Survival, Hazard Function for a New Event, and Healthcare Utilization Among Stroke Patients ≥65 Years

Universal versus platelet reactivity assay-driven use of P2Y12 inhibitors in acute coronary syndrome patients

Platelet reactivity assays (PRAs) can predict patients’ likely response to clopidogrel. As ticagrelor and prasugrel are typically considered first-line agents for acute coronary syndrome in Europe, we assessed the cost-effectiveness of universal compared to PRA-driven selection of these agents. A Markov model was used to calculate five-year costs (2013£/€), quality-adjusted life-years and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for one-year of universal ticagrelor or prasugrel (given to all) compared to each agents’ corresponding PRA-driven strategy (ticagrelor/prasugrel in those with high platelet reactivity [HPR, >208 on the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay], others given generic clopidogrel). We assumed patients had their index event at 65–70 years of age and had a 42.7% incidence of HPR 24–48 hours post-revascularisation. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and United Kingdom) and used a one-year cycle length. Event data for P2Y12 inhibitors were taken from multinational randomised trials and adjusted using country-specific epidemiologic data. Neither universal ticagrelor nor prasugrel were found to be cost-effective (all ICERs >40,250€ or £36,600/QALY) compared to their corresponding PRA-driven strategies in any of the countries evaluated. Results were sensitive to differences in P2Y12 Inhibitors costs and drug-specific relative risks of major adverse cardiac events. Monte Carlo simulation suggested universal ticagrelor or prasugrel were cost-effective in only 25–44% and 11–17% of 10,000 iterations compared to their respective PRA-driven strategies, when applying a willingness-to-pay threshold = €30,000 or £20,000/QALY. In conclusion, the universal use of newer P2Y12 inhibitors is not likely cost-effective compared to PRA-driven strategies.

Elevated inflammatory markers predict mortality in long-term ischemic stroke-survivors: a population-based prospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

High levels of inflammatory markers shortly after an ischemic stroke are associated with a worse prognosis. Whether inflammatory markers predict long-term mortality in stroke-survivors is less clear. We examined whether a persisting inflammatory response (levels of inflammatory markers >1 year after the stroke event) was associated with long-term mortality.

METHODS

We recruited participants from the Tromsø Study, Norway, in a nested case-control design. At baseline in 1997, white blood cell count (WBC), serum levels of fibrinogen, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were analysed in 187 stroke-survivors, a median of 7.0 years (range 1-43) after the first-ever ischemic stroke, and in 243 stroke-free subjects. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to examine whether inflammatory markers predicted all-cause mortality in both groups from 1997 to 2013.

RESULTS

During an average of 16 years follow-up, 117 (62.5 %) stroke-survivors and 107 (44.0 %) stroke-free subjects deceased (p for differences 0.005). In stroke-survivors, fibrinogen and log IL-6 predicted all-cause mortality after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, Frenchay activity index, comorbidity and use of statins (HRs 1.26; 9 5 % CI 1.05-1.51 and 2.02; 95 % CI 1.12-3.64, respectively). In stroke-free subjects log hs-CRP predicted all-cause mortality after additionally accounting for levels of cholesterol, blood pressure and use of blood pressure lowering drugs (HR 1.95; 95 % CI 1.26-2.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Fibrinogen and IL-6 were independent predictors of mortality in long-term stroke-survivors, whereas elevated hs-CRP predicted mortality in stroke-free subjects. Mortality risk prediction in stroke-survivors differed from that of stroke-free subjects.

How does age affect the care dependency risk one year after stroke? A study based on claims data from a German health insurance fund

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of age on care dependency risk 1 year after stroke. Two research questions are addressed: (1) How strong is the association between age and care dependency risk 1 year after stroke and (2) can this association be explained by burden of disease?

METHODS

The study is based on claims data from a German statutory health insurance fund. The study population was drawn from all continuously insured members with principal diagnoses of ischaemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or transient ischaemic attack in 2007 who survived for 1 year after stroke and who were not dependent on care before their first stroke (n = 2864). Data were collected over a 1-year period. People are considered to be dependent on care if they, due to a physical, mental or psychological illness or disability, require substantial assistance in carrying out activities of daily living for a period of at least 6 months. Burden of disease was assessed by stroke subtype, history of stroke, comorbidities as well as geriatric multimorbidity. Regression models were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

21.6 % of patients became care dependent during the observation period. Post-stroke care dependency risk was significantly associated with age. Relative to the reference group (0-65 years), the odds ratio of care dependency was 11.30 (95 % CI: 7.82-16.34) in patients aged 86+ years and 5.10 (95 % CI: 3.88-6.71) in patients aged 76-85 years. These associations were not explained by burden of disease. On the contrary, age effects became stronger when burden of disease was included in the regression model (by between 1.1 and 28 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that age has an effect on care dependency risk that cannot be explained by burden of disease. Thus, there must be other underlying age-dependent factors that account for the remaining age effects (e.g., social conditions). Further studies are needed to explore the causes of the strong age effects observed.

Life situations and the care burden for stroke patients and their informal caregivers in a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to analyse whether the parallel life situation between stroke patients and their informal caregivers (dyads) shown in cross-sectional studies prevails also in a longitudinal perspective.

