% depending on which measure was used to define multimorbidity. All measures demonstrated poor discrimination for the outcome of emergency admission (c-statistic range: 0.62, 0.65), ACS admission (c-statistic range: 0.63, 0.68) and functional decline (c-statistic range: 0.55, 0.61). Medication-based measures were equivalent to diagnosis-based measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The choice of measure may have a significant impact on prevalent rates. Five multimorbidity measures demonstrated poor discrimination in predicting emergency admission and functional decline, with medication-based measures equivalent to diagnosis-based measures. Consideration of multimorbidity in isolation is insufficient for predicting these outcomes in community settings.

PIPc study: development of indicators of potentially inappropriate prescribing in children (PIPc) in primary care using a modified Delphi technique

OBJECTIVE

There is limited evidence regarding the quality of prescribing for children in primary care. Several prescribing criteria (indicators) have been developed to assess the appropriateness of prescribing in older and middle-aged adults but few are relevant to children. The objective of this study was to develop a set of prescribing indicators that can be applied to prescribing or dispensing data sets to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing in children (PIPc) in primary care settings.

DESIGN

Two-round modified Delphi consensus method.

SETTING

Irish and UK general practice.

PARTICIPANTS

A project steering group consisting of academic and clinical general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists was formed to develop a list of indicators from literature review and clinical expertise. 15 experts consisting of GPs, pharmacists and paediatricians from the Republic of Ireland and the UK formed the Delphi panel.

RESULTS

47 indicators were reviewed by the project steering group and 16 were presented to the Delphi panel. In the first round of this exercise, consensus was achieved on nine of these indicators. Of the remaining seven indicators, two were removed following review of expert panel comments and discussion of the project steering group. The second round of the Delphi process focused on the remaining five indicators, which were amended based on first round feedback. Three indicators were accepted following the second round of the Delphi process and the remaining two indicators were removed. The final list consisted of 12 indicators categorised by respiratory system (n=6), gastrointestinal system (n=2), neurological system (n=2) and dermatological system (n=2).

CONCLUSIONS

The PIPc indicators are a set of prescribing criteria developed for use in children in primary care in the absence of clinical information. The utility of these criteria will be tested in further studies using prescribing databases.

Immunological efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine strategies in HIV-infected adults: a randomized clinical trial

The aim of this study was to compare the immunologic response to a prime-boost immunization strategy combining the 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) with the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23) versus the PPSV23 alone in HIV-infected adults. HIV-infected adults were randomized to receive PCV13 at week 0 followed by PPSV23 at week 4 (n = 31, prime-boost group) or PPSV23 alone at week 4 (n = 33, PPSV23-alone group). Serotype specific IgG geometric mean concentration (GMC) and functional oposonophagocytic (OPA) geometric mean titer (GMT) were compared for 12 pneumococcal serotypes shared by both vaccines at week 8 and week 28. The prime-boost vaccine group were more likely to achieve a ≥2-fold increase in IgG GMC and a GMC >1 ug/ml at week 8 (odds ratio (OR) 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46-2.74, p < 0.01) and week 28 (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.40-2.70, p < 0.01). Similarly, the prime-boost vaccine group were more likely to achieve a ≥4-fold increase in GMT at week 8 (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.22-2.39, p < 0.01) and week 28 (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.15-2.3, p < 0.01). This study adds to evidence supporting current pneumococcal vaccination recommendations combining the conjugate and polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines in the United States and Europe for HIV-infected individuals.