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Ndai AM, Morris EJ, Winterstein AG, Vouri SM. Evaluating Provider and Pharmacy Discordance in Potential Calcium Channel Blocker-Loop Diuretic Prescribing Cascade. Drugs Aging 2024; 41:177-186. [PMID: 38252391 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-023-01091-9] [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: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescribing cascades occur when a drug-induced adverse event is treated with a new medication. Identifying clinical scenarios in which prescribing cascades are more likely to occur may help determine ways to prevent prescribing cascades. OBJECTIVE To understand the extent to which discordant providers and discordant pharmacies contribute to the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (DH CCB)-loop diuretic prescribing cascade. STUDY POPULATION AND DESIGN A retrospective cohort study using Medicare Fee-For-Service data (2011-2018) of adults aged ≥ 66 years. EXPOSURES Patients who initiated DH CCB with subsequent initiation of loop diuretic (DH CCB-loop diuretic dyad) within 90 days or patients who initiated angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) with subsequent initiation of a loop diuretic (ACEI/ARB-loop diuretic dyad; control). MAIN OUTCOMES The primary outcomes were provider and pharmacy discordance for prescribing cascades and control drug pairs. Baseline clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scores. RESULTS Overall, we identified 1987 DH CCB-loop diuretic dyads and 3148 ACEI/ARB-loop diuretic dyads. Discordant providers occurred in 64% of DH CCB-loop diuretic dyads and 55% of ACEI/ARB-loop diuretic dyads, while discordant pharmacies occurred in 19% of DH CCB-loop diuretic dyads and 16% of ACEI/ARB-loop diuretic dyads. After adjustment, the risk of having discordant providers was 20% {Relative Risk (RR) 1.20 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-1.26]} higher in the DH CCB-loop diuretic dyad compared with the ACEI/ARB-loop diuretic dyad. Moreover, pharmacy discordance was 17% (RR 1.17 [95% CI 1.02-1.33]) higher. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that discordant providers and discordant pharmacies were more commonly involved in the potential prescribing cascade when compared with a similar control dyad of medications. Opportunities for enhanced care coordination and medication reconciliation should be explored to prevent unnecessary polypharmacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asinamai M Ndai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, PO Box 100496, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Earl J Morris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, PO Box 100496, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Almut G Winterstein
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, PO Box 100496, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Scott M Vouri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, PO Box 100496, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Shahid F, Doherty A, Wallace E, Schmiedl S, Alexander GC, Dreischulte T. Prescribing cascades in ambulatory care: A structured synthesis of evidence. Pharmacotherapy 2024; 44:87-96. [PMID: 37743815 DOI: 10.1002/phar.2880] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The strength of evidence for specific ambulatory care prescribing cascades, in which a marker drug is used to treat an adverse event caused by an index drug, has not been well characterized. To perform a structured, systematic, and transparent review of the evidence supporting ambulatory care prescribing cascades. Ninety-four potential prescribing cascades identified through a previously published systematic review. Systematic search of the literature to further characterize prescribing cascades. (1) Grading of evidence based on observational studies investigating associations between index and marker drugs, including: Level I-strong evidence [i.e. multiple high-quality studies]; Level II-moderate evidence [i.e. single high-quality study]; Level III-fair evidence [no high-quality studies but one or more moderate-quality studies]; and Level IV-poor evidence [other]. (2) Listing of the adverse event associated with the index drug in the product's United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label. (3) Synthesis of the evidence supporting mechanisms linking index drugs and associated adverse events. Of 99 potential cascades, 94 were supported by one or more confirmatory observational studies and were therefore included in this review. The 94 cascades related to 30 types of adverse drug reactions affecting 10 different anatomic/physiologic systems and were investigated by a total of 88 confirmatory studies, including prescription sequential symmetry analysis (n = 51), cohort (n = 30), and case-control (n = 7) studies. Overall, the evidence from observational studies was strong for 18 (19.1%) prescribing cascades, moderate for 61 (64.9%), fair for 13 (13.8%), and poor for 2 (2.1%). Although the evidence supporting mechanisms that link index drugs and associated adverse events was variable, FDA labels included information about the adverse event associated with the index drug for most (n = 86) but not all of the 94 prescribing cascades. Although we identified 18 of 94 prescribing cascades supported by strong clinical evidence and most adverse events associated with index drugs are included in FDA label, the evidentiary basis for prescribing cascades varies, with many requiring further evidence of clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Shahid
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ann Doherty
- Department of General Practice, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Emma Wallace
- Department of General Practice, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Sven Schmiedl
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
- Philipp Klee-Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - G Caleb Alexander
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tobias Dreischulte