METHODS

A total of 377 Swedish stroke patients, aged ≥ 65 years, and their 268 informal caregivers were followed from hospital admission and one year on. Analyses were based on patient interviews, functional ability (MMSE) score, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) score, self-rated health score, and the Gothenburg Quality of Life (GQL) activity score. Similar information was obtained by postal questionnaires from informal caregivers, also including information on the nature and amount of assistance provided and on Caregiver Burden (CB) score.

RESULTS

Before index admission informal caregivers provided care on average 5 h per week and after discharge 11 h per week (P < 0.0001). Support volume was associated with patient sex (more for men), low patient's functional ability, low received municipal social service support, closeness of patient-caregiver relation, and short distance to patient's home. Significant positive associations within the dyads were found for HAD anxiety score (P < 0.0001), total NHP score (P < 0.0001), and GQL activity score (P < 0.0001) after adjustment for patient's age, sex, functional ability, and patient-caregiver relationship. CB score increased with amount of informal caregiver support, patient's age, and with low functional ability and low amount of municipal social service support. All these associations were constant across time.

CONCLUSIONS

There was an association within the dyads regarding anxiety score, NHP score, and activity score. CB score was generally high.

Lifetime cost-effectiveness analysis of ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndromes based on the PLATO trial: a Singapore healthcare perspective

INTRODUCTION

Ticagrelor is a novel antiplatelet drug developed to reduce atherothrombosis. The PLATO trial compared ticagrelor and aspirin to clopidogrel and aspirin in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Ticagrelor was found to be superior in the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke, without increasing major bleeding events. The current study estimates the lifetime cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor relative to generic clopidogrel from a Singapore public healthcare perspective.

METHODS

This study used a two-part cost-effectiveness model. The first part was a 12-month decision tree (using PLATO trial data) to estimate the rates of major cardiovascular events, healthcare costs and health-related quality of life. The second part was a Markov model estimating lifetime quality-adjusted survival and costs conditional on events during the initial 12 months. Daily drug costs applied were SGD 1.05 (generic clopidogrel) and SGD 6.00 (ticagrelor). Cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) was estimated from a Singapore public healthcare perspective using life tables and short-term costs from Singapore, and long-term costs from South Korea. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Ticagrelor was associated with a lifetime QALY gain of 0.13, primarily driven by lower mortality. The resulting incremental cost per QALY gained was SGD 10,136.00. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that ticagrelor had a > 99% probability of being cost-effective, given the lower recommended WHO willingness-to-pay threshold of one GDP/capita per QALY.

CONCLUSION

Based on PLATO trial data, one-year treatment with ticagrelor versus generic clopidogrel in patients with ACS, relative to WHO reference standards, is cost-effective from a Singapore public healthcare perspective.

Health problems in elderly patients during the first post-stroke year

BACKGROUND

A wide range of health problems has been reported in elderly post-stroke patients.

AIM

The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence and timing of health problems identified by patient interviews and scrutiny of primary health care and municipality elderly health care records during the first post-stroke year.

METHODS

A total of 390 consecutive patients, ≥65 years, discharged alive from hospital after a stroke event, were followed for 1 year post-admission. Information on the health care situation during the first post-stroke year was obtained from primary health care and municipal elderly health care records and through interviews with the stroke survivors, at 1 week after discharge, and 3 and 12 months after hospital admission.

RESULTS

More than 90% had some health problem at some time during the year, while based on patient record data only 4-8% had problems during a given week. The prevalence of interview-based health problems was generally higher than record-based prevalence, and the ranking order was moderately different. The most frequently interview-reported problems were associated with perception, activity, and tiredness, while the most common record-based findings indicated pain, bladder and bowel function, and breathing and circulation problems. There was co-occurrence between some problems, such as those relating to cognition, activity, and tiredness.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost all patients had a health problem during the year, but few occurred in a given week. Cognitive and communication problems were more common in interview data than record data. Co-occurrence may be used to identify subtle health problems.

Complications and death among elderly patients undergoing pituitary tumour surgery

BACKGROUND

Preoperative determinants of surgical risk in elderly patients with pituitary tumour are not fully defined. The aim of this study was to quantify operative risk for these patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998-2005), a database containing discharge information from a stratified, random sample of 20% of all non-federal hospitals in 37 states. Patients >65 years old who underwent pituitary tumour resection were identified by ICD-9 coding. Primary outcome was inpatient death. Other outcomes included post-operative complications, length of stay (LOS) and total charges.

RESULTS

A total of 8400 patients (53.7% male) were identified. Mean age was 72.2. Mean co-morbidity score was 5.3. A majority were white (82.0%) admitted to academic hospitals (69.5%) for elective procedures (55.7%). Inpatient mortality was 3.8%. The most common complication was fluid and electrolyte abnormalities (14.3%). Mean LOS was 8.5 days. In multivariate analysis, patients >80 years old had 30% greater odds of death, relative to 65-69 year old counterparts. Each complication increased LOS by an average of at least 4 days. These associations were statistically significant (P-values <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

New clinically relevant risk stratification information is now available to assist clinicians in operative decision-making for elderly patients with pituitary tumour considering operative intervention.