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Talwar A, Chatterjee S, Sherer J, Abughosh S, Johnson M, Aparasu RR. Cumulative Anticholinergic Burden and its Predictors among Older Adults with Alzheimer's Disease Initiating Cholinesterase Inhibitors. Drugs Aging 2024; 41:339-355. [PMID: 38467994 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-024-01103-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cumulative anticholinergic burden refers to the cumulative effect of multiple medications with anticholinergic properties. However, concomitant use of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) and anticholinergic burden can nullify the benefit of the treatment and worsen Alzheimer's disease (AD). A literature gap exists regarding the extent of the cumulative anticholinergic burden and associated risk factors in AD. Therefore, this study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of cumulative anticholinergic burden among patients with AD initiating ChEIs. METHODS A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted using the Medicare claims data involving parts A, B, and D from 2013 to 2017. The study sample included older adults (65 years and older) diagnosed with AD and initiating ChEIs (donepezil, rivastigmine, or galantamine). The cumulative anticholinergic burden was calculated based on the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale and patient-specific dosing using the defined daily dose over the 1 year follow-up period after ChEI initiation. Incremental anticholinergic burden levels were dichotomized into moderate-high (sum of standardized daily anticholinergic exposure over a year (TSDD) score ≥ 90) versus low-no (score 0-89). The Andersen Behavioral Model was used as the conceptual framework for selecting the predictors under the predisposing, enabling, and need categories. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the predictors of high-moderate versus low-no cumulative anticholinergic burden. A multinomial logistic regression model was also used to determine the factors associated with patients having moderate and high burdens compared to low/no burdens. RESULTS The study included 222,064 older adults with AD with incident ChEI use (mean age 82.24 ± 7.29, 68.9% females, 83.6% White). Overall, 80.48% had some anticholinergic burden during the follow-up, with 36.26% patients with moderate (TSDD scores 90-499), followed by 24.76% high (TSDD score > 500), and 19.46% with low (TSDD score 1-89) burden categories. Predisposing factors such as age; African American, Asian, or Hispanic race; and need factors included comorbidities such as dyslipidemia, syncope, delirium, fracture, pneumonia, epilepsy, and claims-based frailty index were less likely to be associated with the moderate-high anticholinergic burden. The factors that increased the odds of moderate-high burden were predisposing factors such as female sex; enabling factors such as dual eligibility and diagnosis year; and need factors such as baseline burden, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, depression, insomnia, urinary incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, muscle spasm, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart failure, and dysrhythmia. Most of these findings remained consistent with multinomial logistic regression. CONCLUSION: Four out of five older adults with AD had some level of anticholinergic burden, with over 60% having moderate-high anticholinergic burden. Several predisposing, enabling, and need factors were associated with the cumulative anticholinergic burden. The study findings suggest a critical need to minimize the cumulative anticholinergic burden to improve AD care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashna Talwar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey Sherer
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Translational Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Susan Abughosh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael Johnson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rajender R Aparasu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, Adjunct Professor of Geriatrics, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Health and Biomedical Sciences Building 2 - Office 4052, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, 4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
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Dmochowski RR, Newman DK, Rovner ES, Zillioux J, Malik RD, Ackerman AL. Patient and Clinician Challenges with Anticholinergic Step Therapy in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder: A Narrative Review. Adv Ther 2023; 40:4741-4757. [PMID: 37725308 PMCID: PMC10567877 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-023-02625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Anticholinergics have been used in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), but their use is limited by poor tolerability and anticholinergic-related side effects. Increasingly, providers are discontinuing anticholinergic prescribing because of growing evidence of the association of anticholinergic use with increased risk of cognitive decline and other adverse effects. Newer medications for OAB, the β3-adrenergic receptor agonists mirabegron and vibegron, do not have anticholinergic properties and are typically well tolerated; however, many insurance plans have limited patient access to these newer OAB medications by requiring step therapy, meaning less expensive anticholinergic medications must be trialed and/or failed before a β3-agonist will be covered and dispensed. Thus, many patients are unable to easily access these medications. Step therapy and other drug utilization strategies (e.g., prior authorization) are often used to manage the growing costs of pharmaceuticals, but these policies do not always follow treatment guidelines and may harm patients as a result of treatment delays, discontinuations, or related increases in adverse events. Medical professionals have called for reform of drug utilization strategies through partnerships that include clinicians and policymakers. This narrative review discusses prescribing patterns for OAB treatment and the effect of switching between drugs, as well as the costs of step therapy and prior authorization on patients and prescribers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger R Dmochowski
- Department of Urologic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Diane K Newman
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eric S Rovner
- Department of Urology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jacqueline Zillioux
- Department of Urology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Rena D Malik
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A Lenore Ackerman
- Departments of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Box 951738, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1738, USA.
