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Straub L, Bateman BT, Hernández-Díaz S, Zhu Y, Suarez EA, Vine SM, Jones HE, Connery HS, Davis JM, Gray KJ, Lester B, Terplan M, Zakoul H, Mogun H, Huybrechts KF. Comparative Safety of In Utero Exposure to Buprenorphine Combined With Naloxone vs Buprenorphine Alone. JAMA 2024:2822178. [PMID: 39133511 PMCID: PMC11320336 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.11501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Importance Buprenorphine combined with naloxone is commonly used to treat opioid use disorders outside of pregnancy. In pregnancy, buprenorphine alone is generally recommended because of limited perinatal safety data on the combination product. Objective To compare perinatal outcomes following prenatal exposure to buprenorphine with naloxone vs buprenorphine alone. Design, Settings, and Participants Population-based cohort study using health care utilization data from Medicaid-insured beneficiaries in the US from 2000 to 2018. The cohort was restricted to pregnant individuals linked to their liveborn infants, with maternal Medicaid enrollment from 3 months before pregnancy to 1 month after delivery and infant enrollment for the first 3 months after birth, unless they died sooner. Exposure Use of buprenorphine with naloxone vs buprenorphine alone during the first trimester based on outpatient dispensings. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes included major congenital malformations, low birth weight, neonatal abstinence syndrome, neonatal intensive care unit admission, preterm birth, respiratory symptoms, small for gestational age, cesarean delivery, and maternal morbidity. Confounder-adjusted risk ratios were calculated using propensity score overlap weights. Results This study identified 3369 pregnant individuals exposed to buprenorphine with naloxone during the first trimester (mean [SD] age, 28.8 [4.6] years) and 5326 exposed to buprenorphine alone or who switched from the combination to buprenorphine alone by the end of the first trimester (mean [SD] age, 28.3 [4.5] years). When comparing buprenorphine combined with naloxone with buprenorphine alone, a lower risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (absolute risk, 37.4% vs 55.8%; weighted relative risk, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.70-0.84]) and a modestly lower risk for neonatal intensive care unit admission (absolute risk, 30.6% vs 34.9%; weighted relative risk, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.85-0.98]) and small for gestational age (absolute risk, 10.0% vs 12.4%; weighted relative risk, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.75-0.98]) was observed. For maternal morbidity, the comparative rates were 2.6% vs 2.9%, respectively, and the weighted relative risk was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.68-1.19). No differences were observed with respect to major congenital malformations overall, low birth weight, preterm birth, respiratory symptoms, or cesarean delivery. Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses. Conclusions and Relevance There were similar and, in some instances, more favorable neonatal and maternal outcomes for pregnancies exposed to buprenorphine combined with naloxone compared with buprenorphine alone. For the outcomes assessed, compared with buprenorphine alone, buprenorphine with naloxone during pregnancy appears to be a safe treatment option. This supports the view that both formulations are reasonable options for the treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnancy, affirming flexibility in collaborative treatment decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loreen Straub
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brian T. Bateman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Sonia Hernández-Díaz
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yanmin Zhu
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth A. Suarez
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Seanna M. Vine
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hendrée E. Jones
- UNC Horizons and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Hilary S. Connery
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan M. Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center and Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kathryn J. Gray
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Barry Lester
- Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | - Heidi Zakoul
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Helen Mogun
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Krista F. Huybrechts
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Bakris G, Agiro A, Greatsinger A, Mu F, Cook EE, Sundar M, Louden E, Colman E, Desai P. Economic burden of recurrent hyperkalemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2024:1-15. [PMID: 39102345 DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2024.24114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hyperkalemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can become recurrent in half of cases. However, the incremental economic burden associated with recurrent hyperkalemia is unknown. OBJECTIVE To evaluate all-cause health care resource utilization (HRU) and medical costs in patients with stage 3/4 CKD with recurrent hyperkalemia vs normokalaemia and vs nonrecurrent hyperkalemia. METHODS Data were from Optum's de-identified Market Clarity Data (January 1, 2016, to August 1, 2022). This retrospective observational cohort study compared patients with stage 3/4 CKD with recurrent hyperkalemia (≥2 hyperkalemia events within 1 year [hyperkalemia event: hyperkalemia diagnosis or potassium [K+]>5 mmol/l]; index was the first hyperkalemia event) with an exact- and propensity score-matched cohort of patients with normokalemia (K+ ≥3.5 to ≤5 mmol/l; random K+ as index) and separately with a matched cohort of patients with nonrecurrent hyperkalemia (1 hyperkalemia event within 1 year; index was hyperkalemia event). Patient characteristics, medication use, HRU, and medical costs were compared between cohorts using standardized mean differences during the 12-month baseline period. All-cause HRU and medical costs during the 12-month follow-up were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests for continuous variables and McNemar tests for categorical variables. Substudies of recurrent hyperkalemia vs normokalemia were conducted for patients with Medicare coverage and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) use. RESULTS The recurrent hyperkalemia vs normokalemia sample comprised 4,549 matched pairs (Medicare substudy: 3,151; RAASi substudy: 3,535) and the recurrent hyperkalemia vs nonrecurrent hyperkalemia sample comprised 1,599 matched pairs. Baseline characteristics, HRU, and medical costs of the cohorts were similar after matching. During follow-up, patients with recurrent hyperkalemia had a mean of 11.2 more health care encounters (0.5 more inpatient admissions, 0.3 more emergency department visits, and 7.2 more outpatient visits) than patients with normokalemia. Patients with recurrent hyperkalemia also had double the total annual medical costs vs normokalemia ($34,163 vs $15,175; P < 0.001), mainly driven by inpatient costs ($21,250 vs $7,392), which accounted for 62.2% and 48.7% of total costs, respectively. Results were similar in the RAASi and Medicare substudies. Recurrent hyperkalemia was associated with a mean 4.3 more all-cause health care encounters and $14,057 higher medical costs (both P < 0.001) than nonrecurrent hyperkalemia. CONCLUSIONS Recurrent hyperkalemia in patients with stage 3/4 CKD was associated with higher all-cause HRU and medical costs compared with normokalemia (including in patients with Medicare coverage and RAASi use) and nonrecurrent hyperkalemia. Research is needed to understand if long-term treatment strategies aimed at preventing hyperkalemia recurrence may alleviate this economic burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Bakris
- Comprehensive Hypertension Center, University of Chicago, IL
| | | | | | - Fan Mu
- Analysis Group, Inc, Boston, MA
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Sato S, Sasabuchi Y, Okada A, Yasunaga H. Do Orally Disintegrating Tablets Facilitate Medical Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Post-stroke Dysphagia? Dysphagia 2024:10.1007/s00455-024-10737-8. [PMID: 39096331 DOI: 10.1007/s00455-024-10737-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) dissolve rapidly in contact with saliva and have been reported to facilitate oral administration of medications in swallowing difficulties. However, their clinical benefits remain unclear because no previous studies have examined whether ODTs facilitate medication adherence and clinical outcomes in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. This study evaluated the association between ODT prescriptions and clinical benefits using high-dimensional propensity score (hd-PS) matching to adjust for confounding factors. Using a large Japanese commercial medical and dental claims database, we identified patients aged ≥ 65 years with post-stroke dysphagia between April 2014 and March 2021. To compare 1-year outcomes of medication adherence, cardiovascular events, and aspiration pneumonia between patients taking ODTs and non-ODTs, we performed hd-PS matching. We identified 11,813 patients without ODTs and 3178 patients with ODTs. After hd-PS matching, 2246 pairs were generated. Medication adherence for 1 year, based on the proportion of days covered, was not significantly different between the non-ODT and ODT groups before (0.887 vs. 0.900, P = 0.999) and after hd-PS matching (0.889 vs. 0.902, P = 0.977). The proportion of cardiovascular events (0.898 vs. 0.893, P = 0.591) and aspiration pneumonia (0.380 vs. 0.372, P = 0.558) were also not significantly different between the groups. This study found no significant differences in medication adherence, cardiovascular diseases, or aspiration pneumonia between the non-ODT and ODT groups in patients with post-stroke dysphagia. Both groups achieved a proportion of days covered exceeding 80%. Clinicians may consider prescribing ODTs or non-ODTs based on patient preferences rather than solely on post-stroke conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Sato
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 1130033, Japan.
| | - Yusuke Sasabuchi
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 1130033, Japan
- The Department of Real-World Evidence, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
| | - Akira Okada
- Department of Prevention of Diabetes and Lifestyle-Related Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
| | - Hideo Yasunaga
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 1130033, Japan
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Jia Y, Wang J, Liu C, Zhao P, Ren Y, Xiong Y, Li G, Chen M, Sun X, Tan J. The Methodological Quality of Observational Studies Examining the Risk of Pregnancy Drug Use on Congenital Malformations Needs Substantial Improvement: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Drug Saf 2024:10.1007/s40264-024-01465-x. [PMID: 39093543 DOI: 10.1007/s40264-024-01465-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE An increasing number of observational studies have investigated the risk of using drugs during pregnancy on congenital malformations. However, the credibility of the causal relationships drawn from these studies remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the potential methodological issues in existing observational studies. METHODS We used a stepwise approach to investigate this issue. First, we identified observational studies published in 2020 that examined the risk of congenital malformations associated with medication use during pregnancy. We assessed the methodological characteristics for establishing causality, including study design, confounding control, and sensitivity analysis, and compared them between "core clinical journals" and "general journals." For studies reporting an increased risk of congenital malformations in core clinical journals, we searched for subsequent studies addressing the same research question published between January 2021 and May 2023 to assess the consistency of the literature. RESULTS A total of 40 eligible studies were published in 2020, primarily focused on the safety of vitamin B12 and folic acid (n = 4), antidepressants (n = 4), and others (n = 32). Our findings suggest that only two (5.00%) studies used causal models to guide the identification of confounding, and only eight (20.00%) studies assessed the potential dose-response relationship. In all, 15 (37.50%) studies used propensity score analysis strategy to achieve "mimic-randomization." In addition, 22 studies (55.00%) performed sensitivity analyses, while 10 (45.45%) showed inconsistency with the primary outcome. Furthermore, 5 studies reported positive outcomes, whereas only 1 out of 11 studies demonstrated a positive correlation between drug usage during pregnancy and major malformations in subsequent studies. CONCLUSION A significant portion of the studies has failed to sufficiently consider the essential methodological characteristics required to improve the credibility of causal inferences. The increased risk of congenital malformations documented in core clinical journal was not adequately replicated in subsequent studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Jia
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Chunrong Liu
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Ren
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yiquan Xiong
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - GuoWei Li
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Meng Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Sun
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Jing Tan
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and Chinese Evidence-based Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Real World Data Research and Evaluation in Hainan, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
- Sichuan Center of Technology Innovation for Real World Data, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Klonoff DC, Kim SH, Galindo RJ, Joseph JI, Garrett V, Gombar S, Aaron RE, Tian T, Kerr D. Risks of peri- and postoperative complications with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Diabetes Obes Metab 2024; 26:3128-3136. [PMID: 38742898 DOI: 10.1111/dom.15636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
AIM To assess whether adults with diabetes on oral hypoglycaemic agents undergoing general endotracheal anaesthesia during nine common surgical procedures who are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1-RA) users, compared with non-users, are at increased risk of six peri- and post-procedure complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective observational cohort analysis of over 130 million deidentified US adults with diabetes (defined as being on oral hypoglycaemic agents) from a nationally representative electronic health dataset between 1 January 2015 and 1 April 2023 was analysed. Cohorts were matched by high-dimensionality propensity scoring. We compared the odds of six peri- and postoperative complications in GLP1-RA users and non-users. A sensitivity analysis compared these odds in GLP1-RA users to non-users with diabetes and obesity. We measured the odds of (a) a composite outcome of postoperative decelerated gastric emptying, including antiemetic use, ileus within 7 days post-procedure, gastroparesis diagnosis, gastric emptying study; (b) postoperative aspiration or pneumonitis; (c) severe respiratory failure; (d) postoperative hypoglycaemia; (e) inpatient mortality; and (f) 30-day mortality. RESULTS Among 13 361 adults with diabetes, 16.5% were treated with a GLP1-RA. In the high-dimensionality propensity score-matched cohort, GLP1-RA users had a lower risk of peri- and postoperative complications for decelerated gastric emptying and antiemetic use compared with non-users. The risk of ileus within 7 days, aspiration/pneumonitis, hypoglycaemia and 30-day mortality were not different. A sensitivity analysis showed similar findings in patients with diabetes and obesity. CONCLUSION No increased risk of peri- and postoperative complications in GLP1-RA users undergoing surgery with general endotracheal anaesthesia was identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Klonoff
- Diabetes Research Institute, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, San Mateo, California, USA
| | - Sun H Kim
- Department of Medicine - Endocrinology, Gerontology, and Metabolism, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Rodolfo J Galindo
- Division of Endocrinology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jeffery I Joseph
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Jefferson Artificial Pancreas Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Rachel E Aaron
- Diabetes Technology Society, Burlingame, California, USA
| | - Tiffany Tian
- Diabetes Technology Society, Burlingame, California, USA
| | - David Kerr
- Center for Health Systems Research, Sutter Health, Walnut Creek, California, USA
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Simon TG, Singer DE, Zhang Y, Mastrorilli JM, Cervone A, DiCesare E, Lin KJ. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, and Warfarin in Patients With Cirrhosis and Atrial Fibrillation : A Nationwide Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med 2024; 177:1028-1038. [PMID: 38976880 DOI: 10.7326/m23-3067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apixaban, rivaroxaban, and warfarin have shown benefit for preventing major ischemic events, albeit with increased bleeding risk, among patients in the general population with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data are scarce in patients with cirrhosis and AF. OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness and safety of apixaban versus rivaroxaban and versus warfarin in patients with cirrhosis and AF. DESIGN Population-based cohort study. SETTING Two U.S. claims data sets (Medicare and Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database [2013 to 2022]). PARTICIPANTS 1:1 propensity score (PS)-matched patients with cirrhosis and nonvalvular AF initiating use of apixaban, rivaroxaban, or warfarin. MEASUREMENTS Primary outcomes included ischemic stroke or systemic embolism and major hemorrhage (intracranial hemorrhage or major gastrointestinal bleeding). Database-specific and pooled PS-matched rate differences (RDs) per 1000 person-years (PY) and Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs were estimated, controlling for 104 preexposure covariates. RESULTS Rivaroxaban initiators had significantly higher rates of major hemorrhagic events than apixaban initiators (RD, 33.1 per 1000 PY [95% CI, 12.9 to 53.2 per 1000 PY]; HR, 1.47 [CI, 1.11 to 1.94]) but no significant differences in rates of ischemic events or death. Consistently higher rates of major hemorrhage were found with rivaroxaban across subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Warfarin initiators also had significantly higher rates of major hemorrhage than apixaban initiators (RD, 26.1 per 1000 PY [CI, 6.8 to 45.3 per 1000 PY]; HR, 1.38 [CI, 1.03 to 1.84]), particularly hemorrhagic stroke (RD, 9.7 per 1000 PY [CI, 2.2 to 17.2 per 1000 PY]; HR, 2.85 [CI, 1.24 to 6.59]). LIMITATION Nonrandomized treatment selection. CONCLUSION Among patients with cirrhosis and nonvalvular AF, initiators of rivaroxaban versus apixaban had significantly higher rates of major hemorrhage and similar rates of ischemic events and death. Initiation of warfarin versus apixaban also contributed to significantly higher rates of major hemorrhagic events, including hemorrhagic stroke. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institutes of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey G Simon
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit (CTEU), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (T.G.S.)
