Prescription drug claims following a traumatic spinal cord injury for older adults: a retrospective population-based study in Ontario, Canada

Polypharmacy in spinal cord injury: Matched cohort analysis comparing drug classes, medical complications, and healthcare utilization metrics with 24-month follow-up

OBJECTIVE

Polypharmacy in spinal cord injury (SCI) is common and predisposes patients to increased risk of adverse events. Evaluation of long-term health consequences and economic burden of polypharmacy in patients with SCI is explored.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

METHODS

The IBM Marketscan Research Databases claims-based dataset was queried to search for adult patients with SCI with a 2-year follow-up.

PARTICIPANTS

Two matched cohorts were analyzed: those with and without polypharmacy, analyzing index hospitalization, readmissions, payments, and health outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 11 569 individuals with SCI were included, of which 7235 (63%) were in the polypharmacy group who took a median of 11 separate drugs over two years. Opioid analgesics were the most common medication, present in 57% of patients with SCI meeting the criteria of polypharmacy, followed by antidepressant medications (46%) and muscle relaxants (40%). Risk of pneumonia was increased for the polypharmacy group (58%) compared to the non-polypharmacy group (45%), as were urinary tract infection (79% versus 63%), wound infection (30% versus 21%), depression (76% versus 57%), and adverse drug events (24% versus 15%) at 2 years. Combined median healthcare payments were higher in polypharmacy at 2 years ($44 333 vs. $10 937, P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Majority of individuals with SCI met the criteria for polypharmacy with nearly 60% of those prescribed opioids and taking drugs from high-risk side effect profiles. Polypharmacy in SCI was associated with a greater risk of pneumonia, depression, urinary tract infections, adverse drug events, and emergency room visits over two years with four times higher overall healthcare payments at 1-year post-injury.

Does cardiometabolic risk profile differ among individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI): the evidence from the multicenter SCI cohort in Switzerland (SwiSCI)

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and non-traumatic SCI (NTSCI) experience different trajectories in changes of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) factors during initial rehabilitation stay.

SETTING

Multicenter Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort (SwiSCI) study.

METHODS

Individuals without history of cardiovascular diseases were included. CMD factors and Framingham risk score (FRS) were compared between TSCI and NTSCI. Linear mixed models' analysis was employed to explore the trajectory in CMD factors changes over rehabilitation period and a multivariate linear regression analysis was used at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation to explore factors associated with CMD risk profile in TSCI and NTSCI. We performed age and sex-stratified analyses.

RESULTS

We analyzed 530 individuals with SCI (64% with TSCI and 36% NTSCI). The median age was 53 years (IQR:39-64) with 67.9% (n = 363) of the study cohort being male. The median rehabilitation duration was 4.4 months (IQR 2.4-6.4). At admission to rehabilitation, FRS (9.61 vs. 5.89) and prevalence of hypertension (33.16% vs. 13.62%), diabetes (13.68% vs. 4.06%), and obesity (79.05% vs. 66.67%) were higher in NTSCI as compared to TSCI, No difference was observed in cardiometabolic syndrome between the groups (around 40% in both groups). Overall, we observed longitudinal increases in total cholesterol, HDL-C and HDL/total cholesterol ratio, and a decrease in fasting glucose over the rehabilitation period. No differences in longitudinal changes in cardiovascular risk factors were observed between TSCI and NTSCI.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no deterioration in cardiometabolic risk factors over rehabilitation period, at discharge from initial rehabilitation stay. Both TSCI and NTSCI experienced high burden of cardiometabolic syndrome components with NTSCI experiencing more disadvantageous risk profile. The effectiveness of therapeutic and lifestyle/behavioral strategies to decrease burden of cardiometabolic disease and its components in early phase should be explored in future studies.

Relationships of self-reported opioid and benzodiazepine use with health-related quality of life among adults with spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND

There is limited understanding of the relationships between prescription opioid and benzodiazepine use and indices of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among those with spinal cord injuries (SCI).

OBJECTIVE

To identify the relationships between self-reported prescription opioid and benzodiazepine use and two indicators of HRQOL, number of days in poor physical health and poor mental health in the past 30 days among adults with SCI.

METHODS

A cross-sectional cohort study of 918 adults with chronic (>1 year), traumatic SCI living in the Southeastern United States was conducted. Participants completed a self-report assessment (SRA).