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Cooperberg MR, Mbassa R, Walker D, Meeks W, Lockefeer A, Jiang B, Li T, Johnston K, Fang R. Insights from the AQUA Registry: a retrospective study of anticholinergic polypharmacy in the United States. Ther Adv Urol 2023; 15:17562872221150572. [PMID: 36703880 PMCID: PMC9871979 DOI: 10.1177/17562872221150572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anticholinergic (ACH) burden is a risk factor for negative health outcomes among older adults. Several medications contribute to ACH burden, including antimuscarinics used to manage overactive bladder (OAB). Objectives This study aimed to understand the extent of ACH burden in an OAB population in the United States. Design Non-interventional retrospective analysis. Methods Adults with OAB whose care providers participated in the American Urological Association Quality (AQUA) Registry between 2014 and 2020 were included in this study. An adapted version of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA) measure of anticholinergic polypharmacy (poly-ACH) was used to assess ACH burden. The primary outcome was the annual prevalence of poly-ACH, and a secondary outcome was the percentage of patients taking 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or ⩾ 5 ACH medications by calendar year. Analyses were stratified by age category at diagnosis and sex. Results The sample comprised 552,840 patients with OAB. The mean age at initial OAB diagnosis was 65.7 years (58.2% male; 57.4% white). Prevalence of poly-ACH was highest in 2015 (3.7%) and lowest in 2020 (1.9%). Patients prescribed no ACH medications made up the largest proportion of each cohort, while those prescribed five or more comprised the smallest. The trend of decreasing proportions of patients taking increasing numbers of ACH medications was consistent. The proportion of patients prescribed no ACH medications increased from 63.3% in 2014 to 74.6% in 2020. The percentage of those prescribed three or more ACHs remained largely unchanged. Poly-ACH was highest among younger individuals (< 65 years of age) and females; temporal trends were similar overall and within each age and sex stratum. Conclusion In this study, poly-ACH in patients with OAB was relatively infrequent and decreased over the study period. Further evaluation of poly-ACH is needed to assess whether the study findings reflect increased awareness of the negative effects of poly-ACH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Cooperberg
- Departments of Urology and Epidemiology &
Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- American Urological Association, Linthicum, MD,
USA
| | | | | | | | - Amy Lockefeer
- Astellas Pharma Global Development Inc.,
Northbrook, IL, USA
| | | | - Tina Li
- Broadstreet Health Economics and Outcomes
Research, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Karissa Johnston
- Broadstreet Health Economics and Outcomes
Research, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Raymond Fang
- American Urological Association, Linthicum,
MD, USA
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Duperrouzel C, Martin C, Mendell A, Bourque M, Carrera A, Mack A, Nesheim J. Healthcare and economic burden of anticholinergic use in adults with overactive bladder: a systematic literature review. J Comp Eff Res 2022; 11:1375-1394. [PMID: 36354285 DOI: 10.2217/cer-2022-0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To determine the economic burden associated with anticholinergic medication use in adults with overactive bladder (OAB) in the USA. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify articles assessing healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with anticholinergic use in adults with OAB. Results: From the 34 articles identified, increased anticholinergic burden, switching anticholinergic treatments and potentially inappropriate anticholinergic use were associated with increased HCRU and/or costs. However, studies comparing patients with OAB receiving anticholinergics to individuals with untreated OAB or without OAB reported a mix of increases and decreases in HCRU and costs. Conclusion: Additional controlled studies assessing the economic impact of anticholinergics in OAB are needed and may enable optimization of economic and potentially patient outcomes.
