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Castillo-Laborde C, Hirmas-Adauy M, Matute I, Jasmen A, Urrejola O, Molina X, Awad C, Frey-Moreno C, Pumarino-Lira S, Descalzi-Rojas F, Ruiz TJ, Plass B. Barriers and Facilitators in Access to Diabetes, Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia Medicines: A Scoping Review. Public Health Rev 2022; 43:1604796. [PMID: 36120091 PMCID: PMC9479461 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2022.1604796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Identify barriers and facilitators in access to medicines for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, considering patient, health provider, and health system perspectives. Methods: Scoping review based on Joanna Briggs methodology. The search considered PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, Web of Science, SciELO Citation Index, and grey literature. Two researchers conducted screening and eligibility phases. Data were thematically analyzed. Results: The review included 219 documents. Diabetes was the most studied condition; most of the evidence comes from patients and the United States. Affordability and availability of medicines were the most reported dimension and specific barrier respectively, both cross-cutting concerns. Among high- and middle-income countries, identified barriers were cost of medicines, accompaniment by professionals, long distances to facilities, and cultural aspects; cost of transportation emerges in low-income settings. Facilitators reported were financial accessibility, trained health workers, medicines closer to communities, and patients’ education. Conclusion: Barriers and facilitators are determined by socioeconomic and cultural conditions, highlighting the role of health systems in regulatory and policy context (assuring financial coverage and free medicines); providers’ role bringing medicines closer; and patients’ health education and disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Castillo-Laborde
- Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Carla Castillo-Laborde,
| | - Macarena Hirmas-Adauy
- Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Isabel Matute
- Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Anita Jasmen
- Biblioteca Biomédica, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Oscar Urrejola
- Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Xaviera Molina
- Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Awad
- Centro de Epidemiología y Políticas de Salud, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catalina Frey-Moreno
- Carrera de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sofia Pumarino-Lira
- Carrera de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando Descalzi-Rojas
- Carrera de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tomás José Ruiz
- Carrera de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Barbara Plass
- Carrera de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
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Schmid B, Ansbro É, Raju E, Willis R, Shabila N, Perel P. Models of care for non-communicable diseases for displaced populations in Iraq: a scoping review. Confl Health 2022; 16:40. [PMID: 35841046 PMCID: PMC9283558 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-022-00474-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability globally. Their importance in humanitarian settings is increasingly recognised, but evidence about how best to address NCDs in these setting is limited. This scoping review aimed to explore models of NCD care for displaced populations in Iraq, in order to build evidence to design context adapted models of care. A search of key databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus, EconLit, Global Health, Web of Science, and the Iraqi Academic Scientific Journals) was conducted and complemented with grey literature and snowballing searches. Documents were included if they referred to models of NCD care for displaced populations. We synthesised the data using a conceptual model of care framework. The findings were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. We identified 4036 documents of which 22 were eligible for inclusion. Only six documents were peer-reviewed studies with most being internal reports, commentaries, or press releases. Of the 14 documents that reported on their methods, most applied quantitative approaches (n = 7), followed by mixed-methods (n = 5) and qualitative approaches (n = 2). Only one document reported on outcome data and none applied longitudinal study designs. Documents generally described individual framework dimensions, mostly centring around medicines, facility-based services, and selected access dimensions. Most dimensions had few or no references. The most common model for displaced populations in Iraq was primary-level centred care that complemented or supported existing—mostly tertiary—public health system structures. Additionally, private facilities played an important role and were frequently accessed by displaced populations in most settings. Quality of care, particularly patient-perceived quality, emerged as a critical factor for designing context-adapted models of NCD care. This review also identified a strong regionality of NCD care, particularly in terms of access rates and barriers. We concluded that there is a scarcity of evidence on the effectiveness of models of NCD care for displaced populations in Iraq, calling for capacity building initiatives focused on implementation research and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Schmid
- Centre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. .,Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Éimhín Ansbro
- Centre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Emmanuel Raju
- Global Health Section and Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Ruth Willis
- Research Fellow in Social Science, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nazar Shabila
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
| | - Pablo Perel