| | - Daniel E Singer
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (D.E.S.)
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Y.Z., J.M.M., A.C., E.D.)
| | - Julianna M Mastrorilli
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Y.Z., J.M.M., A.C., E.D.)
| | - Alexander Cervone
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Y.Z., J.M.M., A.C., E.D.)
| | - Elyse DiCesare
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Y.Z., J.M.M., A.C., E.D.)
| | - Kueiyu Joshua Lin
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (K.J.L.)
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Acton EK, Hennessy S, Gelfand MA, Leonard CE, Bilker WB, Shu D, Willis AW, Kasner SE. Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants and Antiseizure Medications for Atrial Fibrillation and Epilepsy and Risk of Thromboembolic Events. JAMA Neurol 2024; 81:835-844. [PMID: 38976246 PMCID: PMC11231911 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.2057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Importance Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly prescribed with antiseizure medications (ASMs) due to concurrency of and the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and epilepsy. However, enzyme-inducing (EI) ASMs may reduce absorption and accelerate metabolism of DOACs, potentially lowering DOAC levels and elevating thromboembolism risk. Objective To assess the rates of thromboembolic and major bleeding events in adults with AF and epilepsy dispensed DOACs and EI ASMs vs DOACs with non-EI ASMs. Design, Setting, and Participants This active-comparator, new-user cohort study included US health care data from the Clinformatics Data Mart database from October 2010 to September 2021 for a nationally representative population of adults with AF and epilepsy. Exposure Evaluations included episodes of contiguous coadministration of DOACs for AF with EI ASMs (exposed) or non-EI ASMs (referent) for epilepsy. Main Outcomes and Measures Thromboembolic events (primary outcome) and major bleeding events (secondary outcome) were identified based on a series of validated, diagnosis-based coding algorithms. Data-adaptive, high-dimensional propensity score matching was used to control for observed confounders and proxies for unobserved confounders. Adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models with robust variance estimators to account for clustering within matched pairs. Results This study included 14 078 episodes (median age, 74 [IQR, 67-81]; 52.4% female) and 14 158 episodes (median age, 74 [IQR, 67-81]; 52.4% female) of incident DOAC and ASM use that met eligibility criteria for assessment of thromboembolic and major bleeding outcomes, respectively. Incidence was 88.5 per 1000 person-years for thromboembolic events and 68.3 per 1000 person-years for bleeding events. Compared with use of non-EI ASMs, use of EI ASMs with DOACs was not associated with a difference in risk of thromboembolic events (AHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.82-1.46) but was associated with a reduction in risk of major bleeding events (AHR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.44-0.89). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, EI ASMs were not associated with alteration in DOAC efficacy. Further research is needed on the reduction in bleeding risk associated with EI ASMs, as this may suggest that pharmacokinetic interactions are associated with lowering DOAC levels without negating therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Acton
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Translational Center of Excellence for Neuroepidemiology and Neurology Outcomes Research, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Sean Hennessy
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | | | - Charles E. Leonard
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Warren B. Bilker
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Di Shu
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Allison W. Willis
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Translational Center of Excellence for Neuroepidemiology and Neurology Outcomes Research, Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Scott E. Kasner
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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8
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Inokuchi S, Shimamoto K. Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a potential target for Parkinson's disease: a cohort study of romosozumab using routinely collected health data in Japan. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1411285. [PMID: 39104397 PMCID: PMC11298754 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1411285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Romosozumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for osteoporosis which targets sclerostin, an endogenous inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Given the essential roles of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in various tissues, we hypothesized romosozumab treatment may influence other conditions. Methods This cohort study included patients prescribed romosozumab or parathyroid receptor (PTHR) agonists after 1 January 2019, using a Japanese electronic medical record database. The outcomes of interest included autoimmune disease, interstitial pneumonia, cardiovascular outcome, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease (PD), serious infections, and malignancies. A stabilized inverse probability-weighted Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratios. Age- and gender-based subgroup analyses were conducted. Exploratory outcomes based on three-digit International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision-based were also examined. Results In total, 2,673 patients treated with romosozumab and 5,980 treated with PTHR agonists were identified, respectively. While most outcomes of interest showed no association with romosozumab, the risk of PD decreased with romosozumab (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.37 [0.14-0.94]) compared with PTHR agonist. Regarding the cardiovascular outcome, no notable association was identified overall; however, gender-based subgroup analysis suggested that male sex may be a potential risk factor with romosozumab treatment. Only 16 of 903 exploratory outcomes were potentially influenced by romosozumab. Conclusion Romosozumab lowered the risk of PD development compared with PTHR agonist. The study also highlights the utility of routinely collected health data for drug repositioning. While further validation is warranted, the findings suggest that the Wnt-β-catenin pathway holds promise as a therapeutic target for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichiro Inokuchi
- Research and Analytics Department, Real World Data Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan
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De Lott LB, Brennan B, Wallace B, Kerber K, Burke JF, Roslin C, Terman S, Andrews C, Waljee AK, Banerjee M. Are adverse events higher among patients with acute optic neuritis prescribed glucocorticoids? A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e076801. [PMID: 38991687 PMCID: PMC11243139 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Optic neuritis (ON) is an acute focal inflammation of the optic nerve routinely treated with glucocorticoids. We aimed to compare adverse events (AE) among glucocorticoid-treated and untreated patients in the real world to guide clinical decision making about treatment tradeoffs. DESIGN Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. SETTING Claims study from a large, private insurer in the USA (2005-2019). PARTICIPANTS Adults≥18 years old with ≥1 ICD9/10 ON diagnosis with an evaluation/management visit code, and ≥6 months continuous enrolment prior to and following ON diagnosis. INTERVENTION Glucocorticoid prescription exposure. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcome was any AE within 90 days of glucocorticoid prescription. Secondary outcome was AE assessment by severity. Generalised estimating equations with logit link assessed relationships between glucocorticoid prescription and AEs. High-dimensional propensity score analyses accounted for potential confounding (eg, sociodemographics and comorbidities). Sensitivity analyses restricted the cohort to high-dose prescriptions (≥100 mg prednisone equivalent, injection/infusion), AEs within 30 days, highly specific ON definition and traditional propensity score match. RESULTS Of the 14 311 people with 17 404 ON claims, 66.3% were women (n=9481), predominantly White (78.2%; n=9940), with median age (IQR)=48 (37,60) years. Within 90 days of the claim, 15.7% (n=2733/17 404) were prescribed glucocorticoids. The median (IQR) prescription duration=10 (6,20) days. Any and severe AEs were higher among patients prescribed glucocorticoids versus none (any AEs: n=437/2733 (16.0%) vs n=1784/14 671 (12.2%), adjusted OR 1.33 (95% CI: 1.18 to 1.50); severe AEs: n=72/2733 (2.6%) vs n=273/14 671 (1.9%), adjusted OR 1.82 (95% CI: 1.37 to 2.35)). Sensitivity analyses were similar. CONCLUSIONS Real-world glucocorticoid prescriptions among ON patients were short-term, associated with a 30% relative increase in potentially serious AEs captured within healthcare encounters, including those not previously observed, such as VTE. These results can inform treatment decisions, particularly for ON patients likely to experience only marginal benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey B. De Lott
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Beth Wallace
- Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kevin Kerber
- Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - James F Burke
- Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Chloe Roslin
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Samuel Terman
- Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chris Andrews
- Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Akbar K Waljee
- Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Morabito G, Gregorio C, Ieva F, Barbati G, Mancia G, Corrao G, Rea F. Cost-effectiveness of single-pill and separate-pill administration of antihypertensive triple combination therapy: a population-based microsimulation study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1808. [PMID: 38971775 PMCID: PMC11227134 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19346-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-pill combination (SPC) of three antihypertensive drugs has been shown to improve adherence to therapy compared with free combinations, but little is known about its long-term costs and health consequences. This study aimed to evaluate the lifetime cost-effectiveness profile of a three-drug SPC of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, a calcium-channel blocker, and a diuretic vs the corresponding two-pill administration (a two-drug SPC plus a third drug separately) from the Italian payer perspective. METHODS A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using multi-state semi-Markov modeling and microsimulation. Using the healthcare utilization database of the Lombardy Region (Italy), 30,172 and 65,817 patients aged ≥ 40 years who initiated SPC and two-pill combination, respectively, between 2015 and 2018 were identified. The observation period extended from the date of the first drug dispensation until death, emigration, or December 31, 2019. Disease and cost models were parametrized using the study cohort, and a lifetime microsimulation was applied to project costs and life expectancy for the compared strategies, assigning each of them to each cohort member. Costs and life-years gained were discounted by 3%. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis with 1,000 samples was performed to address parameter uncertainty. RESULTS Compared with the two-pill combination, the SPC increased life expectancy by 0.86 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61-1.14), with a mean cost differential of -€12 (95% CI -9,719-8,131), making it the dominant strategy (ICER = -14, 95% CI -€15,871-€7,113). The cost reduction associated with the SPC was primarily driven by savings in hospitalization costs, amounting to €1,850 (95% CI 17-7,813) and €2,027 (95% CI 19-8,603) for patients treated with the SPC and two-pill combination, respectively. Conversely, drug costs were higher for the SPC (€3,848, 95% CI 574-10,640 vs. €3,710, 95% CI 263-11,955). The cost-effectiveness profile did not significantly change according to age, sex, and clinical status. CONCLUSIONS The SPC was projected to be cost-effective compared with the two-pill combination at almost all reasonable willingness-to-pay thresholds. As it is currently prescribed to only a few patients, the widespread use of this strategy could result in benefits for both patients and the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Morabito
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Bicocca Degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20126, Italy.
