Gender differences in the adverse events' profile registered in seven observational studies of a wide gender-medicine (MetaGeM) project: the MetaGeM safety analysis

Tailoring Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment through a Sex and Gender Lens

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs more frequently in women than in men, and the studies that have addressed clinical and prognostic differences between the sexes are scarce and have contradictory results and methodological problems. The present work aims to evaluate sex- and gender-related differences in the clinical expression and prognosis of RA as well as on the impact on psychosocial variables, coping behavior, and healthcare use and access. By identifying between sex differences and gender-related outcomes in RA, it may be possible to design tailored therapeutic strategies that consider the differences and unmet needs. Being that sex, together with age, is the most relevant biomarker and health determinant, a so-called personalized medicine approach to RA must include clear guidance on what to do in case of differences.

Representation and reporting of diverse groups in randomised controlled trials of pharmacological agents in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is now recognised as a global disease, with incidence rapidly increasing in newly industrialised countries in South America, Asia, and Africa. Trials in IBD, therefore, should adequately represent diverse groups with respect to gender, age, place of residence, race, and ethnicity to ensure the global applicability and generalisability of their findings. In this systematic review, we searched PubMed and Embase for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in English from Jan 1, 1995, to Jan 13, 2023, evaluating the efficacy of any pharmacological intervention in patients with IBD. Of 7543 records yielded in the search, we included 617 records reporting data from 627 RCTs and 108 986 participants. The results show a paucity of adequate representation of diverse groups in these RCTs. This finding was true for various groups, including racially and ethnically diverse populations, older (aged >65 years) and younger (aged <18 years) populations, those who identify outside of the gender binary, and people from South America and Africa. Also, some regions had an apparent scarcity of funding sources for trials. Pharmaceutical companies and clinical trial organisations should aim to ensure adequate representation of such under-represented groups in future IBD trials.

Comparative Safety Surveillance of Triple (IDA) Versus Dual Therapy (DA) in Mass Drug Administration for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Kenya: A Cohort Event Monitoring Study

INTRODUCTION

Dual diethylcarbamazine and albendazole (DA) therapy is the standard mass drug administration (MDA) regimen for lymphatic filariasis in Kenya. Following the recent World Health Organization recommendation, Kenya piloted triple therapy with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole (IDA) in MDA.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a community-based, observational, cohort event monitoring study to compare the types, frequency, severity, and predictors of adverse events following dual versus triple therapy in 20,421 eligible residents.

METHODS

Residents in Kilifi (n = 10,010) and Mombasa counties (n = 10,411) received DA and IDA through MDA campaigns, respectively. Adverse events were actively monitored through house-to-house visits on days 1, 2, and 7 after MDA. Any clinical events reported before and after MDA were cross-checked and verified to differentiate pre-existing events from MDA-associated adverse events.

RESULTS

Overall, 5807 and 3102 adverse events were reported by 2839 and 1621 individuals in the IDA and DA groups, respectively. The incidence of experiencing one or more adverse events was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the IDA group (27.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 26.4-28.2) than in the DA group (16.2%; 95% CI 15.5-16.9). Dizziness (15.9% vs 5.9%) and drowsiness (10.1% vs 2.6%) were the most common adverse events and significantly higher in the IDA group compared with the DA group (p < 0.0001). Most adverse events were mild or moderate with a few severe cases (IDA = 0.05%; 95% CI 0.35-0.78, DA = 0.03%; 95% CI 0.14-0.60). Female sex, obesity, taking three or more diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin tablets, and having pre-existing clinical symptoms were significant predictors of adverse events following IDA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole as a combination is as safe and well tolerated as DA to use in MDA campaigns with no serious life-threatening adverse events. Systemic mild-to-moderate adverse events with a few severe cases and transient adverse events are more common with IDA treatment than with DA treatment. Hence, integrating pharmacovigilance into a MDA program is recommended for the timely detection and management of adverse events.

The CHRONOS Real-World Evidence of Biologic Treatments in Psoriatic Arthritis in Italy: A Post Hoc Gender Analysis