- Centre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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3
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Kumar NK, Merrill JD, Carlson S, German J, Yancy WS. Adherence to Low-Carbohydrate Diets in Patients with Diabetes: A Narrative Review. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2022; 15:477-498. [PMID: 35210797 PMCID: PMC8863186 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s292742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that low carbohydrate (<130 g/day of carbohydrate) (LCD) and very low carbohydrate, ketogenic diets (typically <50 g/day of carbohydrate) (VLCKD) can be effective tools for managing diabetes given their beneficial effects on weight loss and glycemic control. VLCKD also result in favorable lipid profile changes. However, these beneficial effects can be limited by poor dietary adherence. Cultural, religious, and economic barriers pose unique challenges to achieving nutritional compliance with LCD and VLCKD. We review the various methods for assessing adherence in clinical studies and obstacles posed, as well as potential solutions to these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitya Kalyani Kumar
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Correspondence: Nitya Kalyani Kumar, 30 Duke Medicine Circle Clinic 1A, Durham, NC, 27710, USA, Email
| | - Jennifer D Merrill
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Scott Carlson
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jashalynn German
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - William S Yancy
- Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management Center and Division of General Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Al-Sofiani ME, Batais MA, Aldhafiri E, Alzaid A. Pharmacological treatment of type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia: A consensus statement from the Saudi Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SSEM). Diabetes Metab Syndr 2021; 15:891-899. [PMID: 33895710 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The list of available treatment options for managing blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has grown over recent years making the task of choosing between traditional and newer glucose-lowering agents a difficult one for healthcare providers. METHODS We summarize treatment algorithms developed by popular professional societies and propose a patient-centered and culture-driven recommendations for selecting diabetes medications for people with T2D in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS Though most professional societies recognize patient's adherence to medications as an important factor in achieving glycemic targets, published algorithms schemes do not formally enlist adherence to medication as a deciding factor in the choice of glucose-lowering agents. Medication appeal to patients, an important determinant of medication adherence, is influenced by several factors including lifestyle, common beliefs, customs and traditions, health literacy, perception of health and disease, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and religious commitments and obligations. In Saudi Arabia, poor adherence to therapy is a major obstacle to effective management of local people with T2D. CONCLUSIONS The Saudi population has a unique socioeconomic and cultural background that widely respect adherence to religion and culture; and the applicability of international guidelines for the management of T2D to the Saudi population has been called into question. In this consensus statement, we propose patient-centered and culture-driven recommendations that integrate medication-adherence and medication-cost into overall selection of diabetes medications for people with T2D in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed E Al-Sofiani
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Mohammed A Batais
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Aus Alzaid
- Diabetes Consultant, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Assaad Khalil SH, Abdelaziz SI, Al Shammary A, Al Zahrani A, Amir A, Elkafrawy N, Hassoun AA, Hostalek U, Jahed A, Jarrah N, Mrabeti S, Paruk I, Zilov AV. Prediabetes management in the Middle East, Africa and Russia: Current status and call for action. Diab Vasc Dis Res 2019; 16:213-226. [PMID: 30606039 DOI: 10.1177/1479164118819665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Most data on the burden of diabetes and prediabetes are from countries where local infrastructure can support reliable estimates of the burden of non-communicable diseases. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, together with Russia, have a total population of almost 2 billion, but have been relatively overlooked by authors in this field. We reviewed the prevalence and drivers of prediabetes and diabetes across this large region. A large, and variable, burden of dysglycaemia exists, especially in Middle Eastern and North African countries, associated with high levels of obesity and sedentariness, with a generally lower prevalence in most other parts of Africa. The design and size of studies are highly variable, and more research to quantify the scale of the problem is needed. Local barriers to care relating to issues concerned with gender, consanguinity, lack of understanding of diabetes, lack of understanding of obesity as a health issue, and limited resource at a national level for tracking and intervention for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Lifestyle interventions with proven local cost-effectiveness, enhanced access to pharmacologic intervention, and societal interventions to promote better diet and more activity will be an important element in strategies to combat these adverse trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Helmy Assaad Khalil
- 1 Unit of Diabetology, Lipidology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Sulaf Ibrahim Abdelaziz
- 2 Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Soba University Hospital, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Affaf Al Shammary