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
| | - Caterina Gregorio
- MOX - Modelling and Scientific Computing Laboratory, Department of Mathematics, Politecnico Di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Francesca Ieva
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- MOX - Modelling and Scientific Computing Laboratory, Department of Mathematics, Politecnico Di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Health Data Science Center, HDS, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Barbati
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancia
- Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corrao
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Bicocca Degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20126, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Rea
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Bicocca Degli Arcimboldi, 8, Milan, 20126, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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Inoue K, Sakamaki K, Komukai S, Ito Y, Goto A, Shinozaki T. Confounder Selection and Sensitivity Analyses to Unmeasured Confounding from Epidemiological and Statistical Perspectives. J Epidemiol 2024:JE20240082. [PMID: 38972732 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20240082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In observational studies, identifying and adjusting for a sufficient set of confounders is crucial for accurately estimating the causal effect of the exposure on the outcome. Even in studies with large sample sizes, which typically benefit from small variances in estimates, there is a risk of producing estimates that are precisely inaccurate if the study suffers from systematic errors or biases, including confounding bias. To date, several approaches have been developed for selecting confounders. In this article, we first summarize the epidemiological and statistical approaches to identify a sufficient set of confounders. Particularly, we introduce the modified disjunctive cause criterion as one of the most useful approaches, which involves controlling for any pre-exposure covariate that affects the exposure, outcome, or both. It then excludes instrumental variables but includes proxies for the shared common cause of exposure and outcome. Statistical confounder selection is also useful when dealing with a large number of covariates, even in studies with small sample sizes. After introducing several approaches, we discuss some pitfalls and considerations in confounder selection, such as the adjustment for instrumental variables, intermediate variables, and baseline outcome variables. Lastly, as it is often difficult to comprehensively measure key confounders, we introduce two statistics, E-value and Robustness value, for assessing sensitivity to unmeasured confounders. Illustrated examples are provided using the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Integrating these principles and approaches will enhance our understanding of confounder selection and facilitate better reporting and interpretation of future epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University
- Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University
| | | | - Sho Komukai
- Division of Biomedical Statistics, Department of Integrated Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University
| | - Yuri Ito
- Department of Medical Statistics, Research & Development Center, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University
| | - Atsushi Goto
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Yokohama City University
| | - Tomohiro Shinozaki
- Department of Information and Computer Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo University of Science
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Kim DH, Park CM, Ko D, Lin KJ, Glynn RJ. Assessing the Benefits and Harms of Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults with Frailty: Insights from Pharmacoepidemiologic Studies of Routine Health Care Data. Drugs Aging 2024; 41:583-600. [PMID: 38954400 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-024-01121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this review is to summarize and appraise the research methodology, emerging findings, and future directions in pharmacoepidemiologic studies assessing the benefits and harms of pharmacotherapies in older adults with different levels of frailty. Older adults living with frailty are at elevated risk for poor health outcomes and adverse effects from pharmacotherapy. However, current evidence is limited due to the under-enrollment of frail older adults and the lack of validated frailty assessments in clinical trials. Recent advancements in measuring frailty in administrative claims and electronic health records (database-derived frailty scores) have enabled researchers to identify patients with frailty and to evaluate the heterogeneity of treatment effects by patients' frailty levels using routine health care data. When selecting a database-derived frailty score, researchers must consider the type of data (e.g., different coding systems), the length of the predictor assessment period, the extent of validation against clinically validated frailty measures, and the possibility of surveillance bias arising from unequal access to care. We reviewed 13 pharmacoepidemiologic studies published on PubMed from 2013 to 2023 that evaluated the benefits and harms of cardiovascular medications, diabetes medications, anti-neoplastic agents, antipsychotic medications, and vaccines by frailty levels. These studies suggest that, while greater frailty is positively associated with adverse treatment outcomes, older adults with frailty can still benefit from pharmacotherapy. Therefore, we recommend routine frailty subgroup analyses in pharmacoepidemiologic studies. Despite data and design limitations, the findings from such studies may be informative to tailor pharmacotherapy for older adults across the frailty spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Hyun Kim
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02131, USA.
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Chan Mi Park
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02131, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Darae Ko
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, 1200 Centre Street, Boston, MA, 02131, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kueiyu Joshua Lin
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert J Glynn
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Boston, MA, USA
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13
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Htoo PT, Tesfaye H, Schneeweiss S, Wexler DJ, Everett BM, Glynn RJ, Schmedt N, Koeneman L, Déruaz-Luyet A, Paik JM, Patorno E. Effectiveness and safety of empagliflozin: final results from the EMPRISE study. Diabetologia 2024; 67:1328-1342. [PMID: 38509341 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-024-06126-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Limited evidence exists on the comparative safety and effectiveness of empagliflozin against alternative glucose-lowering medications in individuals with type 2 diabetes with the broad spectrum of cardiovascular risk. The EMPagliflozin compaRative effectIveness and SafEty (EMPRISE) cohort study was designed to monitor the safety and effectiveness of empagliflozin periodically for a period of 5 years with data collection from electronic healthcare databases. METHODS We identified individuals ≥18 years old with type 2 diabetes who initiated empagliflozin or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) from 2014 to 2019 using US Medicare and commercial claims databases. After 1:1 propensity score matching using 143 baseline characteristics, we identified four a priori-defined effectiveness outcomes: (1) myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke; (2) hospitalisation for heart failure (HHF); (3) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE); and (4) cardiovascular mortality or HHF. Safety outcomes included lower-limb amputations, non-vertebral fractures, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), acute kidney injury (AKI), severe hypoglycaemia, retinopathy progression, and short-term kidney and bladder cancers. We estimated HRs and rate differences (RDs) per 1000 person-years, overall and stratified by age, sex, baseline atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and heart failure. RESULTS We identified 115,116 matched pairs. Compared with DPP-4i, empagliflozin was associated with lower risks of MI/stroke (HR 0.88 [95% CI 0.81, 0.96]; RD -2.08 [95% CI (-3.26, -0.90]), HHF (HR 0.50 [0.44, 0.56]; RD -5.35 [-6.22, -4.49]), MACE (HR 0.73 [0.62, 0.86]; RD -6.37 [-8.98, -3.77]) and cardiovascular mortality/HHF (HR 0.57 [0.47, 0.69]; RD -10.36 [-12.63, -8.12]). Absolute benefits were larger in older individuals and in those with ASCVD/heart failure. Empagliflozin was associated with an increased risk of DKA (HR 1.78 [1.44, 2.19]; RD 1.59 [1.08, 2.09]); decreased risks of AKI (HR 0.62 [0.54, 0.72]; RD -2.39 [-3.08, -1.71]), hypoglycaemia (HR 0.75 [0.67, 0.84]; RD -2.46 [-3.32, -1.60]) and retinopathy progression (HR 0.78 [0.63, 0.96)]; RD -9.49 [-16.97, -2.10]); and similar risks of other safety events. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Empagliflozin relative to DPP-4i was associated with risk reductions of MI or stroke, HHF, MACE and the composite of cardiovascular mortality or HHF. Absolute risk reductions were larger in older individuals and in those who had history of ASCVD or heart failure. Regarding the safety outcomes, empagliflozin was associated with an increased risk of DKA and lower risks of AKI, hypoglycaemia and progression to proliferative retinopathy, with no difference in the short-term risks of lower-extremity amputation, non-vertebral fractures, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, and bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyo T Htoo
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Helen Tesfaye
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sebastian Schneeweiss
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Deborah J Wexler
- Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brendan M Everett
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert J Glynn
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Niklas Schmedt
- Global Epidemiology, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Lisette Koeneman
- Global Medical Affairs, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany
| | - Anouk Déruaz-Luyet
- Global Epidemiology, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Julie M Paik
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Renal (Kidney) Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisabetta Patorno
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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14
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Brown J, Huybrechts K, Straub L, Heider D, Bateman B, Hernandez-Diaz S. Use of Real-World Data and Machine Learning to Screen for Maternal and Paternal Characteristics Associated with Cardiac Malformations. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4490534. [PMID: 38947037 PMCID: PMC11213223 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4490534/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Effective prevention of cardiac malformations, a leading cause of infant morbidity, is constrained by limited understanding of etiology. The study objective was to screen for associations between maternal and paternal characteristics and cardiac malformations. We selected 720,381 pregnancies linked to live-born infants (n=9,076 cardiac malformations) in 2011-2021 MarketScan US insurance claims data. Odds ratios were estimated with clinical diagnostic and medication codes using logistic regression. Screening of 2,000 associations selected 81 associated codes at the 5% false discovery rate. Grouping of selected codes, using latent semantic analysis and the Apriori-SD algorithm, identified elevated risk with known risk factors, including maternal diabetes and chronic hypertension. Less recognized potential signals included maternal fingolimod or azathioprine use. Signals identified might be explained by confounding, measurement error, and selection bias and warrant further investigation. The screening methods employed identified known risk factors, suggesting potential utility for identifying novel risk factors for other pregnancy outcomes.
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Corrao G, Monzio Compagnoni M, Conflitti C, Lora A. Is the long-term poor prognosis of acute myocardial infarction in patients with mental illness mediated through their poor adherence with recommended healthcare? Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:584-591. [PMID: 38268304 PMCID: PMC11161155 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compared with patients without evidence of psychiatric symptoms, those with mental disorders experience reduced adherence with recommended healthcare and poorer clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate whether the worse prognosis of patients with mental disorders after experiencing acute myocardial infarction could be fully or partially mediated by their reduced adherence to recommended healthcare. METHODS In this retrospective cohort population-based study, 103 389 residents in the Italian Lombardy Region who experienced acute myocardial infarction in 2007-19 were identified. Among them, 1549 patients with severe mental illness (SMI) were matched with five cohort members without evidence of mental disorders (references). Recommended healthcare (cardiac medicaments and selected outpatient services) was evaluated in the year after the date of index hospital discharge. The first occurrences of cardiovascular (CV) hospital admissions and any-cause-death were considered as endpoints. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate whether post-discharge use of recommended healthcare may be considered a mediator of the relationship between healthcare exposure and endpoints occurrence. RESULTS Compared with references, patients with SMI had lower adherence with recommended healthcare and adjusted risk excesses of 39% and 73% for CV hospitalizations and all-cause mortality. Mediation analysis showed that 4.1% and 11.3% of, respectively, CV hospitalizations and deaths occurred among psychiatric patients was mediated by their worse adherence to specific healthcare. CONCLUSION The reduced use of recommended outpatient healthcare by patients with SMI had only a marginal effect on their worse prognosis. Other key factors mediating the prognostic gap between patients with and without mental disorders should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Corrao
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Monzio Compagnoni
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Conflitti
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Lecco, Lecco, Italy
| | - Antonio Lora
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Lecco, Lecco, Italy
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Sai Folmsbee S, Hui G, Yuan Y, Gombar S, Han M, Le S. Antipsychotic medications associated with increased length of hospital stay in autoimmune encephalitis and multiple sclerosis: A retrospective study. J Clin Neurosci 2024; 124:87-93. [PMID: 38677201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2024.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antipsychotic medications (APMs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are frequently utilized in patients with neuroinflammatory disorders, such as autoimmune encephalitis and multiple sclerosis (MS). This retrospective study investigates how in-hospital treatment with APMs and SSRIs in patients with these neuroinflammatory diseases are associated with differences in hospital length-of-stay (LOS) and mortality. METHODS We evaluated all the inpatients in the Stanford University Hospital from 2008 to 2023 diagnosed with either non-infectious encephalitis or MS and subdivided them into those who did or did not receive APMs or SSRIs while hospitalized. We then analyzed whether hospital LOS and mortality differed with these medications. RESULTS Among inpatients with non-infectious encephalitis (n = 114), those who were exposed to APMs had a significantly increased mean LOS (11.8 vs 20.9 days, p < 0.01). For inpatients with MS (n = 1095), treatment with an APM was associated with a significant increase in mean LOS (2.8 vs. 7.1, p < 0.00001). When comparing typical to atypical APMs given to subjects with MS, those who received atypical APMs showed a significant increase in LOS (4.3 vs 10.5, p < 0.01), although typical APMs showed significantly increased risk of mortality (p < 0.05). For inpatients with MS and SSRI use, there was a significant increase in mean hospital LOS (3.5 vs 5.3, p < 0.01), with a significant difference found in those who received fluoxetine or citalopram, but not sertraline or escitalopram. Finally, several healthcare disparities were found, including that Black patients were more likely to receive APMs, and those with MS were more likely to receive typical rather than atypical APMs. Conversely, Black patients with MS were less likely to receive SSRI treatment. CONCLUSIONS There was a statistically significant increase in LOS associated with APM use in non-infectious encephalitis and MS, as well as with SSRI use in MS. These data reflect the importance of these medications in these neuroinflammatory disorders and suggest that further investigation into their risks and benefits would be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Sai Folmsbee
