Survival of patients with chronic acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) in the United States: A retrospective chart review study

Background

Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD), historically known as Niemann-Pick disease type A, A/B, and B, is a rare lysosomal storage pathology with multisystemic clinical manifestations. The aims of this study were to estimate the survival probability in patients in the United States with chronic ASMD (ASMD types B and A/B), and to describe the disease characteristics of these patients.

Methods

This observational retrospective study included medical chart records of patients with chronic ASMD with retrievable data abstracted by 69 participating physicians from 25 medical centers in the United States. Included patients had a date of ASMD diagnosis or first presentation to a physician for ASMD symptoms (whichever occurred first) between January 01, 1990, and February 28, 2021. Medical chart records were excluded if patients were diagnosed with ASMD type A. Eligible medical chart records were abstracted to collect demographic, medical and developmental history, and mortality data. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses from birth until death.

Results

The overall study population (N = 110) included 69 patients with ASMD type B, nine with type A/B, and 32 with ASMD "non-type A" (ASMD subtype was unknown, but patients were confirmed as not having ASMD type A). The majority of patients were male with a median age at diagnosis of 3.8 years. Thirty-eight patients died during the study observation period, at a median age of 6.8 years. The median (95% confidence interval) survival age from birth was 21.3 (10.2; 60.4) years. At diagnosis or first presentation, 42.7% patients had ≥1 ASMD-related complication; splenic (30.0%) and hepatobiliary (20.9%) being the most common, and 40.9% required ≥1 medical visit due to complications.

Conclusion

Patients with chronic ASMD in the United States have poor survival and significant burden of illness.

Assessing Quality of Life, Economic Burden, and Independence Across the Alzheimer's Disease Continuum Using Patient-Caregiver Dyad Surveys

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have negative quality of life (QoL) and economic impacts on patients and their caregivers and may increase along the disease continuum from MCI to mild, moderate, and severe AD.

Objective

To assess how patient and caregiver QoL, indirect and intangible costs are associated with MCI and AD severity.

Methods

An on-line survey of physician-identified patient-caregiver dyads living in the United States was conducted from June-October 2022 and included questions to both patients and their caregivers. Dementia Quality of Life Proxy, the Care-related Quality of Life, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment, and Dependence scale were incorporated into the survey. Regression analyses investigated the association between disease severity and QoL and cost outcomes with adjustment for baseline characteristics.

Results

One-hundred patient-caregiver dyads were assessed with the survey (MCI, n = 27; mild AD, n = 27; moderate AD, n = 25; severe AD, n = 21). Decreased QoL was found with worsening severity in patients (p < 0.01) and in unpaid (informal) caregivers (n = 79; p = 0.02). Dependence increased with disease severity (p < 0.01). Advanced disease severity was associated with higher costs to employers (p = 0.04), but not with indirect costs to caregivers. Patient and unpaid caregiver intangible costs increased with disease severity (p < 0.01). A significant trend of higher summed costs (indirect costs to caregivers, costs to employers, intangible costs to patients and caregivers) in more severe AD was observed (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Patient QoL and functional independence and unpaid caregiver QoL decrease as AD severity increases. Intangible costs to patients and summed costs increase with disease severity and are highest in severe AD.

External control arms for rare diseases: building a body of supporting evidence

Comparator arms in randomized clinical trials may be impractical and/or unethical to assemble in rare diseases. In the absence of comparator arms, evidence generated from external control studies has been used to support successful regulatory submissions and health technology assessments (HTA). However, conducting robust and rigorous external control arm studies is challenging and despite all efforts, residual biases may remain. As a result, regulatory and HTA agencies may request additional external control analyses so that decisions may be made based upon a body of supporting evidence.This paper introduces external control studies and provides an overview of the key methodological issues to be considered in the design of these studies. A series of case studies are presented in which evidence derived from one or more external controls was submitted to regulatory and HTA agencies to provide support for the consistency of findings.