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Chatterjee S, Walker D, Kimura T, Aparasu RR. The Costs and Healthcare Resource Utilization Associated with Anticholinergic Burden in Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents with Overactive Bladder in the US. PHARMACOECONOMICS - OPEN 2021; 5:727-736. [PMID: 34255290 PMCID: PMC8611128 DOI: 10.1007/s41669-021-00281-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent condition commonly treated with anticholinergic medications. The extent to which anticholinergic burden is associated with costs and healthcare resource use (HCRU) in the long-stay nursing home (LSNH) setting is currently unknown. OBJECTIVES This research evaluated the impact of anticholinergic burden on HCRU and related costs among LSNH residents with OAB. METHODS This was a cohort study based on 2013-2015 Minimum Data Set-linked Medicare claims data involving LSNH residents aged ≥ 65 years with OAB and having Parts A, B and D coverage 6 months pre- and ≥ 12 months post-nursing home admission date (index date). Cumulative anticholinergic burden was determined using the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden scale and defined daily dose. Direct medical costs related to HCRU were examined. HCRU included inpatient, outpatient, emergency room (ER), and physician office visits. Costs and HCRU associated with levels of anticholinergic burden were evaluated using generalized linear models. RESULTS A total of 123,308 LSNH residents with OAB were included in this study. Most residents (87.2%) had some level (12.8%, none; 18.0%, low; 41.9%, moderate; and 27.3%, high) of cumulative anticholinergic burden. Results indicate that all types of resource utilization were higher among those with any level of anticholinergic burden than those with no burden. The outpatient, ER, and physician costs tended to be higher with increasing anticholinergic burden. CONCLUSIONS Costs and HCRU patterns reflected increasing trends with anticholinergic burden. Targeted efforts towards reducing anticholinergic burden among LSNH residents with OAB may result in decreases in costs and HCRU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satabdi Chatterjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Health and Biomedical Sciences Building 2, Office 4052, 4849 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA
| | - David Walker
- Medical Affairs, U.S., Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Tomomi Kimura
- Advanced Informatics and Analytics, Real World Data and Evidence, Astellas US LLC, Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Rajender R Aparasu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston, Health and Biomedical Sciences Building 2, Office 4052, 4849 Calhoun Road, Houston, TX, 77204-5047, USA.
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Campbell NL, Hines L, Epstein AJ, Walker D, Lockefeer A, Shiozawa A. A 12-Year Retrospective Study of the Prevalence of Anticholinergic Polypharmacy and Associated Outcomes Among Medicare Patients with Overactive Bladder in the USA. Drugs Aging 2021; 38:1075-1085. [PMID: 34746992 PMCID: PMC8651576 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-021-00901-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objective Antimuscarinics, drugs with anticholinergic properties, are frequently prescribed for overactive bladder, and anticholinergic burden is associated with adverse events. The “Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults” (Poly-ACH) measure was developed by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and is used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Using the Poly-ACH measure, we assessed the prevalence of anticholinergic polypharmacy among Medicare patients in the USA with overactive bladder and determined associations between polypharmacy and medical conditions, care, and spending. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with overactive bladder (coverage period: 2006–2017). Anticholinergic polypharmacy, measured by the Poly-ACH, was defined as concurrent use of two or more anticholinergics, each with two or more prescription claims on different dates of service for ≥ 30 cumulative days. Change in annual frequency of anticholinergic polypharmacy was assessed using logistic regression. Associations between anticholinergic polypharmacy over 3 years and falls, fractures, mental status, and medical care spending were assessed with longitudinal regression models. Results In total, 226,712 patients contributed 940,201 person-years of follow-up after overactive bladder diagnosis. The share of patients meeting the Poly-ACH definition was 3.3% in 2006 and 1.7% in 2017. Women and nursing home residents had higher risks of anticholinergic polypharmacy. Having 1 year or more of positive Poly-ACH status in the 3 years prior was associated with higher rates of all outcomes. Conclusions Anticholinergic polypharmacy was uncommon among older adults with overactive bladder. Prevalence was higher among women and nursing home residents, and it was associated with negative outcomes, highlighting potential longitudinal implications of anticholinergic burden. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40266-021-00901-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noll L Campbell
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Lisa Hines
- Pharmacy Quality Alliance, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | | | - David Walker
- Medical Affairs, U.S., Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA
| | - Amy Lockefeer
- Medical Affairs, U.S., Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA
| | - Aki Shiozawa
- Medical Affairs, U.S., Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc., 1 Astellas Way, Northbrook, IL, 60062, USA.