- Stanford University, Department of Psychiatry, 401 Quarry Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| | - Gavin Hui
- Atropos Health (www.atroposhealth.com/), Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ye Yuan
- Atropos Health (www.atroposhealth.com/), Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Saurabh Gombar
- Atropos Health (www.atroposhealth.com/), Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - May Han
- Stanford University, Department of Neurology, Neuroimmunology Division, 213 Quarry Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Scheherazade Le
- Stanford University, Department of Neurology, Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 213 Quarry Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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17
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Cai M, Xie Y, Topol EJ, Al-Aly Z. Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. Nat Med 2024; 30:1564-1573. [PMID: 38816608 PMCID: PMC11186764 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02987-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC) in many organ systems. Risks of these sequelae have been characterized up to 2 years after infection, but longer-term follow-up is limited. Here we built a cohort of 135,161 people with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 5,206,835 controls from the US Department of Veterans Affairs who were followed for 3 years to estimate risks of death and PASC. Among non-hospitalized individuals, the increased risk of death was no longer present after the first year of infection, and risk of incident PASC declined over the 3 years but still contributed 9.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4-18.7) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 1,000 persons in the third year. Among hospitalized individuals, risk of death declined but remained significantly elevated in the third year after infection (incidence rate ratio: 1.29 (95% CI: 1.19-1.40)). Risk of incident PASC declined over the 3 years, but substantial residual risk remained in the third year, leading to 90.0 (95% CI: 55.2-124.8) DALYs per 1,000 persons. Altogether, our findings show reduction of risks over time, but the burden of mortality and health loss remains in the third year among hospitalized individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Cai
- Clinical Epidemiology Center, Research and Development Service, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Veterans Research and Education Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yan Xie
- Clinical Epidemiology Center, Research and Development Service, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Veterans Research and Education Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology Center, Research and Development Service, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Ziyad Al-Aly
- Clinical Epidemiology Center, Research and Development Service, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Veterans Research and Education Foundation of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Nephrology Section, Medicine Service, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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18
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Franchi M, Pellegrini G, Avogaro A, Buzzetti G, Candido R, Cavaliere A, Consoli A, Marzona I, Mennini FS, Palcic S, Corrao G. Comparing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sulfonylureas and newer diabetes drugs as second-line therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2024; 12:e003991. [PMID: 38802266 PMCID: PMC11131106 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2023-003991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We aimed to compare the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness profiles of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1-RA), sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) compared with sulfonylureas and glinides (SU). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Population-based retrospective cohort study based on linked regional healthcare utilization databases. The cohort included all residents in Lombardy aged ≥40 years, treated with metformin in 2014, who started a second-line treatment between 2015 and 2018 with SU, GLP-1-RA, SGLT2i, or DPP-4i. For each cohort member who started SU, one patient who began other second-line treatments was randomly selected and matched for sex, age, Multisource Comorbidity Score, and previous duration of metformin treatment. Cohort members were followed up until December 31, 2022. The association between second-line treatment and clinical outcomes was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated and compared between newer diabetes drugs and SU. RESULTS Overall, 22 867 patients with diabetes were included in the cohort, among which 10 577, 8125, 2893 and 1272 started a second-line treatment with SU, DPP-4i, SGLT2i and GLP-1-RA, respectively. Among these, 1208 patients for each group were included in the matched cohort. As compared with SU, those treated with DPP-4i, SGLT2i and GLP-1-RA were associated to a risk reduction for hospitalization for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of 22% (95% CI 3% to 37%), 29% (95% CI 12% to 44%) and 41% (95% CI 26% to 53%), respectively. The ICER values indicated an average gain of €96.2 and €75.7 each month free from MACE for patients on DPP-4i and SGLT2i, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Newer diabetes drugs are more effective and cost-effective second-line options for the treatment of type 2 diabetes than SUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Franchi
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pellegrini
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Avogaro
- Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Candido
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- SC Patologie Diabetiche, ASUGI, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Agostino Consoli
- DMSI and CAST, Università degli Studi Gabriele d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Saverio Mennini
- Centre for Economics and International Studies-Economic Evaluation and Health Technology Assessment, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy
| | - Stefano Palcic
- SC Farmacia Ospedaliera e Territoriale-Area Giuliana, ASUGI, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corrao
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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Martin GL, Petri C, Rozenberg J, Simon N, Hajage D, Kirchgesner J, Tubach F, Létinier L, Dechartres A. A methodological review of the high-dimensional propensity score in comparative-effectiveness and safety-of-interventions research finds incomplete reporting relative to algorithm development and robustness. J Clin Epidemiol 2024; 169:111305. [PMID: 38417583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The use of secondary databases has become popular for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of interventions in real-life settings. However, the absence of important confounders in these databases is challenging. To address this issue, the high-dimensional propensity score (hdPS) algorithm was developed in 2009. This algorithm uses proxy variables for mitigating confounding by combining information available across several healthcare dimensions. This study assessed the methodology and reporting of the hdPS in comparative effectiveness and safety research. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING In this methodological review, we searched PubMed and Google Scholar from July 2009 to May 2022 for studies that used the hdPS for evaluating the effectiveness or safety of healthcare interventions. Two reviewers independently extracted study characteristics and assessed how the hdPS was applied and reported. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. RESULTS In total, 136 studies met the inclusion criteria; the median publication year was 2018 (Q1-Q3 2016-2020). The studies included 192 datasets, mostly North American databases (n = 132, 69%). The hdPS was used in primary analysis in 120 studies (88%). Dimensions were defined in 101 studies (74%), with a median of 5 (Q1-Q3 4-6) dimensions included. A median of 500 (Q1-Q3 200-500) empirically identified covariates were selected. Regarding hdPS reporting, only 11 studies (8%) reported all recommended items. Most studies (n = 81, 60%) had a moderate overall risk of bias. CONCLUSION There is room for improvement in the reporting of hdPS studies, especially regarding the transparency of methodological choices that underpin the construction of the hdPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Louis Martin
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Département de Santé Publique, Paris, France; Synapse Medicine, Bordeaux, France.
| | - Camille Petri
- UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Healthcare, Imperial College London, London, UK; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Noémie Simon
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Département de Santé Publique, Paris, France
| | - David Hajage
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Département de Santé Publique, Paris, France
| | - Julien Kirchgesner
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Département de Gastroentérologie et Nutrition, Paris, France
| | - Florence Tubach
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Département de Santé Publique, Paris, France
| | | | - Agnès Dechartres
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, Département de Santé Publique, Paris, France
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Roubille F, Mercier G, Lancman G, Pasche H, Alami S, Delval C, Bessou A, Vadel J, Rey A, Duret S, Abraham E, Chatellier G, Durand Zaleski I. Weight telemonitoring of heart failure versus standard of care in a real-world setting: Results on mortality and hospitalizations in a 6-month nationwide matched cohort study. Eur J Heart Fail 2024; 26:1201-1214. [PMID: 38450858 DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.3191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Evaluating the benefit of telemonitoring in heart failure (HF) management in real-world settings is crucial for optimizing the healthcare pathway. The aim of this study was to assess the association between a 6-month application of the telemonitoring solution Chronic Care Connect™ (CCC) and mortality, HF hospitalizations, and associated costs compared with standard of care (SOC) in patients with a diagnosis of HF. METHODS AND RESULTS From February 2018 to March 2020, a retrospective cohort study was conducted using the largest healthcare insurance system claims database in France (Système National des Données de Santé) linked to the CCC telemonitoring database of adult patients with an ICD-10-coded diagnosis of HF. Patients from the telemonitoring group were matched with up to two patients from the SOC group based on their high-dimensional propensity score, without replacement, using the nearest-neighbour method. A total of 1358 telemonitored patients were matched to 2456 SOC patients. The cohorts consisted of high-risk patients with median times from last HF hospitalization to index date of 17.0 (interquartile range: 7.0-66.0) days for the telemonitoring group and 27.0 (15.0-70.0) days for the SOC group. After 6 months, telemonitoring was associated with mortality risk reduction (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.89), a higher risk of first HF hospitalization (HR 1.81, 95% CI 1.55-2.13), and higher HF healthcare costs (relative cost 1.38, 95% CI 1.26-1.51). Compared with the SOC group, the telemonitoring group experienced a shorter average length of overnight HF hospitalization and fewer emergency visits preceding HF hospitalizations. CONCLUSION The results of this nationwide cohort study highlight a valuable role for telemonitoring solutions such as CCC in the management of high-risk HF patients. However, for telemonitoring solutions based on weight and symptoms, consideration should be given to implement additional methods of assessment to recognize imminent worsening of HF, such as impedance changes, as a way to reduce mortality risk and the need for HF hospitalizations. Further studies are warranted to refine selection of patients who could benefit from a telemonitoring system and to confirm long-term benefits in high-risk and stable HF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Roubille
- Cardiology Department, Hôpital Lapeyronie, PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, CHRU, INI-CRT, Montpellier, France
| | - Grégoire Mercier
- Economic Evaluation Unit (URME), University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- IDESP, Université de Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Sarah Alami
- Air Liquide Santé International, Bagneux, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gilles Chatellier
- Department of Statistics Informatics and Public Health, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
- Clinical Research Unit, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint Joseph, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Durand Zaleski
- Université de Paris, CRESS, INSERM, INRA, URCEco, AP-HP, Hôpital de l'Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Santé Publique Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
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21
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Ponzoni M, Morabito G, Corrao G, Gerosa G, Cantarutti A, Rea F. The COVID-19 Pandemic Was Associated with a Change in Therapeutic Management and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2625. [PMID: 38731152 PMCID: PMC11084396 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Heart failure (HF)-related mortality has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it is unclear how healthcare reassessment has contributed to the excess mortality versus SARS-CoV-2 infection itself. We aimed to assess how the pandemic affected the therapeutic management and prognosis of HF patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the healthcare utilization databases of the Lombardy region (Italy) to identify all newly-diagnosed HF patients from January 2018 to December 2021. Outcomes were the utilization of HF therapies (Sacubitril/Valsartan; cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT] and/or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator [ICD]; mechanical circulatory support [MCS]; heart transplantation [HTX]) and mortality. Cox regression models were fitted to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes associated with the pandemic. Results: 36,130 and 17,263 patients were identified in the pre-pandemic and pandemic eras, respectively. The pandemic reduced Sacubitril/Valsartan utilization (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.65-0.91) and CRT/ICD implantation (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.78-0.92), but not MCS (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.86-1.43) and HTX (HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.70-1.09). An increased mortality risk was observed during the pandemic (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.15-1.23), which was attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection (HR for non-COVID-19-related mortality = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.97-1.04). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a reduction in medical and interventional therapies for HF and an increase in mortality for HF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Ponzoni
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Gabriella Morabito
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (G.C.); (A.C.); (F.R.)
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corrao
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (G.C.); (A.C.); (F.R.)
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Gino Gerosa
- Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Anna Cantarutti
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (G.C.); (A.C.); (F.R.)
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Rea
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, 20126 Milan, Italy; (G.M.); (G.C.); (A.C.); (F.R.)