RESULTS

In the preliminary model, both opioid and benzodiazepine use were associated with a greater number of days in poor physical health and poor mental health in the past month. After controlling for health conditions (pain intensity, spasticity, anxiety and perceived sleep insufficiency), opioid use was associated with 2.04 (CI = 0.69; 3.39) additional poor physical health days in the past 30 days, and benzodiazepine use was associated with 2.18 (CI = 0.70; 3.64) additional days of poor mental health. Age was associated with greater number of poor physical health days and fewer poor mental health days. Lower income was associated with poor mental health days. Most of the health conditions were significantly related to the number of past month poor physical and mental health days.

CONCLUSIONS

Opioid and benzodiazepine use are associated with poor physical and mental HRQOL, even after controlling for health conditions. Treatment strategies should consider potential unanticipated negative consequences of pharmacological interventions.

Relations Between Self-Reported Prescription Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Tramadol Use and Unintentional Injuries Among Those With Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE

To identify the relations of 3 frequently used prescription opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, tramadol) with unintentional injuries, including fall-related and non-fall-related injuries among adults with chronic, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study.

SETTING

Community setting; Southeastern United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult participants (N=918) with chronic traumatic SCI were identified from a specialty hospital and state population-based registry and completed a self-report assessment.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Self-reported fall-related and non-fall-related unintentional injuries serious enough to receive medical care in a clinic, emergency room, or hospital within the previous 12 months.

RESULTS

Just over 20% of participants reported ≥1 unintentional injury in the past year, with an average of 2.16 among those with ≥1. Overall, 9.6% reported fall-related injuries. Only hydrocodone was associated with any past-year unintentional injuries. Hydrocodone taken occasionally (no more than monthly) or regularly (weekly or daily) was related to 2.63 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-4.56) or 2.03 (95% CI, 1.15-3.60) greater odds of having ≥1 unintentional injury in the past year, respectively. Hydrocodone taken occasionally was also associated with past-year non-fall-related injuries (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.12-4.31). Each of the 3 opioids was significantly related to fall-related injuries. Taking hydrocodone occasionally was associated with 2.39 greater odds of fall-related injuries, and regular use was associated with 2.31 greater odds. Regular use of oxycodone was associated with 2.44 odds of a fall-related injury (95% CI, 1.20-4.98), and regular use of tramadol was associated with 2.59 greater odds of fall-related injury (95% CI, 1.13-5.90).

CONCLUSIONS

Injury prevention efforts must consider the potential effect of opioid use, particularly hydrocodone. For preventing fall-related injuries, each of the 3 opioids must be considered.

Prevalence of opioid use in adults with spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence, reported harms and factors associated with opioid use among adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in the community.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus for articles published between 2000 and 2023. Risk of bias was assessed using a prevalence-specific tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to pool prevalence data for any context of opioids. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and the study protocol was registered via Prospero (CRD42022350768).

RESULTS

Of the 4969 potential studies, 38 were included in the review. Fifty-three percent of studies had a low risk of bias, with a high risk of bias in 5% of studies. The pooled prevalence for the 38 studies included in the meta-analysis (total cohort size of 50,473) across any opioid context was 39% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32-47). High heterogeneity was evident, with a prediction interval twice as wide as the 95% CI (prediction interval, 7-84%). Mean or median opioid dose was unreported in 95% of studies. Opioid dose and factors related to opioids were also rarely explored in the SCI populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Results should be interpreted with caution based on the high heterogeneity and imprecise pooled prevalence of opioids. Contextual details including pain, cohort-specific injury characteristics and opioid dosage were inconsistently reported, indicating a clear need for additional studies in a population at greater risk of experiencing opioid-related adverse effects.

Developing and Evaluating Data Infrastructure and Implementation Tools to Support Cardiometabolic Disease Indicator Data Collection

Background

Assessment of aerobic exercise (AE) and lipid profiles among individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) is critical for cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk estimation.

Objectives

To utilize an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for extracting indicator data and education tools to enable routine CMD indicator data collection in inpatient/outpatient settings, and to describe and evaluate the recall of AE levels and lipid profile assessment completion rates across care settings among adults with subacute and chronic SCI/D.

Methods

A cross-sectional convenience sample of patients affiliated with University Health Network's SCI/D rehabilitation program and outpatients affiliated with SCI Ontario participated. The SCI-HIGH CMD intermediary outcome (IO) and final outcome (FO) indicator surveys were administered, using an AI tool to extract responses. Practice gaps were prospectively identified, and implementation tools were created to address gaps. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analyses were used.

Results

The AI tool had <2% error rate for data extraction. Adults with SCI/D (n = 251; 124 IO, mean age 61; 127 FO, mean age 55; p = .004) completed the surveys. Fourteen percent of inpatients versus 48% of outpatients reported being taught AE. Fifteen percent of inpatients and 51% of outpatients recalled a lipid assessment (p < .01). Algorithms and education tools were developed to address identified knowledge gaps in patient AE and lipid assessments.