Assessing out-of-pocket expenses and indirect costs for the Alzheimer disease continuum in the United States

BACKGROUND: The societal costs of Alzheimer disease (AD) are considerable. Cost data stratified by cost category (direct and indirect) and AD severity in the United States are limited. OBJECTIVE: To describe out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses and indirect costs from unpaid caregiving and work impairment among patients with AD by severity and among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a representative sample of the US population. METHODS: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were used. HRS respondents were included if they reported an AD diagnosis or were considered as having MCI based on their cognitive performance. MCI and AD severity staging was performed using a crosswalk from results of the modified Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status to the Mini-Mental State Examination. OOP expenses were assessed along with indirect costs (costs to caregivers from providing unpaid help and costs to employers). Sensitivity analyses were performed by varying assumptions of caregiver employment, missed workdays, and early retirement. Patients with AD were stratified by nursing home status, type of insurance, and income level. All cost calculations applied sampling weights. RESULTS: A total of 18,786 patients were analyzed. Patients with MCI (n = 17,885) and AD (n = 901) were aged 67.8 ± 10.7 and 80.9 ± 9.3 years, were 55.7% and 63.3% female, and were 28.3% and 0.9% employed, respectively. OOP expenses per patient per month increased with AD severity, ranging from $420 in mild to $903 in severe AD but were higher in MCI ($554) than in mild AD. Indirect costs to employers were similar across the AD continuum ($197-$242). Costs from unpaid caregiving generally increased by disease severity, from $72 (MCI) to $1,298 (severe AD). Total OOP and indirect costs increased by disease severity, from $869 (MCI) to $2,398 (severe AD). Sensitivity analysis assuming nonworking caregivers and zero costs to employers decreased the total OOP and indirect costs by 32%-53%. OOP expenses were higher for patients with AD who had private insurance (P < 0.01), had higher incomes (P < 0.01), or were in nursing homes (P < 0.01). Indirect costs to caregivers were lower for patients with AD in nursing homes ($600 vs $1,372, P < 0.01). Total indirect costs were higher for patients with AD with lower incomes ($1,498 vs $1,136, P < 0.01) and for those not in nursing homes ($1,571 vs $799, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that OOP expenses and indirect costs increase with AD severity, OOP expenses increase with higher income, subscription of private insurance, and nursing home residency, and total indirect costs decrease with higher income and nursing home residency in the United States. DISCLOSURES This study was financially sponsored by Eisai. Drs Zhang and Tahami are employees of Eisai. Drs Chandak, Khachatryan, and Hummel are employees of Certara; Certara is a paid consultant to Eisai. The views expressed here are those of the authors and are not to be attributed to their respective affiliations. Laura De Benedetti, BSc, provided medical writing support to the manuscript; she is an employee of Certara.

Low Molecular Weight Heparin Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Cancer Patients with Acute Venous Thromboembolism: A Nationwide Cohort Study in France

Patients with cancer have an increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and an increased risk of death from VTE. Until recently, the standard of care for treatment of VTE in cancer patients was low molecular weight heparins (LMWH). To determine treatment patterns and outcomes, we performed an observational study using a nationwide health database. Treatment patterns, rates of bleeding, and VTE recurrence at 6 and 12 months were assessed in cancer patients with VTE in France prescribed LMWH in 2013-2018. Of 31,771 patients administered LMWH (mean age 66.3 years), 51.0% were male, 58.7% had pulmonary embolism, and 70.9% had metastatic disease. At 6 months LMWH persistence was 81.6%, VTE recurrence had occurred in 1256 patients (4.0%) at a crude rate per 100 person-months (PM) of 0.90, and bleeding had occurred in 1124 patients (3.5%) at a crude rate per 100 PM of 0.81. At 12 months, VTE recurrence had occurred in 1546 patients (4.9%) at a crude rate per 100 PM of 0.71 and bleeding had occurred in 1438 patients (4.5%) at a crude rate per 100 PM of 0.66. Overall, VTE-related clinical event rates were high among patients administered LMWH, suggesting an unmet medical need.

Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) Dosing in Patients with Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation (NVAF) in the United Kingdom: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using CPRD Gold Database

INTRODUCTION

Per-label dosing of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is important for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), especially those with poor renal function, advanced age, low body weight or concomitant P-glycoprotein inhibitors. The study described DOAC use and dosing patterns in patients with NVAF in the UK.

METHODS

Using Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD Gold), patients' profiles were described at DOAC initiation (1 January 2016-31 March 2021) and followed for a mean [standard deviation (SD)] 2 (1) years. Patients were categorised as under-dosing: received a lower dose with no indication for a reduced dose; over-dosing: received a standard dose with an indication for a reduced dose; per-label dosing, according to Summary Product Characteristics (SmPC).

RESULTS

Forty thousand seven hundred forty-four adult patients with NVAF were identified (mean age: 75.3 (11.2) years; males: 55.4%); 22,827 (56.0%) initiated treatment with apixaban, 930 (2.3%) dabigatran, 5633 (13.8%) edoxaban and 11,354 (27.9%) rivaroxaban. Baseline Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 4 was 65.1%; CHA₂DS₂-VASc score ≥ 4 was 22.5%; HAS-BLED score ≥ 3 was 18.3%; ~ 2% had prior major bleed and 4.4% a stroke ≤ 2 years before DOAC initiation. Overall, 18.0% of patients received incorrect dosing (~ one in five). Under-dosing was highest for dabigatran (156, 16.8%) and over-dosing was highest for rivaroxaban (1084, 9.6%). Per-label dosing was highest for edoxaban (4773, 84.7%), followed by apixaban (18,756, 82.2%), rivaroxaban (9161, 80.7%) and dabigatran (732, 78.7%). Treatment persistence (no switching or discontinuation) was 79% among edoxaban users, followed by 75% for apixaban, 69% for rivaroxaban and 62% for dabigatran. About 15% of dabigatran users, 10% of rivaroxaban users, 5% of apixaban users and 4% of edoxaban users switched treatment to another DOAC during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Although most patients received per-label dosing, ~ one in five patients was incorrectly dosed with DOAC, which may lead to serious clinical consequences and increased healthcare burden.

Real-world Adherence to Nusinersen in Adults with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the US: A Multi-site Chart Review Study

Limited evidence exists on real-world adherence to nusinersen for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Data are presented from a multi-site retrospective chart review of 86 adults with SMA initiating nusinersen at nine US centers between January 2017 and February 2019. Seventy-nine (92%) adults remained on nusinersen during the study; 454 (92%) of 493 total nusinersen doses were received on time. Fifty-eight (67%) adults received all nusinersen doses on time. The majority of patients with at least one nonadherent dose resumed nusinersen on time. Most patients followed the dosing schedule across the loading and maintenance dose periods.

Comparative Analysis of All-Cause Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Among Venous Thrombosis Patients Without Cancer Prescribed Apixaban or VKAs in France

Introduction

The direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) apixaban has shown to have non-inferior efficacy and better safety than vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). We determined whether healthcare resource use (HCRU) and direct all-cause medical and non-medical costs in patients with VTE in France differed between VKAs and apixaban.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using French national health data from January 2013–June 2018 for anticoagulant-naïve adults hospitalized with VTE. All-cause costs and HCRU per patient per month (PPPM) were compared between apixaban and VKA cohorts created by 1:1 propensity score matching. Two-part models with bootstrapping were used to calculate marginal effects for costs and HCRU.

Results

The matched VKA and apixaban cohorts each comprised 7503 patients. Compared to VKAs, patients prescribed apixaban had significantly lower (P < 0.0001) mean all-cause costs PPPM for outpatient visits (€438.54 vs. €455.58), overall laboratory tests (€21.26 vs. €83.73), and hospitalizations (€249.48 vs. €343.82), but significantly higher (P < 0.0001) mean all-cause costs PPPM for overall drugs (€97.06 vs. €69.56) and medical procedures (€42.12 vs. €35.50). Mean total all-cause direct medical costs (€687.93 vs. €798.70) and total all-cause direct medical and non-medical costs (€771.60 vs. €883.66) were significantly lower (P < 0.0001) for apixaban. Mean HCRU PPPM showed similar trends. Subgroup analyses showed that, among patients with recurrent VTE, patients prescribed apixaban had significantly lower (P < 0.0001) all-cause costs PPPM for total medical costs (€17.26 vs. €18.12) and total all-cause direct medical and non-medical costs (€18.37 vs. €19.20) than patients prescribed VKAs. Similarly, among patients with bleeding, patients prescribed apixaban had significantly lower (P < 0.0001) all-cause costs PPPM for total medical costs (€15.34 vs. €32.61) and total all-cause direct medical and non-medical costs (€16.23 vs. €34.63) than patients prescribed VKAs.