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
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22
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Hripcsak G, Zhang L, Li K, Suchard MA, Ryan PB, Schuemie MJ. Assessing Covariate Balance with Small Sample Sizes. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.04.23.24306230. [PMID: 38712282 PMCID: PMC11071580 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.23.24306230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Propensity score adjustment addresses confounding by balancing covariates in subject treatment groups through matching, stratification, inverse probability weighting, etc. Diagnostics ensure that the adjustment has been effective. A common technique is to check whether the standardized mean difference for each relevant covariate is less than a threshold like 0.1. For small sample sizes, the probability of falsely rejecting the validity of a study because of chance imbalance when no underlying balance exists approaches 1. We propose an alternative diagnostic that checks whether the standardized mean difference statistically significantly exceeds the threshold. Through simulation and real-world data, we find that this diagnostic achieves a better trade-off of type 1 error rate and power than standard nominal threshold tests and not testing for sample sizes from 250 to 4000 and for 20 to 100,000 covariates. In network studies, meta-analysis of effect estimates must be accompanied by meta-analysis of the diagnostics or else systematic confounding may overwhelm the estimated effect. Our procedure for statistically testing balance at both the database level and the meta-analysis level achieves the best balance of type-1 error rate and power. Our procedure supports the review of large numbers of covariates, enabling more rigorous diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Hripcsak
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Observational Health Data Science and Informatics, New York, NY, USA
| | - Linying Zhang
- Observational Health Data Science and Informatics, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Informatics, Data Science and Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kelly Li
- Observational Health Data Science and Informatics, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marc A. Suchard
- Observational Health Data Science and Informatics, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Patrick B. Ryan
- Observational Health Data Science and Informatics, New York, NY, USA
- Global Epidemiology Organization, Johnson & Johnson, Titusville, NJ, USA
| | - Martijn J. Schuemie
- Observational Health Data Science and Informatics, New York, NY, USA
- Global Epidemiology Organization, Johnson & Johnson, Titusville, NJ, USA
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23
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Vajravelu RK, Byerly AR, Feldman R, Rothenberger SD, Schoen RE, Gellad WF, Lewis JD. Active surveillance pharmacovigilance for Clostridioides difficile infection and gastrointestinal bleeding: an analytic framework based on case-control studies. EBioMedicine 2024; 103:105130. [PMID: 38653188 PMCID: PMC11041851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Active surveillance pharmacovigilance is an emerging approach to identify medications with unanticipated effects. We previously developed a framework called pharmacopeia-wide association studies (PharmWAS) that limits false positive medication associations through high-dimensional confounding adjustment and set enrichment. We aimed to assess the transportability and generalizability of the PharmWAS framework by using medical claims data to reproduce known medication associations with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) or gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). METHODS We conducted case-control studies using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database of individuals enrolled in large commercial and Medicare Advantage health plans in the United States. Individuals with CDI (from 2010 to 2015) or GIB (from 2010 to 2021) were matched to controls by age and sex. We identified all medications utilized prior to diagnosis and analysed the association of each with CDI or GIB using conditional logistic regression adjusted for risk factors for the outcome and a high-dimensional propensity score. FINDINGS For the CDI study, we identified 55,137 cases, 220,543 controls, and 290 medications to analyse. Antibiotics with Gram-negative spectrum, including ciprofloxacin (aOR 2.83), ceftriaxone (aOR 2.65), and levofloxacin (aOR 1.60), were strongly associated. For the GIB study, we identified 450,315 cases, 1,801,260 controls, and 354 medications to analyse. Antiplatelets, anticoagulants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ticagrelor (aOR 2.81), naproxen (aOR 1.87), and rivaroxaban (aOR 1.31), were strongly associated. INTERPRETATION These studies demonstrate the generalizability and transportability of the PharmWAS pharmacovigilance framework. With additional validation, PharmWAS could complement traditional passive surveillance systems to identify medications that unexpectedly provoke or prevent high-impact conditions. FUNDING U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravy K Vajravelu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Amy R Byerly
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert Feldman
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Scott D Rothenberger
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert E Schoen
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Walid F Gellad
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - James D Lewis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Xiao Y, Chen Y, Huang R, Jiang F, Zhou J, Yang T. Interpretable machine learning in predicting drug-induced liver injury among tuberculosis patients: model development and validation study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2024; 24:92. [PMID: 38643122 PMCID: PMC11031978 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-024-02214-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this research was to create and validate an interpretable prediction model for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) during tuberculosis (TB) treatment. METHODS A dataset of TB patients from Ningbo City was used to develop models employing the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic algorithms. The model's performance was evaluated through various metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the area under the precision recall curve (AUPR) alongside the decision curve. The Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was used to interpret the variable contributions of the superior model. RESULTS A total of 7,071 TB patients were identified from the regional healthcare dataset. The study cohort consisted of individuals with a median age of 47 years, 68.0% of whom were male, and 16.3% developed DILI. We utilized part of the high dimensional propensity score (HDPS) method to identify relevant variables and obtained a total of 424 variables. From these, 37 variables were selected for inclusion in a logistic model using LASSO. The dataset was then split into training and validation sets according to a 7:3 ratio. In the validation dataset, the XGBoost model displayed improved overall performance, with an AUROC of 0.89, an AUPR of 0.75, an F1 score of 0.57, and a Brier score of 0.07. Both SHAP analysis and XGBoost model highlighted the contribution of baseline liver-related ailments such as DILI, drug-induced hepatitis (DIH), and fatty liver disease (FLD). Age, alanine transaminase (ALT), and total bilirubin (Tbil) were also linked to DILI status. CONCLUSION XGBoost demonstrates improved predictive performance compared to RF and LASSO logistic in this study. Moreover, the introduction of the SHAP method enhances the clinical understanding and potential application of the model. For further research, external validation and more detailed feature integration are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Xiao
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanfei Chen
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruijian Huang
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jifang Zhou
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Tianchi Yang
- Institute of Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.237, Yongfeng Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
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25
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Dubois C, Fernandes H, Lin M, Martins KJB, Dyck JRB, Klarenbach SW, Richer L, Jess E, Hanlon JG, Hyshka E, Eurich DT. Benzodiazepine use in medical cannabis authorization adult patients from 2013 to 2021: Alberta, Canada. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:859. [PMID: 38504198 PMCID: PMC10953249 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18356-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that are being frequently prescribed in Canada but carry significant risk of harm. There has been increasing clinical interest on the potential "sparing effects" of medical cannabis as one strategy to reduce benzodiazepine use. The objective of this study as to examine the association of medical cannabis authorization with benzodiazepine usage between 2013 and 2021 in Alberta, Canada. METHODS A propensity score matched cohort study with patients on regular benzodiazepine treatment authorized to use medical cannabis compared to controls who do not have authorization for medical cannabis. A total of 9690 medically authorized cannabis patients were matched to controls. To assess the effect of medical cannabis use on daily average diazepam equivalence (DDE), interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used to assess the change in the trend of DDE in the 12 months before and 12 months after the authorization of medical cannabis. RESULTS Over the follow-up period after medical cannabis authorization, there was no overall change in the DDE use in authorized medical cannabis patients compared to matched controls (- 0.08 DDE, 95% CI: - 0.41 to 0.24). Likewise, the sensitivity analysis showed that, among patients consuming ≤5 mg baseline DDE, there was no change immediately after medical cannabis authorization compared to controls (level change, - 0.04 DDE, 95% CI: - 0.12 to 0.03) per patient as well as in the month-to-month trend change (0.002 DDE, 95% CI: - 0.009 to 0.12) per patient was noted. CONCLUSIONS This short-term study found that medical cannabis authorization had minimal effects on benzodiazepine use. Our findings may contribute ongoing evidence for clinicians regarding the potential impact of medical cannabis to reduce benzodiazepine use. HIGHLIGHTS • Medical cannabis authorization had little to no effect on benzodiazepine usage among patients prescribed regular benzodiazepine treatment in Alberta, Canada. • Further clinical research is needed to investigate the potential impact of medical cannabis as an alternative to benzodiazepine medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cerina Dubois
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy 11405 - 87 Ave Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9 2E, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Heidi Fernandes
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy 11405 - 87 Ave Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9 2E, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Mu Lin
- SPOR (Strategy for Patient Oriented Research) Data Platform, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Karen J B Martins
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jason R B Dyck
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott W Klarenbach
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lawrence Richer
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ed Jess
- College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - John G Hanlon
- St. Michael's Hospital Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elaine Hyshka
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy 11405 - 87 Ave Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9 2E, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Dean T Eurich
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy 11405 - 87 Ave Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9 2E, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Kim MK, Rouphael C, McMichael J, Welch N, Dasarathy S. Challenges in and Opportunities for Electronic Health Record-Based Data Analysis and Interpretation. Gut Liver 2024; 18:201-208. [PMID: 37905424 PMCID: PMC10938158 DOI: 10.5009/gnl230272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Electronic health records (EHRs) have been increasingly adopted in clinical practices across the United States, providing a primary source of data for clinical research, particularly observational cohort studies. EHRs are a high-yield, low-maintenance source of longitudinal real-world data for large patient populations and provide a wealth of information and clinical contexts that are useful for clinical research and translation into practice. Despite these strengths, it is important to recognize the multiple limitations and challenges related to the use of EHR data in clinical research. Missing data are a major source of error and biases and can affect the representativeness of the cohort of interest, as well as the accuracy of the outcomes and exposures. Here, we aim to provide a critical understanding of the types of data available in EHRs and describe the impact of data heterogeneity, quality, and generalizability, which should be evaluated prior to and during the analysis of EHR data. We also identify challenges pertaining to data quality, including errors and biases, and examine potential sources of such biases and errors. Finally, we discuss approaches to mitigate and remediate these limitations. A proactive approach to addressing these issues can help ensure the integrity and quality of EHR data and the appropriateness of their use in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Kang Kim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Carol Rouphael
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - John McMichael
- Department of Surgery, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nicole Welch
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Srinivasan Dasarathy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Gagnon ME, Talbot D, Tremblay F, Desforges K, Sirois C. Polypharmacy and risk of fractures in older adults: A systematic review. J Evid Based Med 2024; 17:145-171. [PMID: 38517979 DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fractures have serious health consequences in older adults. While some medications are individually associated with increased risk of falls and fractures, it is not clear if this holds true for the use of many medications (polypharmacy). We aimed to identify what is known about the association between polypharmacy and the risk of fractures in adults aged ≥65 and to examine the methods used to study this association. METHODS We conducted a systematic review with narrative synthesis of studies published up to October 2023 in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and the grey literature. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, then performed data extraction and quality assessment. RESULTS Among the 31 studies included, 11 different definitions of polypharmacy were used and were based on three medication counting methods (concurrent use 15/31, cumulative use over a period 6/31, daily average 3/31, and indeterminate 7/31). Overall, polypharmacy was frequent and associated with higher fracture risk. A dose-response relationship between increasing number of medications and increased risk of fractures was observed. However, only seven studies adjusted for major confounders (age, sex, and chronic disease). The quality of the studies ranged from poor to high. CONCLUSIONS Polypharmacy appears to be a relevant modifiable risk factor for fractures in older individuals that can easily be used to identify those at risk. The diversity of medication calculation methods and definitions of polypharmacy highlights the importance of a detailed methodology to understand and compare results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Eve Gagnon
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), Rimouski, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centre d'excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec, VITAM - Centre de recherche en sante durable, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Denis Talbot
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Katherine Desforges
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pharmacy, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Caroline Sirois
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centre d'excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec, VITAM - Centre de recherche en sante durable, Québec, Québec, Canada
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Liu Y, Zhao W, Huang C, Chu R, Li Z, Wang Y, Song L, Li L. The impact of lymphadenectomy on the survival outcomes of ovarian clear cell carcinoma: A retrospective study of the SEER database and Chinese registry. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY 2024; 50:107975. [PMID: 38295548 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2024.107975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a rare pathological type of ovarian cancer with a poor prognosis, and lymphadenectomy is controversial in patients with OCCC. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of lymphadenectomy on the prognosis of patients with OCCC. METHODS In this retrospective study, we collected data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database and institutional registries in China. The SEER cohort included 1777 women diagnosed with OCCC between 2010 and 2019, while the Chinese cohort included 199 women diagnosed between April 2004 and April 2021. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were studied using Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression analysis. We also employed propensity score matching (PSM) to adjust for baseline imbalances between the lymphadenectomy group and the no-lymphadenectomy group. RESULTS Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that lymphadenectomy was not associated with better overall survival (OS) in either early (hazard ratio [HR] 0.84[0.50-1.43], p = 0.528) or advanced (HR 0.78[0.50-1.21], p = 0.270) patients in the SEER cohort after PSM. Additionally, in the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis, lymphadenectomy did not significantly improve OS in both early (p = 0.28) and advanced (p = 0.49) patients in the SEER cohort after PSM. Similarly, in the Chinese cohort, lymphadenectomy had no significant effect on OS (early p = 0.22; advanced p = 0.61) or RFS (early p = 0.18; advanced p = 0.83) in both early and advanced patients. CONCLUSION In completely homogeneous groups, lymphadenectomy in women diagnosed with OCCC had no effect on either recurrence-free survival or overall survival compared to patients without lymphadenectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Division of Gynecology Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Wenna Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Division of Gynecology Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Changzhen Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Division of Gynecology Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Ran Chu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Zhuang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Division of Gynecology Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Yuanjian Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Division of Gynecology Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China
| | - Li Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China; Division of Gynecology Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
| | - Li Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, PR China.