Conclusion

Compelling CMD health service gaps warrant immediate attention to achieve AE and lipid assessment guideline adherence. AI indicator extraction paired with implementation tools may facilitate indicator deployment and modify CMD risk.

Identifying Patterns of Primary Care Antibiotic Prescribing for a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Cohort Using an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Database

Background

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are considered higher users of antibiotics. However, to date there have been no detailed studies investigating outpatient antibiotic use in this population.

Objectives

(1) To describe primary care antibiotic prescribing patterns in adults with SCI rostered to a primary care physician (PCP), and (2) to identify patient or PCP factors associated with number of antibiotics prescribed and antibiotic prescription duration.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study using linked health administrative and electronic medical records (EMR) databases from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015 among 432 adults with SCI in Ontario, Canada. Negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to identify patient or physician factors associated with number of antibiotics prescribed and prescription duration.

Results

During the study period, 61.1% of the SCI cohort received an antibiotic prescription from their PCP. There were 59.8% of prescriptions for urinary tract infections (UTI) and 24.6% of prescriptions for fluoroquinolones. Regression analysis found catheter use was associated with increased number of antibiotics prescribed (relative risk [RR] = 3.1; 95% CI, 2.3-4.1; p < .001) and late career PCPs, compared to early-career PCPs, prescribed a significantly longer duration (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-3.1; p = .02).

Conclusion

UTIs were the number one prescription indication, and fluoroquinolones were the most prescribed antibiotic. Catheter use was associated with number of antibiotics, and PCP's years of practice was associated with duration. The study provided important information about primary care antibiotic prescribing in the SCI population and found that not all individuals received frequent antibiotics prescriptions.

The Pathophysiology, Identification and Management of Fracture Risk, Sublesional Osteoporosis and Fracture among Adults with Spinal Cord Injury

BACKGROUND

The prevention of lower extremity fractures and fracture-related morbidity and mortality is a critical component of health services for adults living with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

Established best practices and guideline recommendations are articulated in recent international consensus documents from the International Society of Clinical Densitometry, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine and the Orthopedic Trauma Association.

RESULTS

This review is a synthesis of the aforementioned consensus documents, which highlight the pathophysiology of lower extremity bone mineral density (BMD) decline after acute SCI. The role and actions treating clinicians should take to screen, diagnose and initiate the appropriate treatment of established low bone mass/osteoporosis of the hip, distal femur or proximal tibia regions associated with moderate or high fracture risk or diagnose and manage a lower extremity fracture among adults with chronic SCI are articulated. Guidance regarding the prescription of dietary calcium, vitamin D supplements, rehabilitation interventions (passive standing, functional electrical stimulation (FES) or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)) to modify bone mass and/or anti-resorptive drug therapy (Alendronate, Denosumab, or Zoledronic Acid) is provided. In the event of lower extremity fracture, the need for timely orthopedic consultation for fracture diagnosis and interprofessional care following definitive fracture management to prevent health complications (venous thromboembolism, pressure injury, and autonomic dysreflexia) and rehabilitation interventions to return the individual to his/her pre-fracture functional abilities is emphasized.

CONCLUSIONS

Interprofessional care teams should use recent consensus publications to drive sustained practice change to mitigate fracture incidence and fracture-related morbidity and mortality among adults with chronic SCI.

The effect of the general practitioner as the first point of contact for care on the satisfaction with health care services in persons living with chronic spinal cord injury: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of having a general practitioner (GP) as a first point of contact for care on the satisfaction with care services in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and how this effect is related to socio-demographic and health-related factors.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional survey conducted within the framework of the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study Community Survey 2017. Outcome measures comprised three aspects of care (treatment with respect, understandability of explanations, and involvement in decision-making) and satisfaction with GP care and SCI centres. Information was grouped by first contact of care (GP or SCI specialist) and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Out of 3,959 invitees, 1,294 participants (33%) completed the survey. No significant association was found between the three aspects of care and the first contact of care. Persons who first contacted a GP and lived within a 10-minute travel distance to the GP practice were significantly less likely to be satisfied with their GP care (-5.7 percentage points, CI 95% = -10.7, -0.7), as compared to those living farther away. Persons who first contacted a GP rather than an SCI specialist were more likely to be satisfied with their GP care if married (7.1 percentage points, CI 95% = 1.4, 12.7), employed (6.6 percentage points, CI 95% = 0.9, 12.3), had a high social status (11.0 percentage points, CI 95% = 2.0, 20.1), or had tetraplegia (10.8 percentage points, CI 95% = 3.6, 18.1). For the same group, satisfaction with SCI centres was significantly higher in persons with good (10.1 percentage points, CI 95% = 0.1, 20.1) or very good health (8.2 percentage points, CI 95% = 1.0, 15.4), as compared to those with poor health.