Conclusion

Compared to VKAs, apixaban may be cost-saving in the treatment of patients hospitalized for acute VTE.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02200-7.

Exploring the treatment gap among patients with osteoporosis-related fractures in France

The use of anti-osteoporosis treatment following a diagnosis of osteoporosis with fracture or a relevant fragility fracture remains low in France. Initiating an anti-resorptive may reduce the incidence of a subsequent fracture by 60%.

PURPOSE

To describe real-world osteoporosis treatment patterns in individuals with a fragility fracture in France and to explore the impact of initiating treatment on the risk of subsequent fracture.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study, using the national French Health Insurance claims database. Males and females 50 years and over, with a hospital discharge diagnosis of osteoporosis with fracture or a relevant fragility fracture between 2011 and 2014, were included and followed until death or the end of 2016, whichever came first. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients receiving anti-osteoporosis treatments prior to and post-index fracture. Change in fracture rates before and after treatment initiation was assessed in an exploratory analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 574,133 patients (138,567 males, 435,566 females) had a qualifying index fracture. The proportion of patients receiving any anti-osteoporosis treatment increased pre-index fracture to post-index fracture from 2.2 to 5.6% among males, and from 11.8 to 18.2% among females. Oral bisphosphonates were the most prescribed anti-osteoporosis treatment for both males and females among post-index fractures (60.6% and 68.8% of patients initiating treatment). Following initiation of anti-resorptives, the incidence of subsequent fracture was reduced by 60% (rate ratio (RR): 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-0.45).

CONCLUSION

Anti-osteoporosis treatment following an index fracture in France remains low. Improved identification and pharmacologic management of patients at risk of fragility fractures are necessary to reduce the risk of subsequent fractures.

Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants in the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism: A nationwide comparative cohort study in France

INTRODUCTION

Data from clinical trials indicate that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are non-inferior and safer than conventional therapy (low-molecular weight heparin followed by a vitamin K antagonist [VKA]) for treating venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE). This study compared the effectiveness and safety of DOACs and conventional therapy in a real-world setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This observational study used French national claims data of adult, treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with VTE (majority PE) who were hospitalized and treated for VTE with a DOAC (apixaban or rivaroxaban) or VKAs during 2013-2018. Patients with active cancer were excluded. After propensity score matching for each DOAC-VKA comparison, risks of bleeding, recurrent VTE, and all-cause mortality were compared at 6 months. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios of the endpoints.

RESULTS

58137 patients were included (10775 VKAs, 10440 apixaban, 36922 rivaroxaban). Propensity score-matched cohort sizes were 7503 for apixaban and 9179 for rivaroxaban. The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was significantly lower for apixaban than VKAs for bleeding requiring hospitalization (0.43 [0.32-0.59]), all-cause death (0.61 [0.51-0.74]), and first-recurrent VTE (0.67 [0.52-0.85]). The hazard ratio was also significantly lower for rivaroxaban than VKAs for all-cause death (0.63 [0.53-0.74]) but not for bleeding requiring hospitalization (0.86 [0.69-1.07]) or first-recurrent VTE (0.91 [0.74-1.13]).

CONCLUSIONS

Apixaban was associated with superior safety and effectiveness than VKAs. All-cause mortality was lower in both DOACs than VKAs. Our results support recommendations to use DOACs over VKAs for the treatment of VTE.