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Suarez EA, Bateman BT, Straub L, Hernández-Díaz S, Jones HE, Gray KJ, Connery HS, Davis JM, Lester B, Terplan M, Zhu Y, Vine SM, Mogun H, Huybrechts KF. First Trimester Use of Buprenorphine or Methadone and the Risk of Congenital Malformations. JAMA Intern Med 2024; 184:242-251. [PMID: 38252426 PMCID: PMC10804281 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.6986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Importance Use of buprenorphine or methadone to treat opioid use disorder is recommended in pregnancy; however, their teratogenic potential is largely unknown. Objective To compare the risk of congenital malformations following in utero exposure to buprenorphine vs methadone. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study used health care utilization data from publicly insured Medicaid beneficiaries in the US from 2000 to 2018. A total of 13 360 pregnancies with enrollment from 90 days prior to pregnancy start through 1 month after delivery and first trimester use of buprenorphine or methadone were included and linked to infants. Data were analyzed from July to December 2022. Exposure A pharmacy dispensing of buprenorphine or a code for administration of methadone in the first trimester. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes included major malformations overall and malformations previously associated with opioids (any cardiac malformations, ventricular septal defect, secundum atrial septal defect/nonprematurity-related patent foramen ovale, neural tube defects, clubfoot, and oral clefts). Secondary outcomes included other organ system-specific malformations. Risk differences and risk ratios (RRs) were estimated comparing buprenorphine with methadone, adjusting for confounders with propensity score overlap weights. Results The cohort included 9514 pregnancies with first-trimester buprenorphine exposure (mean [SD] maternal age, 28.4 [4.6] years) and 3846 with methadone exposure (mean [SD] maternal age, 28.8 [4.7] years). The risk of malformations overall was 50.9 (95% CI, 46.5-55.3) per 1000 pregnancies for buprenorphine and 60.6 (95% CI, 53.0-68.1) per 1000 pregnancies for methadone. After confounding adjustment, buprenorphine was associated with a lower risk of malformations compared with methadone (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.97). Risk was lower with buprenorphine for cardiac malformations (RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85), including both ventricular septal defect (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39-0.98) and secundum atrial septal defect/nonprematurity-related patent foramen ovale (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.97), oral clefts (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.35-1.19), and clubfoot (RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.94). Results for neural tube defects were uncertain given low event counts. In secondary analyses, buprenorphine was associated with a decreased risk of central nervous system, urinary, and limb malformations but a greater risk of gastrointestinal malformations compared with methadone. These findings were consistent in sensitivity and bias analyses. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, the risk of most malformations previously associated with opioid exposure was lower in buprenorphine-exposed infants compared with methadone-exposed infants, independent of measured confounders. Malformation risk is one factor that informs the individualized patient decision regarding medications for opioid use disorder in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Suarez
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - Brian T. Bateman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Loreen Straub
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sonia Hernández-Díaz
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hendrée E. Jones
- UNC Horizons Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
| | - Kathryn J. Gray
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hilary S. Connery
- Division of Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jonathan M. Davis
- Department of Pediatrics, Tufts Medical Center and the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Barry Lester
- Center for the Study of Children at Risk, Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | - Yanmin Zhu
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Seanna M. Vine
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Helen Mogun
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Krista F. Huybrechts
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Fu EL, Desai RJ, Paik JM, Kim DH, Zhang Y, Mastrorilli JM, Cervone A, Lin KJ. Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Warfarin or Rivaroxaban Versus Apixaban in Patients With Advanced CKD and Atrial Fibrillation: Nationwide US Cohort Study. Am J Kidney Dis 2024; 83:293-305.e1. [PMID: 37839687 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.08.017] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE Head-to-head data comparing the effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) are lacking. We compared the safety and effectiveness of warfarin or rivaroxaban versus apixaban in patients with AF and non-dialysis-dependent CKD stage 4/5. STUDY DESIGN Propensity score-matched cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 2 nationwide US claims databases, Medicare and Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database, were searched for the interval from January 1, 2013, through March 31, 2022, for patients with nonvalvular AF and CKD stage 4/5 who initiated warfarin versus apixaban (matched cohort, n=12,488) and rivaroxaban versus apixaban (matched cohort, n = 5,720). EXPOSURES Warfarin, rivaroxaban, or apixaban. OUTCOMES Primary outcomes included major bleeding and ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, major gastrointestinal bleeding, and intracranial bleeding. ANALYTICAL APPROACH Cox regression was used to estimate HRs, and 1:1 propensity-score matching was used to adjust for 80 potential confounders. RESULTS Compared with apixaban, warfarin initiation was associated with a higher rate of major bleeding (HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.59-2.15), including major gastrointestinal bleeding (1.86; 1.53-2.25) and intracranial bleeding (2.15; 1.42-3.25). Compared with apixaban, rivaroxaban was also associated with a higher rate of major bleeding (1.69; 1.33-2.15). All-cause mortality was similar for warfarin (1.08; 0.98-1.18) and rivaroxaban (0.94; 0.81-1.10) versus apixaban. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences for ischemic stroke were observed for warfarin (1.14; 0.83-1.57) or rivaroxaban (0.71; 0.40-1.24) versus apixaban, but the CIs were wide. Similar results were observed for warfarin versus apixaban in the positive control cohort of patients with CKD stage 3, consistent with randomized trial findings. LIMITATIONS Few ischemic stroke events, potential residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS In patients with AF and advanced CKD, rivaroxaban and warfarin were associated with higher rates of major bleeding compared with apixaban, suggesting a superior safety profile for apixaban in this high-risk population. PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY Different anticoagulants have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, such as warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants like apixaban and rivaroxaban. Unfortunately, the large-scale randomized trials that compared direct anticoagulants versus warfarin excluded patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. Therefore, the comparative safety and effectiveness of warfarin, apixaban, and rivaroxaban are uncertain in this population. In this study, we used administrative claims data from the United States to answer this question. We found that warfarin and rivaroxaban were associated with increased risks of major bleeding compared with apixaban. There were few stroke events, with no major differences among the 3 drugs in the risk of stroke. In conclusion, this study suggests that apixaban has a better safety profile than warfarin and rivaroxaban.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard L Fu
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rishi J Desai
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julie M Paik
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dae Hyun Kim
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Julianna M Mastrorilli
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alexander Cervone
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kueiyu Joshua Lin
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Shakibfar S, Allin KH, Jess T, Barbieri MA, Battini V, Simoncic E, Kirchgesner J, Ulven T, Sessa M. Drug Repurposing in Crohn's Disease Using Danish Real-World Data. Pragmat Obs Res 2024; 15:17-29. [PMID: 38404739 PMCID: PMC10894518 DOI: 10.2147/por.s444569] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim Drug repurposing, utilizing electronic healthcare records (EHRs), offers a promising alternative by repurposing existing drugs for new therapeutic indications, especially for patients lacking effective therapies. Intestinal fibrosis, a severe complication of Crohn's disease (CD), poses significant challenges, increasing morbidity and mortality without available pharmacological treatments. This article focuses on identifying medications associated with an elevated or reduced risk of fibrosis in CD patients through a population-wide real-world data and artificial intelligence (AI) approach. Methods Patients aged 65 or older with a diagnosis of CD from 1996 to 2019 in the Danish EHRs were followed for up to 24 years. The primary outcome was the need of specific surgical procedures, namely proctocolectomy with ileostomy and ileocecal resection as proxies of intestinal fibrosis. The study explored drugs linked to an increased or reduced risk of the study outcome through machine-learning driven survival analysis. Results Among the 9179 CD patients, 1029 (11.2%) underwent surgery, primarily men (58.5%), with a mean age of 76 years, 10 drugs were linked to an elevated risk of surgery for proctocolectomy with ileostomy and ileocecal resection. In contrast, 10 drugs were associated with a reduced risk of undergoing surgery for these conditions. Conclusion This study focuses on repurposing existing drugs to prevent surgery related to intestinal fibrosis in CD patients, using Danish EHRs and advanced statistical methods. The findings offer valuable insights into potential treatments for this condition, addressing a critical unmet medical need. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to validate the effectiveness of these repurposed drugs in preventing surgery related to intestinal fibrosis in CD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Shakibfar
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine H Allin
- Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tine Jess
- Center for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT), Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Antonietta Barbieri
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Vera Battini
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Research, International Centre for Pesticides and Health Risk Prevention, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC), ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco University Hospital, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Eva Simoncic
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Julien Kirchgesner
- Department of Gastroenterology, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Trond Ulven
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maurizio Sessa
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Htoo PT, Tesfaye H, Schneeweiss S, Wexler DJ, Everett BM, Glynn RJ, Schmedt N, Koeneman L, Déruaz-Luyet A, Paik JM, Patorno E. Cardiorenal effectiveness of empagliflozin vs. glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists: final-year results from the EMPRISE study. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2024; 23:57. [PMID: 38331813 PMCID: PMC10854040 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-024-02150-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND No randomized clinical trials have directly compared the cardiorenal effectiveness of empagliflozin and GLP-1RA agents with demonstrated cardioprotective effects in patients with a broad spectrum of cardiovascular risk. We reported the final-year results of the EMPRISE study, a monitoring program designed to evaluate the cardiorenal effectiveness of empagliflozin across broad patient subgroups. METHODS We identified patients ≥ 18 years old with type 2 diabetes who initiated empagliflozin or GLP-1RA from 2014 to 2019 using US Medicare and commercial claims databases. After 1:1 propensity score matching using 143 baseline characteristics, we evaluated risks of outcomes including myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE - MI, stroke, or cardiovascular mortality), a composite of HHF or cardiovascular mortality, and progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) (in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3-4). We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and rate differences (RD) per 1,000 person-years, overall and within subgroups of age, sex, baseline atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and heart failure (HF). RESULTS We identified 141,541 matched pairs. Compared with GLP-1RA, empagliflozin was associated with similar risks of MI or stroke [HR: 0.99 (0.92, 1.07); RD: -0.23 (-1.25, 0.79)], and lower risks of HHF [HR: 0.50 (0.44, 0.56); RD: -2.28 (-2.98, -1.59)], MACE [HR: 0.90 (0.82, 0.99); RD: -2.54 (-4.76, -0.32)], cardiovascular mortality or HHF [HR: 0.77 (0.69, 0.86); RD: -4.11 (-5.95, -2.29)], and ESKD [0.75 (0.60, 0.94); RD: -6.77 (-11.97, -1.61)]. Absolute risk reductions were larger in older patients and in those with baseline ASCVD/HF. They did not differ by sex. CONCLUSIONS The cardiovascular benefits of empagliflozin vs. cardioprotective GLP-1RA agents were larger in older patients and in patients with history of ASCVD or HF, while they did not differ by sex. In patients with advanced CKD, empagliflozin was associated with risk reductions of progression to ESKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyo T Htoo
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont Street, Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Helen Tesfaye
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont Street, Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Sebastian Schneeweiss
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont Street, Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Deborah J Wexler
- Massachusetts General Hospital Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Brendan M Everett
- Divisions of Cardiovascular and Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert J Glynn
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont Street, Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Niklas Schmedt
- Global Epidemiology, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Germany) DE, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lisette Koeneman
- Global Medical Affairs, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany
| | - Anouk Déruaz-Luyet
- Global Epidemiology, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (Germany) DE, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julie M Paik
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont Street, Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
- Division of Renal (Kidney) Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisabetta Patorno
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 1620 Tremont Street, Suite 3030, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.
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Staerk C, Byrd A, Mayr A. Recent Methodological Trends in Epidemiology: No Need for Data-Driven Variable Selection? Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:370-376. [PMID: 37771042 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Variable selection in regression models is a particularly important issue in epidemiology, where one usually encounters observational studies. In contrast to randomized trials or experiments, confounding is often not controlled by the study design, but has to be accounted for by suitable statistical methods. For instance, when risk factors should be identified with unconfounded effect estimates, multivariable regression techniques can help to adjust for confounders. We investigated the current practice of variable selection in 4 major epidemiologic journals in 2019 and found that the majority of articles used subject-matter knowledge to determine a priori the set of included variables. In comparison with previous reviews from 2008 and 2015, fewer articles applied data-driven variable selection. Furthermore, for most articles the main aim of analysis was hypothesis-driven effect estimation in rather low-dimensional data situations (i.e., large sample size compared with the number of variables). Based on our results, we discuss the role of data-driven variable selection in epidemiology.
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Wang S, Puggioni G, Wu J, Meador KJ, Caffrey A, Wyss R, Slaughter JL, Suzuki E, Ward KE, Lewkowitz AK, Wen X. Prenatal Exposure to Opioids and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children: A Bayesian Mediation Analysis. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:308-322. [PMID: 37671942 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This study explores natural direct and joint natural indirect effects (JNIE) of prenatal opioid exposure on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in children mediated through pregnancy complications, major and minor congenital malformations, and adverse neonatal outcomes, using Medicaid claims linked to vital statistics in Rhode Island, United States, 2008-2018. A Bayesian mediation analysis with elastic net shrinkage prior was developed to estimate mean time to NDD diagnosis ratio using posterior mean and 95% credible intervals (CrIs) from Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms. Simulation studies showed desirable model performance. Of 11,176 eligible pregnancies, 332 had ≥2 dispensations of prescription opioids anytime during pregnancy, including 200 (1.8%) having ≥1 dispensation in the first trimester (T1), 169 (1.5%) in the second (T2), and 153 (1.4%) in the third (T3). A significant JNIE of opioid exposure was observed in each trimester (T1, JNIE = 0.97, 95% CrI: 0.95, 0.99; T2, JNIE = 0.97, 95% CrI: 0.95, 0.99; T3, JNIE = 0.96, 95% CrI: 0.94, 0.99). The proportion of JNIE in each trimester was 17.9% (T1), 22.4% (T2), and 56.3% (T3). In conclusion, adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes jointly mediated the association between prenatal opioid exposure and accelerated time to NDD diagnosis. The proportion of JNIE increased as the timing of opioid exposure approached delivery.
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Moler-Zapata S, Hutchings A, O'Neill S, Silverwood RJ, Grieve R. Author Reply. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 27:267-269. [PMID: 38128777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Moler-Zapata
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England, UK.