CONCLUSION

The majority of participants were satisfied with the services offered by their first contact point for care, with variations due to factors endogenous to the participants. Socio-demographic and health-related factors should be integrated into health care planning strategies and improvement initiatives to ensure equitable access and better quality of health care services.

Prescribing patterns for treating common complications of spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to find the most and least commonly prescribed medications for treating secondary health complications associated with spinal cord injury (SCI); and determine overall polypharmacy rates and risk factors associated with it.

DESIGN

Observational design, cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING

Community; Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals with spinal cord injury (n = 108).

RESULTS

A total of 515 prescriptions were issued to the sample comprising 213 different medications to treat 10 SCI-related complications. Forty-five (45%) participants were prescribed >5 medications concurrently. No associations were found between the number of drugs taken and age, sex, level of injury, completeness of injury, time since injury, or cause of injury. The most commonly treated complications included pain (56.5%), muscle spasms (54%) and urinary tract infections (43%). Anti-convulsants (pregabalin, gabapentin), anti-spasmodics (baclofen, diazepam) and nitrofurantoins (Macrobid) were the most commonly prescribed medications to treat each of the three conditions, respectively. Thirty five percent of the total sample received a combination of two or more analgesics including fourth-line agents in the opiate class (hydromorphone, hydrocodone and morphine). Similarly, some participants were prescribed general muscle relaxants and cephalosporins for treatment of muscle spasms and urinary tract infections, respectively, that are generally not recommended in SCI patients. We compare these prescribing patterns with the available clinical practice guidelines and highlight areas where the prescriptions fall outside the recommended clinical practice while considering the complexity of medication management in SCI.

CONCLUSION

Medication management in SCI is complex. Tools are required that enable prescribers to choose evidence-based medical regimens and deprescribe potentially inappropriate medications for their patients with SCI.

Prevalence and factors associated with polypharmacy: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

Polypharmacy is commonly associated with adverse health outcomes. There are currently no meta-analyses of the prevalence of polypharmacy or factors associated with polypharmacy. We aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies with no restrictions on date. We included observational studies that reported on the prevalence of polypharmacy among individuals over age 19. Two reviewers extracted study characteristics including polypharmacy definitions, study design, setting, geography, and participant demographics. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scales. The main outcome was the prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy prevalence. The pooled prevalence estimates of polypharmacy with 95% confidence intervals were determined using random effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were undertaken to evaluate factors associated with polypharmacy such as polypharmacy definitions, study setting, study design and geography. Meta-regression was conducted to assess the associations between polypharmacy prevalence and study year.

Results

106 full-text articles were identified. The pooled estimated prevalence of polypharmacy in the 54 studies reporting on polypharmacy in all medication classes was 37% (95% CI: 31-43%). Differences in polypharmacy prevalence were reported for studies using different numerical thresholds, study setting, and publication year. Sex, study geography, study design and geographical location were not associated with differences in polypharmacy prevalence.

Discussion

Our review highlights that polypharmacy is common particularly among older adults and those in inpatient settings. Clinicians should be aware of populations who have an increased likelihood of experiencing polypharmacy and efforts should be made to review the appropriateness of prescribed medications and occurrence of adverse effects potentially associated with polypharmacy.

Conclusions and implications

Clinicians should be aware of the common occurrence of polypharmacy and undertake efforts to minimize inappropriate polypharmacy whenever possible.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03279-x.

Baseline predictors of in-hospital mortality after acute traumatic spinal cord injury: data from a level I trauma center

Comorbidity scores are important predictors of in-hospital mortality after traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI), but the impact of specific pre-existing diseases is unknown. This retrospective cohort study aims at identifying relevant comorbidities and explores the influence of end-of-life decisions. In-hospital mortality of all patients admitted to the study center after acute tSCI from 2011 to 2017 was assessed. A conditional inference tree analysis including baseline data, injury characteristics, and Charlson Comorbidity Index items was used to identify crucial predictors. End-of-life decisions were recorded. Three-hundred-twenty-one patients were consecutively enrolled. The median length of stay was 95.7 days (IQR 56.8-156.0). During inpatient care, 20 patients (6.2%) died. These patients were older (median: 79.0 (IQR 74.7-83.2) vs. 55.5 (IQR 41.4-72.3) years) and had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score (median: 4.0 (IQR 1.75-5.50) vs. 0.0 (IQR 0.00-1.00)) compared to survivors. Pre-existing kidney or liver disease were identified as relevant predictors of in-hospital mortality. End-of-life decisions were observed in 14 (70.0%) cases. The identified impairment of kidney and liver, important for drug metabolism and elimination, points to the need of careful decisions on pharmaceutical treatment regimens after tSCI. Appropriate reporting of end-of-life decisions is required for upcoming studies.