- 3 International Health Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Al Zahrani
- 4 Medicine and Molecular Endocrinology Section, Department of Molecular Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Amir
- 5 Department of Family Medicine, International Medical Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabil Elkafrawy
- 6 Egyptian National Committee of Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine and Diabetology, Menoufia University, Al Menoufia, Egypt
| | | | | | - Adel Jahed
- 9 Diabetes Education Advisory Committee, Gabric Diabetes Education Association, Tehran, Iran
- 10 Tehran General Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nadim Jarrah
- 11 Internal Medicine Department, The Specialty Hospital, Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Imran Paruk
- 13 University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Alexey V Zilov
- 14 Department of Endocrinology, Sechenov's First Moscow Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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Silver B, Ramaiya K, Andrew SB, Fredrick O, Bajaj S, Kalra S, Charlotte BM, Claudine K, Makhoba A. EADSG Guidelines: Insulin Therapy in Diabetes. Diabetes Ther 2018; 9:449-492. [PMID: 29508275 PMCID: PMC6104264 DOI: 10.1007/s13300-018-0384-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A diagnosis of diabetes or hyperglycemia should be confirmed prior to ordering, dispensing, or administering insulin (A). Insulin is the primary treatment in all patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (A). Typically, patients with T1DM will require initiation with multiple daily injections at the time of diagnosis. This is usually short-acting insulin or rapid-acting insulin analogue given 0 to 15 min before meals together with one or more daily separate injections of intermediate or long-acting insulin. Two or three premixed insulin injections per day may be used (A). The target glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for all children with T1DM, including preschool children, is recommended to be < 7.5% (< 58 mmol/mol). The target is chosen aiming at minimizing hyperglycemia, severe hypoglycemia, hypoglycemic unawareness, and reducing the likelihood of development of long-term complications (B). For patients prone to glycemic variability, glycemic control is best evaluated by a combination of results with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (B). Indications for exogenous insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) include acute illness or surgery, pregnancy, glucose toxicity, contraindications to or failure to achieve goals with oral antidiabetic medications, and a need for flexible therapy (B). In T2DM patients, with regards to achieving glycemic goals, insulin is considered alone or in combination with oral agents when HbA1c is ≥ 7.5% (≥ 58 mmol/mol); and is essential for treatment in those with HbA1c ≥ 10% (≥ 86 mmol/mol), when diet, physical activity, and other antihyperglycemic agents have been optimally used (B). The preferred method of insulin initiation in T2DM is to begin by adding a long-acting (basal) insulin or once-daily premixed/co-formulation insulin or twice-daily premixed insulin, alone or in combination with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) or in combination with other oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) (B). If the desired glucose targets are not met, rapid-acting or short-acting (bolus or prandial) insulin can be added at mealtime to control the expected postprandial raise in glucose. An insulin regimen should be adopted and individualized but should, to the extent possible, closely resemble a natural physiologic state and avoid, to the extent possible, wide fluctuating glucose levels (C). Blood glucose monitoring is an integral part of effective insulin therapy and should not be omitted in the patient's care plan. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) values should be used to titrate basal insulin, whereas both FPG and postprandial glucose (PPG) values should be used to titrate mealtime insulin (B). Metformin combined with insulin is associated with decreased weight gain, lower insulin dose, and less hypoglycemia when compared with insulin alone (C). Oral medications should not be abruptly discontinued when starting insulin therapy because of the risk of rebound hyperglycemia (D). Analogue insulin is as effective as human insulin but is associated with less postprandial hyperglycemia and delayed hypoglycemia (B). The shortest needles (currently the 4-mm pen and 6-mm syringe needles) are safe, effective, and less painful and should be the first-line choice in all patient categories; intramuscular (IM) injections should be avoided, especially with long-acting insulins, because severe hypoglycemia may result; lipohypertrophy is a frequent complication of therapy that distorts insulin absorption, and therefore, injections and infusions should not be given into these lesions and correct site rotation will help prevent them (A). Many patients in East Africa reuse syringes for various reasons, including financial. This is not recommended by the manufacturer and there is an association between needle reuse and lipohypertrophy. However, patients who reuse needles should not be subjected to alarming claims of excessive morbidity from this practice (A). Health care authorities and planners should be alerted to the risks associated with syringe or pen needles 6 mm or longer in children (A).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahendeka Silver
- MKPGMS-Uganda Martyrs University | St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Kaushik Ramaiya
- Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, Chusi Street, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Swai Babu Andrew
- Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, United Nations Road, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Otieno Fredrick