| | - Andrew Hutchings
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England, UK
| | - Stephen O'Neill
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England, UK
| | - Richard J Silverwood
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, England, UK
| | - Richard Grieve
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England, UK
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Wang Y, Jiao T, Muschett MR, Brown JD, Guo SJ, Kulshreshtha A, Zhang Y, Winterstein AG, Shao H. Associations Between Postdischarge Care and Cognitive Impairment-Related Hospital Readmissions for Ketoacidosis and Severe Hypoglycemia in Adults With Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2024; 47:225-232. [PMID: 38048487 PMCID: PMC11148625 DOI: 10.2337/dca23-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with severe hypoglycemia (SH) or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) experience high hospital readmission after being discharged. Cognitive impairment (CI) may further increase the risk, especially in those experiencing an interruption of medical care after discharge. This study examined the effect modification role of postdischarge care (PDC) on CI-associated readmission risk among U.S. adults with diabetes initially admitted for DKA or SH. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) (2016-2018) to identify individuals hospitalized with a diagnosis of DKA or SH. Multivariate Cox regression was used to compare the all-cause readmission risk at 30 days between those with and without CI identified during the initial hospitalization. We assessed the CI-associated readmission risk in the patients with and without PDC, an effect modifier with the CI status. RESULTS We identified 23,775 SH patients (53.3% women, mean age 65.9 ± 15.3 years) and 140,490 DKA patients (45.8% women, mean age 40.3 ± 15.4 years), and 2,675 (11.2%) and 1,261 (0.9%), respectively, had a CI diagnosis during their index hospitalization. For SH and DKA patients discharged without PDC, CI was associated with a higher readmission risk of 23% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.40) and 35% (aHR 1.35, 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.70), respectively. However, when patients were discharged with PDC, we found PDC was an effect modifier to mitigate CI-associated readmission risk for both SH and DKA patients (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PDC can potentially mitigate the excessive readmission risk associated with CI, emphasizing the importance of postdischarge continuity of care for medically complex patients with comorbid diabetes and CI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehua Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Tianze Jiao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Matthew R. Muschett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Joshua D. Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Serena Jingchuan Guo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Ambar Kulshreshtha
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Yongkang Zhang
- Division of Health Policy and Economics, Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Almut G. Winterstein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Hui Shao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollin School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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Iturralde E, Fazzolari L, Slama NE, Alexeeff SE, Sterling SA, Awsare S, Koshy MT, Shia M. Telehealth Collaborative Care Led by Clinical Pharmacists for People With Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder: A Propensity Weighted Comparison With Usual Psychiatric Care. J Clin Psychiatry 2024; 85:23m14917. [PMID: 38301189 PMCID: PMC10868914 DOI: 10.4088/jcp.23m14917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Objective: People with psychosis or bipolar disorder (severe and persistent mental illness [SPMI]) are at high risk for poor psychiatric and chronic illness outcomes, which could be ameliorated through improved health care quality. This study assessed whether a telehealth, collaborative care program managed by psychiatric clinical pharmacists (SPMI Population Care) was associated with improved health care quality for adults with SPMI in a large California health system. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used electronic health record data to compare 968 program enrollees at 6 demonstration sites (Population Care) to 8,339 contemporaneous patients with SPMI at 6 non-program sites (Usual Care). SPMI diagnoses were based on ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes. Primary outcomes were optimal psychotropic medication adherence, guideline-recommended glycemic screening, annual psychiatrist visit, and emergency department use. Difference-in-difference analyses assessed change in outcomes from 12 months pre- to 12 months post-enrollment using overlap weighting with high dimensional propensity scores to balance participant characteristics across groups. Participant data were collected from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022. Results: From pre- to post-enrollment, Population Care was associated with greater achievement of psychotropic medication adherence and glycemic screening (+6 and +9 percentage points), but unexpectedly with a decrease in annual psychiatrist visits (-6 percentage points) and no significant change in emergency department use, relative to Usual Care. More than 75% of Population Care participants attended an intake and ≥ 1 follow-up visits. Participants with psychosis (26% of sample) had similar results as those with bipolar disorder. Conclusions: Clinical pharmacist-led telehealth collaborative care has potential to improve psychopharmacologic treatment adherence and recommended disease preventive screening for people with psychosis or bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esti Iturralde
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
- Drs Iturralde and Fazzolari are co-first authors
- Corresponding Author: Esti Iturralde, PhD, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
| | - Lisa Fazzolari
- Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
- Drs Iturralde and Fazzolari are co-first authors
| | - Natalie E Slama
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Stacey E Alexeeff
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Stacy A Sterling
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Sameer Awsare
- Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Maria T Koshy
- Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
| | - Macy Shia
- Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland
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Suissa K, Wyss R, Lu Z, Bessette LG, York C, Tsacogianis TN, Lin KJ. Development and Validation of a Claims-Based Model to Predict Categories of Obesity. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:203-213. [PMID: 37650647 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We developed and validated a claims-based algorithm that classifies patients into obesity categories. Using Medicare (2007-2017) and Medicaid (2000-2014) claims data linked to 2 electronic health record (EHR) systems in Boston, Massachusetts, we identified a cohort of patients with an EHR-based body mass index (BMI) measurement (calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2). We used regularized regression to select from 137 variables and built generalized linear models to classify patients with BMIs of ≥25, ≥30, and ≥40. We developed the prediction model using EHR system 1 (training set) and validated it in EHR system 2 (validation set). The cohort contained 123,432 patients in the Medicare population and 40,736 patients in the Medicaid population. The model comprised 97 variables in the Medicare set and 95 in the Medicaid set, including BMI-related diagnosis codes, cardiovascular and antidiabetic drugs, and obesity-related comorbidities. The areas under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve in the validation set were 0.72, 0.75, and 0.83 (Medicare) and 0.66, 0.66, and 0.70 (Medicaid) for BMIs of ≥25, ≥30, and ≥40, respectively. The positive predictive values were 81.5%, 80.6%, and 64.7% (Medicare) and 81.6%, 77.5%, and 62.5% (Medicaid), for BMIs of ≥25, ≥30, and ≥40, respectively. The proposed model can identify obesity categories in claims databases when BMI measurements are missing and can be used for confounding adjustment, defining subgroups, or probabilistic bias analysis.
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Dhopeshwarkar N, Yang W, Hennessy S, Rhodes JM, Cuker A, Leonard CE. Combining Super Learner with high-dimensional propensity score to improve confounding adjustment: A real-world application in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2024; 33:e5678. [PMID: 37609668 PMCID: PMC10841179 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE High-dimensional propensity score (hdPS) is a semiautomated method that leverages a vast number of covariates available in healthcare databases to improve confounding adjustment. A novel combined Super Learner (SL)-hdPS approach was proposed to assist with selecting the number of covariates for propensity score inclusion, and was found in plasmode simulation studies to improve bias reduction and precision compared to hdPS alone. However, the approach has not been examined in the applied setting. METHODS We compared SL-hdPS's performance with that of several hdPS models, each with prespecified covariates and a different number of empirically-identified covariates, using a cohort study comparing real-world bleeding rates between ibrutinib- and bendamustine-rituximab (BR)-treated individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart commercial claims database (2013-2020). We used inverse probability of treatment weighting for confounding adjustment and Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for bleeding outcomes. Parameters of interest included prespecified and empirically-identified covariate balance (absolute standardized difference [ASD] thresholds of <0.10 and <0.05) and outcome HR precision (95% confidence intervals). RESULTS We identified 2423 ibrutinib- and 1102 BR-treated individuals. Including >200 empirically-identified covariates in the hdPS model compromised covariate balance at both ASD thresholds. SL-hdPS balanced more covariates than all individual hdPS models at both ASD thresholds. The bleeding HR 95% confidence intervals were generally narrower with SL-hdPS than with individual hdPS models. CONCLUSION In a real-world application, hdPS was sensitive to the number of covariates included, while use of SL for covariate selection resulted in improved covariate balance and possibly improved precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Dhopeshwarkar
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
| | - Wei Yang
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
| | - Sean Hennessy
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
| | - Joanna M. Rhodes
- Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, New York, US)
| | - Adam Cuker
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
| | - Charles E. Leonard
- Center for Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Therapeutics and the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)
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Aakjaer M, De Bruin ML, Andersen M. Epidemiological surveillance of drug safety using cumulative sequential analysis in electronic healthcare data. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 134:129-140. [PMID: 37897140 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methods for safety signal detection in electronic healthcare data analysing data sequentially are being developed to meet the limitations of spontaneous reporting systems. OBJECTIVES This study aims to provide an overview of the literature on sequential analysis of electronic healthcare data and describe the development and testing of a novel epidemiological surveillance system. METHODS We searched Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library applying similar in- and exclusion criteria as those of a previous systematic review. The proposed system consisted of repeated cohort studies and was tested in an emulated prospective setting. Two signal evaluations were performed with several sensitivity analyses and a target trial emulation. FINDINGS In the literature, 11 studies analysed the data sequentially of which two applied traditional epidemiological methods. Epidemiological surveillance of several exposures and outcomes can be successfully conducted with the newly proposed sequential analysis of electronic healthcare data. Signal evaluation studies confirmed the results of the system. CONCLUSIONS Very few studies in the literature analysed data at multiple time points, although this seems to be a prerequisite for testing the methods in a realistic setting. We demonstrated the feasibility of a sequential surveillance system using electronic healthcare data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Aakjaer
- Pharmacovigilance Research Center, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie Louise De Bruin
- Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Morten Andersen
- Pharmacovigilance Research Center, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Hong LS, Garcia-Albeniz X, Friesen D, Foskett N, Beau-Lejdstrom R. Use of clinical classifications software to address ICD coding transition in large healthcare databases analyzed via high-dimensional propensity scores. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2024; 33:e5702. [PMID: 37749072 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The EUPAS26595 study characterized the rate of acute renal failure (ARF) in patients exposed to levetiracetam versus other antiepileptic drugs using healthcare claims data and a high-dimensional propensity score (hd-PS) for confounding adjustment. The data contained several coding systems by design and an update in International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding dictionary. Such coding heterogeneity can affect the performance of hd-PS, and manually coding harmonization is not feasible. Our objective was to explore the impact of code aggregation via Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) on the analysis of a large claims-based database using hd-PS. METHODS Patients with epilepsy, who were new-users of an antiepileptic drug, were identified from the IBM® MarketScan® Research Databases. We used CCS categories to harmonize coding and compared the results with other alternatives. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were computed using modified Poisson regression model with a robust variance estimator. RESULTS For January 2008-October 2015 (before ICD update), 34 833 eligible patients initiated levetiracetam and 52 649 initiated a comparator drug; IRR (95% CI) for ARF for the hd-PS analysis was 1.34 (0.72-2.50) without CCS categories and 1.30 (0.71-2.39) with CCS categories. For January 2008-December 2017 (including ICD coding change), 45 672 eligible patients initiated levetiracetam and 64 664 initiated a comparator drug; IRR (95% CI) for the hd-PS analysis was 1.34 (0.78-2.29) without CCS categories and 1.37 (0.80-2.34) with CCS categories. CONCLUSIONS Using single-level CCS categories to overcome differences in coding provides consistent results and can be used in studies that use large claims data and hd-PS for adjustment.
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Rigdon J, Ostasiewski B, Woelfel K, Wiseman KD, Hetherington T, Downs S, Kowalkowski M. Automated generation of comparator patients in the electronic medical record. Learn Health Syst 2024; 8:e10362. [PMID: 38249842 PMCID: PMC10797581 DOI: 10.1002/lrh2.10362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Well-designed randomized trials provide high-quality clinical evidence but are not always feasible or ethical. In their absence, the electronic medical record (EMR) presents a platform to conduct comparative effectiveness research, central to the emerging academic learning health system (aLHS) model. A barrier to realizing this vision is the lack of a process to efficiently generate a reference comparison group for each patient. Objective To test a multi-step process for the selection of comparators in the EMR. Materials and Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study within a large aLHS in North Carolina. We (1) created a list of 35 candidate variables; (2) surveyed 270 researchers to assess the importance of candidate variables; and (3) built consensus rankings around survey-identified variables (ie, importance scores >7) across two panels of 7-8 clinical research experts. Prioritized algorithm inputs were collected from the EMR and applied using a greedy matching technique. Feasibility was measured as the percentage of patients with 100 matched comparators and performance was measured via computational time and Euclidean distance. Results Nine variables were selected: age, sex, race, ethnicity, body mass index, insurance status, smoking status, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and neighborhood percentage in poverty. The final process successfully generated 100 matched comparators for each of 1.8 million candidate patients, executed in less than 100 min for the majority of strata, and had average Euclidean distance 0.043. Conclusion EMR-derived matching is feasible to implement across a diverse patient population and can provide a reproducible, efficient source of comparator data for observational studies, with additional testing in clinical research applications needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Rigdon
- Department of Biostatistics and Data ScienceWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Center for Biomedical InformaticsWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Clinical and Translational Science InstituteWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Brian Ostasiewski
- Center for Biomedical InformaticsWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
- Clinical and Translational Science InstituteWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Kamah Woelfel
- Clinical and Translational Science InstituteWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Kimberly D. Wiseman
- Department of Social Sciences and Health PolicyWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Tim Hetherington
- Clinical and Translational Science InstituteWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Stephen Downs
- Center for Biomedical InformaticsWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Marc Kowalkowski
- Clinical and Translational Science InstituteWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
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Lawal OD, Aronow HD, Hume AL, Shobayo F, Matson KL, Barbour M, Zhang Y, Wen X. Venous thromboembolism, chronic liver disease and anticoagulant choice: effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin. Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2024; 8:102293. [PMID: 38268519 PMCID: PMC10805675 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2023.102293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Little to no data exist to guide treatment decision in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and chronic liver disease. Objectives To assess the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)-individually and as a class-vs warfarin and between 2 DOACs in patients with acute VTE and chronic liver disease. Methods We conducted a retrospective, US claims-based, propensity score-matched cohort study in adults with acute VTE and chronic liver disease who had newly initiated oral anticoagulants between 2011 and 2017. The primary outcome was a composite of hospitalization for recurrent VTE and hospitalization for major bleeding. Results The cohorts included 2361 DOAC-warfarin, 895 apixaban-warfarin, 2161 rivaroxaban-warfarin, and 895 apixaban-rivaroxaban matched pairs. Lower risk of the primary outcome was seen with DOACs (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.85), apixaban (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.35-0.66) or rivaroxaban (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.88) vs warfarin but not apixaban-rivaroxaban (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.43-1.08). The HRs of hospitalization for major bleeding were 0.69 (95% CI, 0.57-0.84) for DOAC-warfarin, 0.43 (95% CI, 0.30-0.63) for apixaban-warfarin, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.58-0.89) for rivaroxaban-warfarin, and 0.60 (95% CI, 0.35-1.06) for apixaban-rivaroxaban. Recurrent VTE risk was lower with apixaban (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26-0.86), but not DOACs (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.59-1.12) or rivaroxaban vs warfarin (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.57-1.14) or apixaban-rivaroxaban (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.42-2.02). Conclusion While the magnitude of clinical benefit varied across individual DOACs, in adults with acute VTE and chronic liver disease, oral factor Xa inhibitors (as a class or individually) were associated with lower risk of recurrent VTE and major bleeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwadolapo D. Lawal