Medication Supports at Transitions Between Hospital and Other Care Settings: A Rapid Scoping Review

PURPOSE

Transitions in care (TiC) often involves managing medication changes and can be vulnerable moments for patients. Medication support, where medication changes are reviewed with patients and caregivers to increase knowledge and confidence about taking medications, is key to successful transitions. Little is known about the optimal tools and processes for providing medication support. This study aimed to identify describe patient or caregiver-centered medication support processes or tools that have been studied within 3 months following TiC between hospitals and other care settings.

METHODS

Rapid scoping review; English-language publications from OVID MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE, Cochrane Library and EBSCO CINAHL (2004-July 2019) that assessed medication support interventions delivered within 3 months following discharge were included. A subset of titles and abstracts were assessed by two reviewers to evaluate agreement and once reasonable agreement was achieved, the remainder were assessed by one reviewer. Eligibility assessment for full-text articles and data charting were completed by an experienced reviewer.

RESULTS

A total of 7671 unique citations were assessed; 60 studies were included. Half of the studies (n = 30/60) were randomized controlled trials. Most studies (n = 45/60) did not discuss intervention development, particularly whether end users were involved in intervention design. Many studies (n = 37/60) assessed multi-component interventions with written/print and verbal education components. Few studies (n = 5/60) included an electronic component. Very few studies (n = 4/60) included study populations at high risk of adverse events at TiC (eg, people with physical or intellectual disabilities, low literacy or language barriers).

CONCLUSION

The majority of studies were randomized controlled trials involving verbal counselling and/or physical document delivered to the patient before discharge. Few studies involved electronic components or considered patients at high-risk of adverse events. Future studies would benefit from improved reporting on development, consideration for electronic interventions, and improved reporting on patients with higher medication-related needs.

Identifying cases of spinal cord injury or disease in a primary care electronic medical record database

OBJECTIVE

To identify cases of spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) in an Ontario database of primary care electronic medical records (EMR).

DESIGN

A reference standard of cases of chronic SCI/D was established via manual review of EMRs; this reference standard was used to evaluate potential case identification algorithms for use in the same database.

SETTING

Electronic Medical Records Primary Care (EMRPC) Database, Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 48,000 adult patients was randomly selected from 213,887 eligible patients in the EMRPC database.

INTERVENTIONS

N/A.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Candidate algorithms were evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and F-score.

RESULTS

126 cases of chronic SCI/D were identified, forming the reference standard. Of these, 57 were cases of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), and 67 were cases of non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI). The optimal case identification algorithm used free-text keyword searches and a physician billing code, and had 70.6% sensitivity (61.9-78.4), 98.5% specificity (97.3-99.3), 89.9% PPV (82.2-95.0), 94.7% NPV (92.8-96.3), and an F-score of 79.1.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying cases of chronic SCI/D from a database of primary care EMRs using free-text entries is feasible, relying on a comprehensive case definition. Identifying a cohort of patients with SCI/D will allow for future study of the epidemiology and health service utilization of these patients.

Prevalence of Prescribed Opioid Claims Among Persons With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Ontario, Canada: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To examine prescription opioid claims among individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify factors associated with both chronic opioid and chronic high-dose opioid use.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study using population-level administrative data.

SETTING

Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals (N=1842) with traumatic SCI between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2015.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Proportion of cohort with chronic opioid use (≥90d supply) and proportion with chronic high-dose opioid use (≥90d supply exceeding 90 mg morphine equivalent) between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 (observation period).

RESULTS

A total of 1842 individuals with traumatic SCI were identified (74% men), with a median age of 51 years (interquartile range [IQR], 34-64y) and median duration of injury of 6 years (IQR, 4-9y). During the observation period, 35% were dispensed at least 1 opioid and 19.8% received chronic opioids, 39% of whom received more than 90 mg daily (chronic high dose). The median daily morphine equivalent dose was 212 mg morphine equivalent (IQR, 135.5-345.3 mg) for chronic high-dose users. Significant risk factors for chronic opioid use were male sex; age between 40 and 60 years; lower income; multimorbidity; thoracic, lumbar, or sacral level of injury; and having a previous diagnosis of osteoarthritis. Risk factors for chronic high-dose opioid use were an extended time since injury, age between 40 and 50 years, and increasing comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of individuals with traumatic SCI were dispensed an opioid in a recent 1-year period. A substantial proportion were dispensed more than 90 mg of morphine equivalents, which is the maximum recommended by the Canadian opioid guideline. Further research is needed to understand the risk factors associated with chronic, high-dose opioid use in this population.