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Increased Healthcare Resource Utilization and Direct and Indirect Costs in Patients with Depression and Comorbid Overactive Bladder: Evidence From a Retrospective, Matched Case-Control Cohort Analysis. Adv Ther 2020; 37:4599-4613. [PMID: 32910419 PMCID: PMC7547960 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-020-01485-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Introduction This study sought to compare healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), costs, and workplace productivity among patients with depression, with and without overactive bladder (OAB). Methods This retrospective, case–control cohort analysis compares HCRU, costs, and workplace productivity among propensity score matched patients with depression and OAB (case cohort) and patients with depression without OAB (control cohort). Patients were aged 18 years or older, insured/on Medicare, and had diagnosed depression and an antidepressant medication claim pre index. First OAB-related event was index for cases; controls were assigned a proxy (study period 12 months). Comparisons of HCRU and costs and regression models assessed the relationship between OAB and costs. For the workplace productivity subset analyses cases and controls were balanced on baseline covariates for the short-term disability analyses but as they were unbalanced for the absentee analyses, multivariate regression analyses were used for this subset. Results The study criteria were met by 39,085 cases and 308,736 controls, from which, 37,997 patients were successfully matched 1:1 (mean age 55 years; 81% female). Most depression-related HCRU measures were similar across cohorts; however, outpatient visits, ER visits, and number of unique depression medications were significantly higher (all p < 0.05) among cases. Cases also had 13% higher total depression-related costs (p < 0.0001). Total mean (standard deviation [SD]) depression-related costs were $1796 ($4235) for cases versus $1597 ($3863) for controls (p < 0.0001). For workplace productivity (absentee data: cases [n = 686], controls [n = 642]; short-term disability data: cases [n = 4395], controls [n = 4433]) absentee outcomes were similar across cohorts. However, a higher percentage of cases used short-term disability benefits compared to controls (21.3% versus 16.9%; p < 0.0001) and cases experienced more case days (11.0 versus 8.6 mean days) and received higher mean payments than controls ($1226 versus $1033; p < 0.0001) in this subset. Conclusions OAB was associated with 13% higher depression-related costs and 4.4% more cases used short-term disability benefits. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-020-01485-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Araklitis G, Robinson D. The cognitive safety of antimuscarinics in the treatment of overactive bladder. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2020; 19:1303-1313. [PMID: 32857638 DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2020.1817377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Overactive bladder is a common problem women suffer from, with its incidence increasing with age. The mainstay of treatment is antimuscarinic medication. There is growing evidence that antimuscarinics may increase the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, and even death. AREAS COVERED This review explores the evidence that antimuscarinics increase the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, and death. It evaluates how best to treat overactive bladder the older woman. EXPERT OPINION The evidence suggests that antimuscarinics increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the older adult. Care should be taken to use an antimuscarinic that is less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier and thus reduce the risk of these significant adverse events. A patient's anticholinergic load also needs to be considered when treating this group. Other treatment options such as fluid management, bladder retraining, vaginal estrogens, mirabegron, Onabotulinum toxin A and neuromodulation can be used instead.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dudley Robinson
- Urogynaecology Department, King's College Hospital , London, UK
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