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Herbert D. Aronow
- Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Anne L. Hume
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Fisayomi Shobayo
- Department of Cardiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kelly L. Matson
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Marilyn Barbour
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Department of Computer Sciences and Statistics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Xuerong Wen
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
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Shu D, Mukhopadhyay S, Uno H, Gerber JS, Schaubel DE. Multiply robust causal inference of the restricted mean survival time difference. Stat Methods Med Res 2023; 32:2386-2404. [PMID: 37965684 DOI: 10.1177/09622802231211009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The hazard ratio (HR) remains the most frequently employed metric in assessing treatment effects on survival times. However, the difference in restricted mean survival time (RMST) has become a popular alternative to the HR when the proportional hazards assumption is considered untenable. Moreover, independent of the proportional hazards assumption, many comparative effectiveness studies aim to base contrasts on survival probability rather than on the hazard function. Causal effects based on RMST are often estimated via inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). However, this approach generally results in biased results when the assumed propensity score model is misspecified. Motivated by the need for more robust techniques, we propose an empirical likelihood-based weighting approach that allows for specifying a set of propensity score models. The resulting estimator is consistent when the postulated model set contains a correct model; this property has been termed multiple robustness. In this report, we derive and evaluate a multiply robust estimator of the causal between-treatment difference in RMST. Simulation results confirm its robustness. Compared with the IPTW estimator from a correct model, the proposed estimator tends to be less biased and more efficient in finite samples. Additional simulations reveal biased results from a direct application of machine learning estimation of propensity scores. Finally, we apply the proposed method to evaluate the impact of intrapartum group B streptococcus antibiotic prophylaxis on the risk of childhood allergic disorders using data derived from electronic medical records from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and census data from the American Community Survey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Shu
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Clinical Futures, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sagori Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Clinical Futures, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Divisions of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hajime Uno
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Gerber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Clinical Futures, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Douglas E Schaubel
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Tu LH, Navaratnam D, Melnick ER, Forman HP, Venkatesh AK, Malhotra A, Yaesoubi R, Sureshanand S, Sheth KN, Mahajan A. CT With CTA Versus MRI in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Dizziness: Analysis Using Propensity Score Matching. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2023; 221:836-845. [PMID: 37404082 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.23.29617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND. CT with CTA is widely used to exclude stroke in patients with dizziness, although MRI has higher sensitivity. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article was to compare patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with dizziness who undergo CT with CTA alone versus those who undergo MRI in terms of stroke-related management and outcomes. METHODS. This retrospective study included 1917 patients (mean age, 59.5 years; 776 men, 1141 women) presenting to the ED with dizziness from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021. A first propensity score matching analysis incorporated demographic characteristics, medical history, findings from the review of systems, physical examination findings, and symptoms to construct matched groups of patients discharged from the ED after undergoing head CT with head and neck CTA alone and patients who underwent brain MRI (with or without CT and CTA). Outcomes were compared. A second analysis compared matched patients discharged after CT with CTA alone and patients who underwent specialized abbreviated MRI using multiplanar high-resolution DWI for increased sensitivity for posterior circulation stroke. Sensitivity analyses were performed involving MRI examinations performed as the first or only neuroimaging examination and involving alternative matching and imputation techniques. RESULTS. In the first analysis (406 patients per group), patients who underwent MRI, compared with patients who underwent CT with CTA alone, showed greater frequency of critical neuroimaging results (10.1% vs 4.7%, p = .005), change in secondary stroke prevention medication (9.6% vs 3.2%, p = .001), and subsequent echocardiography evaluation (6.4% vs 1.0%, p < .001). In the second analysis (100 patients per group), patients who underwent specialized abbreviated MRI, compared with patients who underwent CT with CTA alone, showed greater frequency of critical neuroimaging results (10.0% vs 2.0%, p = .04), change in secondary stroke prevention medication (14.0% vs 1.0%, p = .001), and subsequent echocardiography evaluation (12.0% vs 2.0%, p = .01) and lower frequency of 90-day ED readmissions (12.0% vs 28.0%, p = .008). Sensitivity analyses showed qualitatively similar findings. CONCLUSION. A proportion of patients discharged after CT with CTA alone may have benefitted from alternative or additional evaluation by MRI (including MRI using a specialized abbreviated protocol). CLINICAL IMPACT. Use of MRI may motivate clinically impactful management changes in patients presenting with dizziness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long H Tu
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208042, Tompkin's East 2, New Haven, CT 06510
| | | | - Edward R Melnick
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Howard P Forman
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208042, Tompkin's East 2, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Arjun K Venkatesh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Ajay Malhotra
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208042, Tompkin's East 2, New Haven, CT 06510
| | - Reza Yaesoubi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Kevin N Sheth
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Amit Mahajan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, PO Box 208042, Tompkin's East 2, New Haven, CT 06510
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Tazare J, Gibbons DC, Bokern M, Williamson EJ, Gillespie IA, Cunnington M, Logie J, Douglas IJ. Prevalent new user designs: A literature review of current implementation practice. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2023; 32:1252-1260. [PMID: 37309989 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Prevalent new user (PNU) designs extend the active comparator new user design by allowing for the inclusion of initiators of the study drug who were previously on a comparator treatment. We performed a literature review summarising current practice. METHODS PubMed was searched for studies applying the PNU design since its proposal in 2017. The review focused on three components. First, we extracted information on the overall study design, including the database used. We summarised information on implementation of the PNU design, including key decisions relating to exposure set definition and estimation of time-conditional propensity scores. Finally, we reviewed the analysis strategy of the matched cohort. RESULTS Nineteen studies met the criteria for inclusion. Most studies (73%) implemented the PNU design in electronic health record or registry databases, with the remaining using insurance claims databases. Of 15 studies including a class of prevalent users, 40% deviated from the original exposure set definition proposals in favour of a more complex definition. Four studies did not include prevalent new users but used other aspects of the PNU framework. Several studies lacked details on exposure set definition (n = 2), time-conditional propensity score model (n = 2) or integration of complex analytical techniques, such as the high-dimensional propensity score algorithm (n = 3). CONCLUSION PNU designs have been applied in a range of therapeutic and disease areas. However, to encourage more widespread use of this design and help shape best practice, there is a need for improved accessibility, specifically through the provision of analytical code alongside guidance to support implementation and transparent reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Tazare
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Marleen Bokern
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Elizabeth J Williamson
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Health Data Research United Kingdom (HDR-UK), London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Ian J Douglas
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Health Data Research United Kingdom (HDR-UK), London, UK
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Schneeweiss S, Schneeweiss M. Concepts of Designing and Implementing Pharmacoepidemiology Studies on the Safety of Systemic Treatments in Dermatology Practice. JID INNOVATIONS 2023; 3:100226. [PMID: 37744690 PMCID: PMC10514213 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2023.100226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and clinical guidelines use evidence from pharmacoepidemiology studies to inform prescribing decisions and fill evidence gaps left by randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The long-term safety and infrequent adverse reactions are not well-understood when RCTs are short and involve few patients, as is the case for most systemic immunomodulating drugs in dermatology. A better understanding of the design and implementation of pharmacoepidemiology studies will help practitioners assess the accuracy of etiologic findings and use them with confidence in clinical practice. Conducting pharmacoepidemiology studies follows a structured approach, which we discuss in this article: (i) a design layer connects the research question with the appropriate study design, and considering which hypothetical RCT one ideally would want to conduct reduces inadvertent investigator errors; (ii) a measurement layer transforms longitudinal patient-level data into variables that identify the study population, patient characteristics, treatment, and outcomes; and (iii) the analysis focuses on the causal treatment effect estimation. The review and interpretation of pharmacoepidemiology studies should consider issues beyond a typical review of RCTs, chiefly the lack of baseline randomization and the use of secondary data. Well-designed and well-conducted pharmacoepidemiologic studies complement dermatology practice with critical information on prescribing systemic medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schneeweiss
- Dermato-Pharmacoepidemiology Work Group, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria Schneeweiss
- Dermato-Pharmacoepidemiology Work Group, Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Peng ZY, Yang CT, Lin WH, Yao WY, Ou HT, Kuo S. Chronic kidney outcomes associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists versus long-acting insulins among type 2 diabetes patients requiring intensive glycemic control: a nationwide cohort study. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2023; 22:272. [PMID: 37794465 PMCID: PMC10552437 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-023-01991-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) versus long-acting insulins (LAIs) on preventing progressive chronic kidney outcomes is uncertain for type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients requiring intensive glycemic control. This study aimed to evaluate comparative effectiveness of GLP-1RA versus LAI therapies on progressive chronic kidney outcomes among patients having poor glycemic control and requiring these injectable glucose-lowering agents (GLAs). METHODS 7279 propensity-score-matched pairs of newly stable GLP-1RA and LAI users in 2013-2018 were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and followed until death or 12/31/2019 (intention-to-treat). Subdistributional hazard model was utilized to assess the comparative effectiveness on a composite renal outcome (i.e., renal insufficiency [eGFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2], dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease [ESRD], or renal death) and its individual components. Sensitivity analyses with the as-treated scenario, PS weighting, high-dimensional PS techniques, using cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as positive control outcomes, and interaction testing were performed. RESULTS In primary analyses, subdistribution hazard ratios (95% CIs) for initiating GLP-1RAs versus LAIs for the composite renal outcome, renal insufficiency, dialysis-dependent ESRD, and renal death were 0.39 (0.30-0.51), 0.43 (0.32-0.57), 0.29 (0.20-0.43), and 0.28 (0.15-0.51), respectively. Sensitivity analysis results were consistent with the primary findings. CVD history and the medication possession ratio of prior oral GLAs possessed modification effects on GLP-1RA-associated kidney outcomes. CONCLUSION Using GLP-1RAs versus LAIs was associated with kidney benefits in T2D patients requiring intensive glycemic control and potentially at high risk of kidney progression. GLP-1RAs should be prioritized to patients with CVDs or adherence to prior oral GLAs to maximize kidney benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yang Peng
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ting Yang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hung Lin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yu Yao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Tz Ou
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Shihchen Kuo
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Dormuth CR, Kim JD, Fisher A, Piszczek J, Kuo IF. Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and COVID-19 Mortality and Hospitalization Among Patients With Vulnerability to COVID-19 Complications. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2336678. [PMID: 37782496 PMCID: PMC10546233 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.36678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Postmarket analysis of individuals who receive nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid [Pfizer]) is essential because they differ substantially from individuals included in published clinical trials. Objective To examine the association of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir with prevention of death or admission to hospital in individuals with different risks of complications from COVID-19 infection. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a cohort study of adult patients in British Columbia, Canada, between February 1, 2022, and February 3, 2023. Patients were eligible if they belonged to 1 of 4 higher-risk groups of individuals who received priority for COVID-19 vaccination. Two groups included clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people who were severely (CEV1) or moderately immunocompromised (CEV2). CEV3 individuals were not immunocompromised but had medical conditions associated with a high risk for complications from COVID-19. A fourth expanded eligibility (EXEL) group was added to allow wider access to nirmatrelvir and ritonavir for certain other higher-risk individuals who were not in a CEV group, such as those older than 70 years who were unvaccinated. Exposures Patients with COVID-19 who received nirmatrelvir and ritonavir were matched to patients in the same vulnerability group; who were of the same sex, age, and propensity score for nirmatrelvir and ritonavir treatment; and who were also infected within 1 month of the individual treated with nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was death from any cause or emergency hospitalization with COVID-19 within 28 days. Results There were 6866 individuals included in the study, of whom 3888 (56.6%) were female and whose median (IQR) age was 70 (57-80) years. Compared with unexposed controls, treatment with nirmatrelvir and ritonavir was associated with statistically significant relative reductions in the primary outcome in the CEV1 group (560 patients; risk difference [RD], -2.5%, 95% CI, -4.8% to -0.2%) and the CEV2 group (2628 patients; RD, -1.7%; 95% CI, -2.9% to -0.5%). In the CEV3 group, the RD was -1.3%, but the findings were not statistically significant (2100 patients; 95% CI, -2.8% to 0.1%). In the EXEL group, treatment was associated with higher risk of the outcome (RD, 1.0%), but the findings were not statistically significant (1578 patients; 95% CI, -0.9% to 2.9%). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of 6866 individuals in British Columbia, nirmatrelvir and ritonavir treatment was associated with reduced risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death in CEV individuals, with the greatest benefit observed in severely immunocompromised individuals. No reduction in the primary outcome was observed in lower-risk individuals, including those aged 70 years or older without serious comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin R. Dormuth
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jason D. Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anat Fisher
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Therapeutics Initiative, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jolanta Piszczek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC COVID Therapeutics Committee, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - I Fan Kuo
- Pharmaceutical Laboratory and Blood Services Division, British Columbia Ministry of Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Lee BK, Schendel DE, Shea LL. Big data in autism research: Methodological challenges and solutions. Autism Res 2023; 16:1852-1858. [PMID: 37596816 PMCID: PMC11168478 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
While the concept of big data has emerged over the past decade as a hot topic in nearly all areas of scientific inquiry, it has rarely been discussed in the context of autism research. In this commentary we describe aspects of big data that are relevant to autism research and methodological issues such as confounding and data error that can hamper scientific investigation. Although big data studies can have transformative impact, bigger is not always better, and big data require the same methodological considerations and interdisciplinary collaboration as "small data" to extract useful scientific insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian K. Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, 3215 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, 3020 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Diana E. Schendel
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, 3215 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, 3020 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
| | - Lindsay L. Shea
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, 3020 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
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