An exploration of attitudes and preferences towards medications among healthcare providers and persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction: a qualitative comparison

PURPOSE

To compare the attitudes and preferences of persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) and healthcare providers regarding prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and natural health products (NHPs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers (n = 32) and persons with SCI/D (n = 19) in Canada. Inductive descriptive and interpretive analyses were conducted using data display matrices and a constant comparative approach.

RESULTS

Participants described differing perceptions of therapeutic benefits based on medication type, with shared attitudes about the therapeutic benefits of prescription medications and differing views about the effectiveness of NHPs. Despite the perceived effectiveness of prescription medications, persons with SCI/D preferred to avoid them due to concerns about side effects, safety, and stigma. Persons with SCI/D were often concerned about the long-term safety of prescription medications, whereas providers focused more on medication-related addictions. Participants discussed stigma relating to prescription medications, NHPs, and medicinal marijuana.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare providers and persons with SCI/D described different attitudes about and preferences for pharmacotherapeutic products, contributing to challenges in optimizing medication management. Strategies to improve medication management include shared decision-making to incorporate patient preferences into care plans and explicit discussions about long-term medication safety. Further, steps are needed to combat the stigma associated with medication use.Implications for rehabilitationFollowing a person-centered approach to shared decision-making, prescribers should initiate explicit conversations about patient medication preferences, short and long-term prescription medication side effects, and alternative treatment options.Regarding prescription medication safety, persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction focused on the long term impact of medications, while providers focused on medication-related addictions, highlighting a disconnect that should be discussed during initiation, continuation, or discontinuation of a medication.Providers should be mindful of the stigma associated with taking multiple prescription medications, including medicinal marijuana, as well as the stigma associated with over-the-counter medications and natural health products.Providers could benefit from education about spinal cord injury/dysfunction-specific prescription medications and could benefit from increased education about natural health products.

Prescription medications dispensed following a nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction: a retrospective population-based study in Ontario, Canada

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the prevalence of polypharmacy for individuals with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction (NTSCD) following inpatient rehabilitation and to determine associated risk factors.

SETTING

Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

Administrative data housed at ICES, Toronto, Ontario were used. Between 2004 and 2015, we investigated prescription medications dispensed over a 1-year period for persons following an NTSCD-related inpatient rehabilitation admission. Descriptive and analytical statistics were conducted. Using a robust Poisson multivariable regression model, relative risks related to polypharmacy (ten or more drug classes) were calculated. Main independent variables were sex, age, income quintile, and continuity of care with outpatient physician visits.

RESULTS

We identified 3468 persons with NTSCD during the observation window. The mean number of drug classes taken post-inpatient rehabilitation was 11.7 (SD = 6.0), with 4.0 different prescribers (SD = 2.5) and 1.8 unique pharmacies (SD = 1.0). Significant predictors for post-discharge polypharmacy were: being female, lower income, higher comorbidities prior to admission, lower Functional Independence Measure at discharge, previous number of medication classes dispensed in year prior to admission, and lower continuity of care with outpatient physician visits. The most common drugs dispensed post-inpatient rehabilitation were antihypertensives (70.0%), laxatives (61.6%), opioids (59.5%), and antibiotics (57.8%).

CONCLUSION

Similar to previous research with traumatic spinal cord injury, our results indicate that polypharmacy is prevalent among persons with NTSCD. Additional research examining medication therapy management for NTSCD is suggested.

Attrition from specialised rehabilitation associated with an elevated mortality risk: results from a vital status tracing study in Swiss spinal cord injured patients

INTRODUCTION

Study drop-out and attrition from treating clinics is common among persons with chronic health conditions. However, if attrition is associated with adverse health outcomes, it may bias or mislead inferences for health policy and resource allocation.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study uses data attained through the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury (SwiSCI) cohort study on persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Vital status (VS) was ascertained either through clinic medical records (MRs) or through municipalities in a secondary tracing effort. Flexible parametric survival models were used to investigate risk factors for going lost to clinic (LTC) and the association of LTC with subsequent risk of mortality.