Background: Phenotypic features and outcome differences between sexes have been reported in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, little is known about sex differences in effectiveness of biologics in clinical practice. Methods: Post hoc gender analysis of the CHRONOS, a multicenter, noninterventional, retroprospective Italian real-world study assessing 6-month and 1-year effectiveness of biologics for PsA. Results: Eligible patients were 399, 43.1% men. Sociodemographic characteristics, type of arthritis, baseline Disease Activity Score 28 joints (DAS28), and duration of biologic treatment were rather homogeneous. More men were overweight/obese and naive to biologics. The most frequently used biologics were TNF-inhibitors and secukinumab in both sexes. DAS28 responders were 72.7% (women) and 70.5% (men) at 6 months, and 68.0% in both sexes at 1 year. American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response showed a trend for men versus women to achieve more frequently ACR50 (32.6% vs. 26.5% at 6 months; 34.9% vs. 20.0% at 1 year) and ACR70 (22.3% vs. 12.4% at 6 months and 25.0% vs. 13.0% at 1 year). Global satisfaction with treatment at enrollment and after 6 months was slightly higher among men [mean (standard deviation) Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication-9 (TSQM-9) score: 68.6 (18.6) and 69.9 (18.2), respectively] than women [65.3 (18.2), 66.2 (18.5)]. Conclusions: Overall response to biologics for PsA was rather favorable. With similar baseline disease severity, men appear to have a somewhat earlier and better response with higher treatment satisfaction.

Safety and Tolerability of Mass Diethylcarbamazine and Albendazole Administration for the Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Kenya: An Active Surveillance Study

Preventive chemotherapy with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) and albendazole (ALB) is the core intervention strategy to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). We conducted a large-scale prospective active safety surveillance study to identify the incidence, type, severity, and risk factors for adverse events (AEs) following mass drug administration (MDA) of single-dose DEC and ALB in 10,010 participants from Kilifi County, Kenya. AEs were actively monitored and graded at 24 h, 48 h, and on day 7 Post-MDA. Out of 10,010 enrolled study participants, 1621 participants reported a total of 3102 AEs during a seven-day follow-up. The cumulative incidence of AEs was 16.2% (95% CI, 15.5–16.9%). The proportion of participants who experienced one, two, or ≥three types of AEs was 9.2%, 4.6%, 2.4%, respectively. AEs were mild (87.3%), moderate (12.4%), and severe (0.3%) and resolved within 72 h. The five most common AEs were dizziness (5.9%), headache (5.6%), loss of appetite (3.3%), fever (2.9%), and drowsiness (2.6%). Older age, taking concurrent medications, ≥three tablets of DEC, and type of meal taken before MDA were significant predictors of AEs. One in six participants experienced systemic mild-to-moderate severity grading and transient AEs. DEC and ALB co-administration for the elimination of LF is generally safe and well-tolerated.

Gender differences in the adverse events associated with cardiovascular drugs in a spontaneous reporting system in South Korea

Background Studies on disease-related gender differences in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are prevalent; however, gender differences in the drug-related adverse events have not been systemically described. Objective To explore gender differences in the adverse events associated with cardiovascular drugs using a spontaneous reporting system. Setting This study was conducted using the Korea adverse event reporting system and national health insurance databases. Methods The number of reported adverse events was divided by the number of patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases (Korean Standard Classification of Disease, 7th Revision, I05-I70) and prescribed cardiovascular drugs. We calculated adverse event reporting rates per 100,000 persons and the reporting ratio for women, compared with men. Main outcome measures Reporting ratios across the groups of adverse events and cardiovascular drugs. Results We identified 27,533 adverse events associated with cardiovascular drugs and 9,413,666 patients with cardiovascular disease. Compared with men, reporting ratios of women were higher in the following categories: Overall (1.09, 95% CI, 1.06-1.11), beta blockers (1.20, 95% CI, 1.05-1.39), and calcium channel blockers (1.14, 95% CI, 1.03-1.27). For the adverse events, the reporting ratio was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.14-1.58) for musculoskeletal disorders and 2.54 (95% CI, 2.10-3.07) for oedema in women. Conclusion Our findings on differential adverse events reporting rates associated with the cardiovascular drugs between women and men provide an evidence on possible gender differences in wide range of pharmacotherapy. A clear understanding of the relationship between drug-induced adverse events and gender will aid in the development of therapeutic interventions being tailored to the individual patients.

Gender Differences in Preoperative Opioid Use in Spine Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Opioids are frequently used in spine surgeries despite their adverse effects, including physical dependence and addiction. Gender difference is an important consideration for personalized treatment. There is no review assessing the prevalence of opioid use between men and women before spine surgeries.

DESIGN

We compared the prevalence of preoperative opioid use between men and women.

SETTING

Spine surgery.