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics School of Medicine, College of Health Science, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sarita Bajaj
- Department of Medicine, MLN Medical College, George Town, Allahabad, India
| | - Sanjay Kalra
- Bharti Research Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Sector 12, PO Box 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Bavuma M Charlotte
- University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Science, Kigali University Teaching Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Karigire Claudine
- Department of Internal Medicine, Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Anthony Makhoba
- MKPGMS-Uganda Martyrs University | St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda
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Chraibi A, Al-Herz S, Nguyen BD, Soeatmadji DW, Shinde A, Lakshmivenkataraman B, Assaad-Khalil SH. An RCT Investigating Patient-Driven Versus Physician-Driven Titration of BIAsp 30 in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Uncontrolled Using NPH Insulin. Diabetes Ther 2017; 8:767-780. [PMID: 28523482 PMCID: PMC5544605 DOI: 10.1007/s13300-017-0268-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to confirm the efficacy of patient-driven titration of BIAsp 30 in terms of glycemic control, by comparing it to physician-driven titration of BIAsp 30, in patients with type 2 diabetes in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. METHODS A 20-week, open-label, randomized, two-armed, parallel-group, multicenter study in Egypt, Indonesia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. Patients (n = 155) with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled using neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin were randomized to either patient-driven or physician-driven BIAsp 30 titration. RESULTS The noninferiority of patient-driven compared to physician-driven titration with respect to the reduction in HbA1c was confirmed. The estimated mean change in HbA1c from baseline to week 20 was -1.27% in the patient-driven arm and -1.04% in the physician-driven arm, with an estimated treatment difference of -0.23% (95% confidence interval: -0.54; 0.08). After 20 weeks of treatment, the proportions of patients achieving the target of HbA1c <7.5% were similar between titration arms; the proportions of patients achieving the target of ≤6.5% were also similar. Both titration algorithms were well tolerated, and hypoglycemic episode rates were similar in both arms. CONCLUSION Patient-driven titration of BIAsp 30 can be as effective and safe as physician-driven titration in non-Western populations. Overall, the switch from NPH insulin to BIAsp 30 was well tolerated in both titration arms and led to improved glycemic control. A limitation of the study was the relatively small number of patients recruited in each country. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01589653. FUNDING Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelmjid Chraibi
- Medical School of Agadir, Agadir, Morocco.
- Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco.
| | | | | | | | - Anil Shinde
- Novo Nordisk, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, UAE
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Bista D, Chalmers L, Bereznicki L, Peterson G. Potential use of NOACs in developing countries: pros and cons. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2014; 70:817-28. [PMID: 24817486 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-014-1693-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are effective for long-term thromboprophylaxis in atrial fibrillation (AF), their limitations have led to widespread underutilisation, especially in the developing world. Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have emerged as promising alternatives to VKAs, although there are some particular considerations and challenges to their introduction in developing countries. This review summarises the current state of antithrombotic management of AF in the developing world, explores the early evidence for the NOACs and describes some of the special considerations that must be taken into account when considering the role of the NOACs within developing countries' health care systems. METHODS A literature search was conducted via PubMed and Google Scholar to find articles published in English between the years 2000 to 2014. Search terms used were "atrial fibrillation", "oral anticoagulants", "warfarin", "NOACs", "dabigatran", "rivaroxaban", "apixaban", "edoxaban", "time in therapeutic range", "International Normalized Ratio" "cost-effectiveness", "stroke", "adverse-drug reactions" and "drug-drug interactions", together with the individual names of developing countries as listed by the World Bank. We reviewed the results of randomized clinical trials, relevant retrospective and prospective studies, case-studies and review articles. RESULTS Many developing countries lack or have sporadic data on the quality of AF management, making it difficult to anticipate the potential impact of NOACs in these settings. The utilisation of anticoagulants for AF appears highly variable in developing countries. Given the issues associated with VKA therapy in many developing countries, NOACs offer some potential advantages; however, there is insufficient evidence to advocate the widespread replacement of warfarin at present. VKAs may continue to have a role in selected patients or countries, especially if alternative monitoring strategies can be utilised. CONCLUSION The evaluation of the introduction of NOACs should consider safety, budget concerns and the quality of oral anticoagulation care achieved by each country. Prospective registries will be important in developing countries to better elucidate the comparative safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of NOACs and VKAs as NOACs are introduced into practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durga Bista
- Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia,
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