Fractures in untreated patients with osteoporosis in Germany: an InGef healthcare insurance database analysis

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that may result in low-trauma fracture if untreated. Among men and women ≥ 70 years untreated for osteoporosis, 30% (43,514) sustained at least one post-index fracture. Care for patients with osteoporosis diagnosis directly contributed to a cost burden of €786 million.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that manifests as bone mineral density loss and low-trauma fractures. This database analysis describes the characteristics of untreated osteoporosis patients, and their rate of fractures, health resource utilization, and cost burden.

METHODS

From the InGef database (2011-2016), eligible patients (≥ 70 years) untreated for osteoporosis were identified via a recorded diagnosis of osteoporosis (ICD-10 codes M80/M81) or an initial fragility fracture (index point). All patients were followed up for fractures post index. Direct costs included inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy, and ancillary care costs.

RESULTS

A total of 144,752 patients (mean age 79 years; 73% female, median follow-up of 3.2 years) met the eligibility criteria; 23% had a history of fractures. Forty-eight percent of patients had cardiac diseases, 32% diabetes, and 27% cerebrovascular disease. Thirty percent (43,514) of patients had at least one post-index fracture; two or more post-index fractures were experienced in 7% (10,262) of patients. Median time from index date to first fracture was 145.5 days. Bisphosphonates were the most prescribed osteoporosis treatment following a first fracture post-index (n = 4102, 9.2%). There was a total of 107,055 patients (74.0%) who had at least one all-cause hospital stay. The total number of fracture-related admissions was 63,595 and that of outpatient visits was 323,460. A total of 34,764 (24%) patients died during follow-up. Costs for fracture-related care for patients directly contributed to a cost burden of €786 million.

CONCLUSIONS

Osteoporosis patients and patients who sustain a fragility fracture remain undertreated for osteoporosis, increasing their risk of future fractures. Diagnosing and treating this group of patients should remain a priority to alleviate the clinical and economic burden of osteoporosis-related fractures.

International cohort study on the effectiveness of dronedarone and other antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation in real-world practice (EFFECT-AF)

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dronedarone compared with other commonly used antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) for preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences.

Methods and results

An international observational cohort study in Germany, Spain, Italy, and the USA enrolling patients with AF receiving AAD therapy. Patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV heart failure were excluded. Participants were followed for up to 18 months, regardless of discontinuation or subsequent AAD switches. Atrial fibrillation recurrence was captured by hospitalization, emergency room visit, or electrocardiogram-based documentation of AF. Confounding bias was controlled for in the analysis of AF recurrence using multivariate models of 19 variables for adjustment. A total of 1009 participants [mean age 67.2 (10.8) years, male to female ratio 1.3] were recruited from 170 centres, 693 (69%) of which were from across Europe and the remaining 316 (31%) from the USA. At the time of enrolment, participants were taking dronedarone (51%) or other AADs (49%) [flecainide or propafenone (42%), sotalol (11%), and amiodarone (47%)]. No significant differences in the risk of first confirmed AF recurrence with dronedarone vs. other AADs [crude hazard ratio (HR) 1.10 (95% confidence interval 0.85–1.42); adjusted HR 1.16 (0.87–1.55)] were found, irrespective of whether univariate or multivariate models were used. Reported safety events were in accordance with the known safety profile of dronedarone.

Conclusion

In this population of patients from either Europe or the USA receiving dronedarone or another AAD, the effectiveness of dronedarone was comparable to that observed for other AADs in preventing first AF recurrence.

Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants in the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism: a comparative cohort study in France

Background

RCT evidence has shown that direct oral anti-coagulants (DOACs) are at least as effective and safer in terms of bleeding, compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Purpose

To compare the risks of recurrent VTE and of bleeding leading to hospitalisation, in patients treated with DOACs (each compared with VKAs) for acute VTE in a real-world setting.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of treatment-naïve adult patients with VTE (patients with active cancer were excluded) treated with a DOAC (apixaban or rivaroxaban) or VKA, from 2013 to 2018. The French national health data system (SNDS) was used. After propensity score (PS) matching for each DOAC-VKA comparison, risks of bleeding (defined as principal diagnoses of hospital stays), recurrent VTE, and all-cause mortality were compared at 6 months. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios of the endpoints.