RESULTS

1924 individuals were included in the tracing study; for 1608 of these cases, contemporary VS was initially checked in the MRs. VS was ascertained for 704 cases of the 1608 cases initially checked in MRs; of the remaining cases (n=904), nearly 90% were identified in municipalities (n=804). LTC was associated with a nearly fourfold higher risk of mortality (HR=3.62; 95% CI 2.18 to 6.02) among persons with traumatic SCI. Extended driving time (ie, less than 30 min compared with 30 min and longer to reach the nearest specialised rehabilitation facility) was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR=1.51, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.22) for individuals with non-traumatic SCI.

CONCLUSION

The differential risk of LTC according to sociodemographic and SCI lesion characteristics underscores the importance of accounting for attrition in cohort studies on chronic disease populations requiring long-term care. In addition, given the associated risk of mortality, LTC is an issue of concern to clinicians and policy makers aiming to optimise the long-term survival of community-dwelling individuals with traumatic SCI. Future studies are necessary to verify whether it is possible to improve survival prospects of individuals LTC through more persistent outreach and targeted care.

Spinal cord injury/dysfunction and medication management: a qualitative study exploring the experiences of community-dwelling adults in Ontario, Canada

Purpose: To explore the attitudes, beliefs and experiences pertaining to the management of prescribed and unprescribed medications among community-dwelling adults with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) in Ontario, Canada.Materials and Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone. Each interview was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.Results: Of the 19 participants, 11 were male and 8 were female, with an age range from 36 to 76 years; 14 participants had traumatic SCI and 5 had non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction. All but three participants were taking five or more medications, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and natural health products. The three main themes identified were: disruptive nature of medications, fear of negative outcomes and self-management: playing a critical role.Conclusions: Medication management is a complex, multifaceted and non-linear process. Persons with SCI/D described experiences with medication-taking that are not well understood by current medication management frameworks. Thus, it is essential to broaden our lens and situate persons with SCI/D medication-taking experiences within self-management frameworks to allow for a more comprehensive and reflective understanding of their experiences. Based on the findings from this study, recommendations for future research, practice and policy have been suggested.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPersons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction identified numerous challenges and concerns with medication use post-injury.Educational medication management programs should be implemented post-discharge to improve the state of knowledge around medications (indication, side effects, strategies for taking medications) and how to optimize medication management.In order to optimize experiences and outcomes, there is a need for explicit and ongoing discussions around medication management between persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction and their healthcare providers.

Exploring the perspectives on medication self-management among persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction and providers

RATIONALE

Spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) is an exemplar condition with a high prevalence of secondary complications, chronic conditions and use of multiple medications (polypharmacy). Optimizing medication self-management is important for persons with SCI/D to improve outcomes; however, there is a lack of research on how healthcare/service providers and persons with SCI/D experience medication self-management.

OBJECTIVE

To explore attitudes and experiences of medication self-management from the perspectives of persons with SCI/D and providers, and to explore the extent to which the Taxonomy of Everyday Self-management Strategies (TEDSS) framework captured participants' experiences with medication self-management.

METHODS

In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone until data saturation was reached. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using constant comparative approaches. The TEDSS framework was adapted and applied deductively.

RESULTS

Fifty-one individuals participated in this study, 32 providers and 19 persons with SCI/D. Disease controlling strategies was the domain discussed in most detail by all participants. In this domain, participants discussed managing medications and treatments, monitoring/managing side effects, and controlling complications. Process strategies (problem-solving, decision-making) and resource strategies (seeking support) were the next most frequently discussed domains. Among all participant groups, there was a lack of detailed discussion of social interactions, health behaviour, and internal strategies. Medication self-management support was not extensively discussed by any group.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted the complex nature of medication self-management. While persons with SCI/D and providers discussed similar components of the TEDSS framework, providers had minimal reflections on the impact of medication self-management on everyday life. This study identified the need for explicit discussions between providers and persons with SCI/D, involving all components of self-management and self-management support in order to improve medication self-management.

"The strategies are the same, the problems may be different": a qualitative study exploring the experiences of healthcare and service providers with medication therapy management for individuals with spinal cord injury/dysfunction

Background

Persons with spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D) often take multiple medications to treat their secondary complications and chronic conditions (multimorbidity). Multiple healthcare and service providers are often involved in care, which can result in increased risk of fragmentation of care. Optimal medication therapy management (MTM) is essential to ensure therapeutic benefit from medication regimens. However, little is known about the experiences of providers in supporting persons with SCI/D with MTM.

Methods

Telephone interviews were conducted to explore healthcare and service providers’ experiences with MTM for persons with SCI/D. Participants were recruited through clinical organizations and researchers’ personal contacts. Participants were purposefully selected for diversity in profession and were required to be English speaking and to have provided care to at least one person with SCI/D. The qualitative interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide. Data display matrices were used in a constant comparative process for descriptive and interpretive analysis.