SUBJECTS

Comparison between men and women.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched from inception to November 9, 2018. Clinical characteristics and prevalence of preoperative opioid use were collected. Where feasible, data were pooled from nonoverlapping studies using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Four studies with nonoverlapping populations were included in the meta-analysis (one prospective, three retrospective cohorts). The prevalence of preoperative opioid use was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.40-0.83). Comparing men with women, no statistically significant difference in preoperative opioid use was detected (relative risk [RR] = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.96-1.02). Surgery location (cervical, lumbar) and study duration (more than five years or five years or less) did not modify this association. All involved open spine surgery. Only one secondary analysis provided data on both pre- and postoperative opioid use stratified by gender, which showed a borderline significantly higher prevalence of postoperative use in women than men.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of opioid use before spine surgery was similar between men and women, irrespective of surgery location or study duration. More studies characterizing the pattern of opioid use between genders are still needed.

Efficacy and safety of guanfacine extended-release in Japanese adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Exploratory post hoc subgroup analyses of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Aim

Previously, we reported on the efficacy and safety of guanfacine extended‐release (GXR) in Japanese adults with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from a phase 3, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial. In this exploratory post hoc analysis, we assessed the efficacy and/or safety of GXR in the following subgroups: ADHD‐combined (ADHD‐C) and ADHD‐predominantly inattentive (ADHD‐I) subtypes, age (≥31, <31 years), sex (male, female), and body weight (≥50, <50 kg).

Methods

The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline in the Japanese version of the investigator‐rated ADHD‐Rating Scale‐IV (ADHD‐RS‐IV) with adult prompts (total scores) at week 10.

Results

The efficacy analysis population included 200 patients (GXR, 100; placebo, 100). ADHD‐RS‐IV total score effect sizes (GXR vs placebo) were similar across all subgroups (total population: 0.52, ADHD‐C: 0.51, ADHD‐I: 0.52, ≥31 years: 0.61, <31 years: 0.47, male: 0.50, female: 0.57). There were no major differences in the incidence/types of treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) across the subgroups. The incidence of significant TEAEs (34.3%, 10.6%) and TEAEs leading to discontinuation (34.3%, 12.1%) were approximately three times higher in females than males, respectively. The incidence of TEAEs in patients weighing <50 kg and ≥50 kg was 100% and 73.6% during dose optimization and 40% and 24.4% during the maintenance period, respectively.

Conclusion

Findings from this post hoc analysis in adults with ADHD support the efficacy and safety of GXR regardless of ADHD subtype, age, or sex and suggest that careful monitoring for TEAEs and GXR dose optimization is considered for all patients, as needed.

In this exploratory post hoc analysis, we assessed the efficacy and/or safety of guanfacine extended release (GXR) in the following subgroups: attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subtypes (ADHD‐combined, ADHD‐predominantly inattentive), age (≥31 years, <31 years), sex (male, female), and body weight (<50 kg, ≥50 kg). ADHD‐Rating Scale‐IV with adult prompts total score effect sizes (GXR vs placebo at 10 weeks) were similar across all subgroups. The findings support the efficacy and safety of GXR in adults regardless of ADHD subtype, age, or sex and suggest that careful monitoring for TEAEs and GXR dose optimization is considered for all patients, as needed.

The impact of sex and gender on immunotherapy outcomes

Immunotherapies are often used for the treatment, remission, and possible cure of autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and cancers. Empirical evidence illustrates that females and males differ in outcomes following the use of biologics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis (RA), infectious diseases, e.g., influenza, and solid tumor cancers. Females tend to experience more adverse reactions than males following the use of a class of biologics referred to as immunotherapies. For immunotherapies aimed at stimulating an immune response, e.g., influenza vaccines, females develop greater responses and may experience greater efficacy than males. In contrast, for immunotherapies that repress an immune response, e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for RA or checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma, the efficacy is reportedly greater for males than females. Despite these differences, discrepancies in reporting differences between females and males exist, with females have been historically excluded from biomedical and clinical studies. There is a critical need for research that addresses the biological (i.e., sex) as well as sociocultural (i.e., gender) causes of male-female disparities in immunotherapy responses, toxicities, and outcomes. One-size-fits-all approaches to immunotherapies will not work, and sex/gender may contribute to variable treatment success, including adherence, in clinical settings.

Patient sex does not affect endoscopic outcomes of biologicals in inflammatory bowel disease but is associated with adverse events

PURPOSE

Biological therapies are currently the mainstay in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Several factors are known to influence the efficacy and tolerability of biologicals, such as CRP levels or previous biological use. Whether patient sex affects the efficacy or tolerability is unclear but would help with better risk and benefit stratification. This systematic review assesses patient sex on the efficacy and tolerability of biological therapies in IBD patients.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed using Embase (including MEDLINE), MEDLINE OvidSP, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and PubMed. The primary outcome was the influence of patient sex on endoscopic outcomes in IBD patients treated with biologicals. The secondary outcome was the influence of patient sex on adverse events. Studies were included in the assessment regardless of study type or setting.