Results

58137 treatment-naïve patients were included: 10775 (18.53%) VKAs, 10440 (17.96%) apixaban, and 36922 (63.51%) rivaroxaban. Patients initiating VKAs were older than those initiating apixaban or rivaroxaban (mean age in years: VKAs, 71; apixaban, 65; rivaroxaban, 60) and had a higher comorbidity burden (mean CCI score: VKAs, 1.55; apixaban, 0.91; rivaroxaban, 0.69). PS matched cohort sizes were: apixaban (n=7503) and rivaroxaban (n=9179). Crude risks of recurrent VTE per 100 patient-year (95% CI) were 4.99 (4.36; 5.70), 3.36 (2.88; 3.92) and 4.33 (4.03; 4.66) for VKAs, apixaban, and rivaroxaban respectively. For bleeding, the respective crude risks were 5.21 (4.57; 5.94), 1.84 (1.49; 2.28), and 2.64 (2.41; 2.90). For all-cause mortality, the respective crude risks were 12.23 (11.26; 13.27), 4.69 (4.11; 5.34), and 2.73 (2.49; 2.99). Adjusted hazard ratios for the endpoints are presented in the table.

Conclusions

Apixaban was associated with a lower risk of recurrent VTE and bleedings requiring hospitalisation compared with VKAs. Similar trends in risk reduction for these outcomes were observed for rivaroxaban compared with VKAs but without reaching statistical significance. Both DOACs were associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with VKAs.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): BMS/Pfizer alliance

Cardiac implantable electronic device infection: prevalence and risk factors

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The number of CIED  implantation procedures has increased dramatically in recent decades due to population aging  and expansion of indications. At the same time, the number of CIED-associated complications has increased too. Infection is a very important and heavy complication of CIED implantation, which significantly increases mortality and morbidity.

Aim and objectives

This study aimed to estimate the risk of CIED-infection in a group of patients who received an aggressive scheme of postprocedural antibiotic therapy and compare with the risk of infection in another group, where a mild antibiotic therapy scheme was used. The study objectives were to assess the incidence and prevalence of CIED-related infection in patients operated in a tertiary cardiovascular center, as well as identify infection-related risk factors.

Methods

A retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study was performed. The study sample included 355 patients, who underwent CIED-related procedure in a single center between 01.12.2017 and 30.07.2020. Two antibiotic prophylaxis and wound follow-up protocols (mild and aggressive) were used. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of both methods to prevent a CIED related infection. Patient’s demographic data, clinical features, comorbidities, the device and procedure-related information were also assessed for having a relationship with CIED infection rate. Data entry and statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 23 software. Binomial logistic regression analyses were performed for adjusted analyses.

Results

The prevalence of infection was 3.5% in the group with mild scheme and 1.13% in the group with the aggressive scheme. The difference in two subgroups was not significant (p = 0,149). In the whole sample the prevalence of infection was 1,69%.

According to this study severe renal failure with glomerular filtration rate (GFR)&lt;30 mL/min (OR = 32.6, CI = 2.5-420.8, p = 0.008),  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 8.2, CI = 1.4-47.6, p = 0.019), and  thyroid disfunction (OR = 7.065, CI = 1.2-40.6, p = 0.028) were found as significant predictors for having CIED infection. In participants who underwent a reimplantation and in those with postoperative hematoma the odds of having infection was respectively 6.2 fold (CI = 1.086-35.5, p = 0.04) and 48.8 fold (CI = 8.4-285.9, p = 0.028) higher, compared to patients with primary implantation and absence of hematoma.

Age of participants with CIED-infection (mean age = 52.5 )  was younger  compared to patients without infection (mean age = 61.2, p = 0.039).

Conclusion

According to our study the risk of infection in our center is comparable to recorded prevalence in other countries. There is no statistically significant difference on CIED infection between mild and aggressive antibiotic therapy schemes.