Results

Thirty-two interviews were conducted from April to December 2018. Each profession had distinct views on their roles in facilitating MTM for persons with SCI/D, which aligned with their respective scopes of practice. Shared provider tasks included tailoring medications, providing education, and exploring medication alternatives. Most participants felt that the care they provided for persons with SCI/D was similar to the care that they provided to other patients, with some differences relating to the physical limitations and medical complexity associated with SCI/D. Five factors were identified that impacted participants’ abilities to provide MTM for persons with SCI/D: patient self-management skills, provider knowledge and confidence, provider-patient relationships, interprofessional collaboration, and provider funding models including the use of technology-supported consultations.

Conclusion

While participants described commonalities in the barriers and enablers associated with providing MTM to persons with SCI/D and other populations, there were unique considerations identified. These SCI/D-specific considerations resulted in recommendations for improvements in MTM for this population. Future research should include perspectives from persons with SCI/D.

Medication adherence for persons with spinal cord injury and dysfunction from the perspectives of healthcare providers: A qualitative study

Context: People with spinal cord injury and dysfunction (SCI/D) often take multiple medications (i.e. polypharmacy) to manage secondary health complications and multiple chronic conditions. Numerous healthcare providers are often involved in clinical care, increasing the risk of fragmented care, problematic polypharmacy, and conflicting health advice. These providers can play a crucial role in assisting patients with medication self-management to improve medication adherence. Design: A qualitative study involving telephone interviews, following a semi-structured guide that explored healthcare providers' conceptualization of factors impacting medication adherence for persons with SCI/D. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed descriptively and interpretively using a constant comparative process with the assistance of data display matrices. Analysis was guided by an ecological model of medication adherence. Setting and participants: Thirty-two healthcare providers from Canada, with varying clinical expertise. Intervention: Not Applicable. Outcome measures: Not Applicable. Results: Providers identified several factors that impact medication adherence for persons with SCI/D, which were grouped into micro (medication and patient-related), meso- (provider-related) and macro- (health system-related) factors. Medication-related factors included side effects, effectiveness, safety, and regimen complexity. Patient-specific factors included medication knowledge, preferences/expectations/goals, severity and type of injury, cognitive function/mental health, time since injury, and caregiver support. Provider-related factors included knowledge/confidence and trust. Health system-related factors included access to healthcare and access to medications. While providers were able to identify several factors influencing medication adherence, micro-level factors were the most frequently discussed. Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that strategies to optimize medication adherence for persons with SCI/D should be multi-faceted.

Managing Medication Cost Burden: A Qualitative Study Exploring Experiences of People with Disabilities in Canada

Despite the abundant literature on the burden of rising costs of prescription medications, there is limited research to explore how these costs affect people and the decisions they are forced to make within the context of disability. In this qualitative study we explored strategies adopted, factors influencing, and the impact of some of these strategies to manage the burden of medication cost among persons with disabilities. We interviewed 12 adults with spinal cord injuries living in Canada, using a general inductive approach to analyze the data. We found that before cutting back on medications due to costs, participants generally tried and sought help from the government, employers, and/or their prescribers to improve their drug coverage. The key factors that participants considered while making decisions on the strategies included the cost and perceived importance of medications, their financial status, other competing needs, and their relationship with the prescribers. While some of their efforts were successful, many participants were still not able to obtain their medications as prescribed. In those cases, patients resorted to rationing strategies such as cutting back on medications, other essential needs, or selling assets. These strategies had serious implications on their health, healthcare utilization, and quality of life.

Continuity of Care, Follow-Up Care, and Outcomes among Breast Cancer Survivors

This retrospective cohort study examined the effects of care continuity on the utilization of follow-up services and outcome of breast cancer patients (stages I-III) in the post-treatment phase of care. Propensity score matching and generalized estimation equations were used in the analysis of data obtained from national longitudinal databases. The continuity of care index (COCI) was calculated separately for primary care physicians (PCP) and oncologists. Our results revealed that breast cancer survivors with a higher oncology COCI were more likely than those with a lower oncology COCI to use mammography or breast ultrasound during the follow-up period (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.19-1.32; OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06-1.18; respectively). In terms of health outcomes, a higher oncology COCI was associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.71-0.85) and emergency department use (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.82-0.95). A higher PCP COCI was also associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.70-0.85) and emergency department use (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.68-0.82). Overall, this study determined that ambulatory care continuity is positively associated with the likelihood of using recommended follow-up care services and negatively associated with adverse health events among breast cancer survivors.