RESULTS

The search yielded 19,461 citations; after review, 55 studies were included in the study, involving 28,465 patients treated with adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, infliximab, or vedolizumab. There was no significant association between patient sex and endoscopic efficacy in 41 relevant studies. Increased adverse events were associated with female sex in 7 out of 14 relevant studies.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence for a sex difference in endoscopically measured response to biological therapies in IBD patients. However, there is an influence of sex on the occurrence of adverse events.

Men and women respond differently to antipsychotic drugs

BACKGROUND

Because women are often perceived as having better outcomes than men in psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia - women are less often in hospital, have a lower suicide rate, are less often involved with the law, enjoy better relationships with family and friends - the question arises as to whether or not this apparent advantage is attributable to a gender difference in antipsychotic response.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to critically review the quantitative and qualitative literature on gender difference in antipsychotic response sourced mainly from medical databases of the last ten years.

FINDINGS

There are theoretical reasons why women's effective doses of antipsychotics might need to be lower than guidelines recommend for men, especially as regards olanzapine and clozapine, but, because there are so many variables that impinge on antipsychotic response, it is difficult to provide definitive guidance. What is evident is that some antipsychotic side effects, weight gain for instance, are more worrisome for women than for men. It is also evident that, after menopause, women need an increase in their antipsychotic dose; other reproductive stages in women's lives require special prescribing considerations as well.

CONCLUSION

There is a science, and an art, to prescribing antipsychotics, which needs to take gender into account. This article is part of the issue entitled 'Special Issue on Antipsychotics'.

Safety analysis of proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilar in Phase I and Phase III studies

Aim: This analysis compares safety data for Sandoz proposed biosimilar (LA-EP2006) and reference pegfilgrastim from a Phase I pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study in healthy volunteers (HVs) and two Phase III confirmatory studies in patients with breast cancer (BC; total n = 808). Patients & methods: Baseline characteristics were summarized, and event rates of bone pain and headache calculated. Results: HVs in the Phase I pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study were generally younger, with lower mean body mass index, versus BC patients in PROTECT-1/-2. Bone pain was the most frequent adverse event with similar incidences with reference versus proposed biosimilar in all studies. Conclusion: No differences in adverse events were found between Sandoz proposed biosimilar and reference pegfilgrastim, notwithstanding some differences between HVs and BC patients.

Multidrug intolerance in the treatment of hypertension: result from an audit of a specialized hypertension service

BACKGROUND

Hypertension as a cardiovascular disease risk factor continues to take a heavy toll on the population despite efforts with containment. Poor control, even among those on treatment, is part of the challenge and results from patient, physician and health system factors. When the problem resides at patient level, adherence is largely responsible. An entity defined as multidrug intolerance (MDI) is hardly considered. A situation when a patient is willing to adhere but is compelled otherwise could frustrate both patient and physician. Encountering a few such cases prompted the author to audit his specialized hypertension service in order to evaluate the burden of MDI and its associations.

METHODS

Between 7 May and 30 July 2016 (to cover a 12-week cycle which ensured all attendees were captured), all patients attending follow up for blood pressure control had their records evaluated for intolerance to three or more different classes of anti-hypertensives, which defines MDI. Their ages, sex, control state and co-morbidities were extracted from the records.

RESULTS

A total of 489 patients with hypertension were seen over the period; 271 (55.4%) of whom were women and 248 (50.7%) were uncontrolled. Overall 15 (3.1%) satisfied the definition of MDI; 10 women and 5 men. All the men with MDI were uncontrolled while 7 out of the 10 women were uncontrolled; with two having premenstrual syndrome as co-morbidity. A total of four patients (three men, one woman) had history suggesting allergy and two (one man, one woman) were on treatment for anxio-depressive illness.

CONCLUSION

MDI does occur in sub-Sahara African patients with hypertension and should be considered before describing hypertension as resistant or considering alternative treatments including device therapy. Staggering doses or trying different formulations could be of benefit.

Women and schizophrenia: planning for the future

The aim of this narrative review is to provide readers with a summary of the recent literature on women and schizophrenia and to address commonly asked questions about the role of gender in this illness. Important gender distinctions were found in the knowledge base around schizophrenia, particularly in the areas of symptom onset, hormonal and immune effects, and antipsychotic drug kinetics and their consequences. We also discuss and address commonly asked questions about gender and schizophrenia. This review concludes that gender differences influence the effectiveness of various treatments and need to be taken into account when planning comprehensive care services for individuals with schizophrenia.