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Doherty AS, Shahid F, Moriarty F, Boland F, Clyne B, Dreischulte T, Fahey T, Kennelly SP, Wallace E. Prescribing cascades in community-dwelling adults: A systematic review. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e01008. [PMID: 36123967 PMCID: PMC9485823 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.1008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The misattribution of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) as a symptom or illness can lead to the prescribing of additional medication, referred to as a prescribing cascade. The aim of this systematic review is to identify published prescribing cascades in community-dwelling adults. A systematic review was reported in line with the PRISMA guidelines and pre-registered with PROSPERO. Electronic databases (Medline [Ovid], EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library) and grey literature sources were searched. Inclusion criteria: community-dwelling adults; risk-prescription medication; outcomes-initiation of new medicine to "treat" or reduce ADR risk; study type-cohort, cross-sectional, case-control, and case-series studies. Title/abstract screening, full-text screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were conducted independently in duplicate. A narrative synthesis was conducted. A total of 101 studies (reported in 103 publications) were included. Study sample sizes ranged from 126 to 11 593 989 participants and 15 studies examined older adults specifically (≥60 years). Seventy-eight of 101 studies reported a potential prescribing cascade including calcium channel blockers to loop diuretic (n = 5), amiodarone to levothyroxine (n = 5), inhaled corticosteroid to topical antifungal (n = 4), antipsychotic to anti-Parkinson drug (n = 4), and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor to urinary incontinence drugs (n = 4). Identified prescribing cascades occurred within three months to one year following initial medication. Methodological quality varied across included studies. Prescribing cascades occur for a broad range of medications. ADRs should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with new symptoms, particularly older adults and those who started a new medication in the preceding 12 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann S. Doherty
- Department of General PracticeRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublin 2Ireland
| | - Faiza Shahid
- Institute of General Practice and Family MedicineUniversity Hospital of Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichMunichGermany
| | - Frank Moriarty
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublin 2Ireland
| | - Fiona Boland
- Department of General PracticeRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublin 2Ireland
- Data Science CentreRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublin 2Ireland
| | - Barbara Clyne
- Department of General PracticeRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublin 2Ireland
| | - Tobias Dreischulte
- Institute of General Practice and Family MedicineUniversity Hospital of Ludwig‐Maximilians‐University MunichMunichGermany
| | - Tom Fahey
- Department of General PracticeRCSI University of Medicine and Health SciencesDublin 2Ireland
| | - Seán P. Kennelly
- Department of Medical GerontologyTrinity College DublinDublin 2Ireland
- Department of Age‐related HealthcareTallaght University HospitalDublin 24Ireland
| | - Emma Wallace
- Department of General PracticeUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
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Trenaman SC, Harding A, Bowles SK, Kirkland SA, Andrew MK. A Prescribing Cascade of Proton Pump Inhibitors Following Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults With Dementia. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:878092. [PMID: 35814221 PMCID: PMC9257131 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.878092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Prescribing cascade refers to use of a medication to treat a drug-related adverse event. Prescribing cascades increase medication use, cost, and risk of adverse events. Objective: Our objective was to use administrative health data to identify whether use of medications from the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale was associated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing consistent with a prescribing cascade in older adults with dementia. Method: The cohort was comprised of Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare beneficiaries identified to have dementia and medication dispensation data recorded between 1 April 2010, or cohort entry and 31 March 2015. Anticholinergic medications from the anticholinergic cognitive burden scale (ACB) were abstracted. A look back period of 365 days identified if a PPI had been dispensed preceding anticholinergic dispensation. PPI initiation within 30, 60, 90, or 180 days of the anticholinergic medication was assessed. Demographic description of those dispensed anticholinergic medications or PPIs were reported. Risk factors for the prescribing cascade were investigated with logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards modelling including a sex-stratified analysis. Results: We identified 28,952 Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare beneficiaries with dementia and prescription dispensation data. Anticholinergic medications were frequently dispensed with 63.4% of the cohort dispensed at least one prescription for an anticholinergic medication. The prescribing cascade defined as up to 180-days between anticholinergic medication inititation and PPI dispensation, occurred in 1,845 Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare beneficiaries with dementia (incidence 6.4%). Multivariate regression showed those experiencing the prescribing cascade after initiating any anticholinergic were younger (OR 0.98, 95%CI [0.97–0.98]), less likely to live in an urban location (OR 0.82, 95%CI [0.74–0.91]), or to be men (OR 0.74, 95%CI [0.67–0.82]). Cox regression demonstrated an increased risk of starting a PPI within 180 days when initiating any medication from the ACB (HR 1.38, 95%CI [1.29–1.58]). Discussion: Regression modelling suggested that anticholinergic medications increased the risk of PPI dispensation consistent with a prescribing cascade in the cohort. The identification of the prescribing cascade in this population of older Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare Program beneficiaries with dementia using administrative health data highlights how routinely collected health data can be used to identify prescribing cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanna C. Trenaman
- Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- *Correspondence: Shanna C. Trenaman,
| | | | - Susan K. Bowles
- Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Susan A. Kirkland
- Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Melissa K. Andrew
- Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Ruangritchankul S, Chantharit P, Srisuma S, Gray LC. Adverse Drug Reactions of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors in Older People Living with Dementia: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2021; 17:927-949. [PMID: 34511919 PMCID: PMC8427072 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s323387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising of global geriatric population has contributed to increased prevalence of dementia. Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease, which is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions, such as judgment, language, memory, attention and visuospatial ability. Dementia not only has profoundly devastating physical and psychological health outcomes, but it also poses a considerable healthcare expenditure and burdens. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), or so-called anti-dementia medications, have been developed to delay the progression of neurocognitive disorders and to decrease healthcare needs. AChEIs have been widely prescribed in clinical practice for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which account for 70% of dementia. The rising use of AChEIs results in increased adverse drug reactions (ADRs) such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal adverse effects, resulting from overstimulation of peripheral cholinergic activity and muscarinic receptor activation. Changes in pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacogenetics (PGx), and occurrence of drug interactions are said to be major risk factors of ADRs of AChEIs in this population. To date, comprehensive reviews in ADRs of AChEIs have so far been scarcely studied. Therefore, we aimed to recapitulate and update the diverse aspects of AChEIs, including the mechanisms of action, characteristics and risk factors of ADRs, and preventive strategies of their ADRs. The collation of this knowledge is essential to facilitate efforts to reduce ADRs of AChEIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirasa Ruangritchankul
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prawat Chantharit
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sahaphume Srisuma
- Ramathibodi Poison Center and Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Leonard C Gray
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Morris EJ, Hollmann J, Hofer AK, Bhagwandass H, Oueini R, Adkins LE, Hallas J, Vouri SM. Evaluating the use of prescription sequence symmetry analysis as a pharmacovigilance tool: A scoping review. Res Social Adm Pharm 2021; 18:3079-3093. [PMID: 34376366 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The (prescription) sequence symmetry analysis (PSSA) design has been used to identify potential prescribing cascade signals by assessing the prescribing sequence of an index drug relative to a marker drug presumed to treat an adverse drug event provoked by the index drug. OBJECTIVES This review aimed to explore the use of the PSSA design as a pharmacovigilance tool with a particular focus on the breadth of identified signals and advances in PSSA methodology. METHODS We searched Embase, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Web of Science and grey literature to identify studies that used the PSSA methodology. Two reviewers independently extracted relevant data for each included article. Study characteristics including signals identified, exposure time window, stratified analyses, and use of controls were extracted. RESULTS We identified 53 studies which reported original results obtained using PSSA methodology or quantified the validity of components of the PSSA design. Of those, nine studies provided validation metrics showing reasonable sensitivity and high specificity of PSSA to identify prescribing cascade signals. We identified 340 unique index drug - marker drug signals published in the PSSA literature, representing 281 unique index - marker pharmacological class dyads (i.e., unique fourth-level Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical [ATC] classification dyads). Commonly observed signals were identified for index drugs acting upon the nervous system (34%), cardiovascular system (21%), and blood and blood-forming organs (15%), and many marker drugs were related to the nervous system (25%), alimentary tract and metabolism (23%), cardiovascular system (17%), and genitourinary system and sex hormones (14%). Negative controls and positive controls were utilized in 21% and 13% of studies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The PSSA methodology has been used in 53 studies worldwide to detect and evaluate over 300 unique prescribing cascades signals. Researchers should consider sensitivity analyses incorporating negative and/or positive controls and additional time windows to evaluate time-varying biases when designing PSSA studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Earl J Morris
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Josef Hollmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ann-Kathrin Hofer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hemita Bhagwandass
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Razanne Oueini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lauren E Adkins
- Health Science Center Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jesper Hallas
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, IST, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Scott M Vouri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Center for Drug Evaluation and Safety, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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