Recommendations

  The routine use of  aggressive antibiotic therapy is not justified and carries a risk of microbial resistance, as well as additional healthcare costs.

Survival and treatment patterns of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in France - a cohort study using the French National Healthcare database (SNDS)

Over the past decade, several drugs have been approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). This retrospective study, using the French National Healthcare database (SNDS), describes the treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with RRMM treated in real-world clinical practice in France. Patients were adults, with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, who initiated second-line (2L) treatment approved for use in France between 2014 and 2018; this included bortezomib, carfilzomib, daratumumab, ixazomib, lenalidomide, or pomalidomide. Data were analyzed overall, by first-line (1L) autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) status and by lenalidomide treatment status at 2L. In total, 12987 patients with RRMM were included in the study (mean age 69.5 years); 27% received an ASCT at 1L, and 30% received a lenalidomide-sparing regimen at 2L. Overall, and among the ASCT and non-ASCT subgroups, most patients received a bortezomib-based regimen at 1L, whereas lenalidomide-based regimens were most common at 2L. Among patients who received a lenalidomide-sparing regimen at 2L, this was most often a proteasome inhibitor-based regimen. Mortality rate was 26.1/100 person-years, and median (95% confidence interval) survival from 2L initiation was 32.4 (31.2-33.6) months. Survival differed by various factors, shorter survival was reported in the non-ASCT group, those receiving a lenalidomide-sparing regimen at 2L, older patients (≥ 70 years), and those with multiple comorbidities. This analysis provides insight into the real-world use of approved novel MM treatments and highlights an ongoing unmet need to improve outcomes, particularly for selected patient groups.

Clinical impact and room for improvement of intensity and adherence to lipid lowering therapy: Five years of clinical follow-up from 164,565 post-myocardial infarction patients

BACKGROUND

In patients at risk of cardiovascular (CV) events, the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapies (LLT) is affected by both intensity and adherence. Our study evaluated the association between LLT intensity (statin and/or ezetimibe) and adherence, and CV events in patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) in France.

METHODS

Using the French national healthcare database (SNDS), we included patients with a history of MI, an initial LLT prescription in 2011-2013, and a second prescription within one year. LLT intensity was defined using the expected percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; adherence was measured as the proportion of days covered. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess associations between intensity and/or adherence, and the risk of major adverse CV event (MACE).

RESULTS

164,565 patients were included; mean (SD) age, 66·3 (13·8) years; 73·6% men. Following an MI, only half of patients were treated with high-intensity LLT and approximately 40% of those on LLT remained non-adherent during follow-up (mean (SD) follow-up, 2·6 (1·4) years). Each 10% increase in treatment intensity, adherence, or adherence-adjusted intensity was respectively associated with a 16% (HR 0.84, 95%CI 0.84-0.85), 7% (HR 0.93, 95%CI 0.93-0.94), and 15% (HR 0.85, 95%CI 0.84-0.86) decrease in the risk of MACE.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with a history of MI, prescriptions of high-intensity LLT were limited and adherence to LLT was low. Higher intensity and/or adherence to statins was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACE, highlighting the importance of compliance with clinical guidelines to improve patient outcomes.

Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and adherence to lipid-lowering therapies following an acute coronary syndrome

Despite dyslipidaemia management guidelines, many patients do not reach low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets due to insufficiently intensive regimens or lack of adherence to their medication. This was a retrospective cohort study on the Pharmacoepidemiologic General Research eXtension (PGRx)-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) registry. Patients included were ≥ 18 years old who suffered an ACS between 2013 and 2016, and treated with lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) at hospital discharge or within 92 days. Patients were followed up to 12 months' post index ACS, a new cardiovascular event, loss to follow-up or death. Treatment intensity (high, moderate and low intensity statins ± ezetimibe) and adherence (proportion of days covered > 80%) are described. A total of 2,695 patients were included; mean age [SD] was 63.1 [12.8] years, and 77% were men. High, moderate and low intensity statins were started in 56% (1,520), 36% (971), and 3% (86) of patients, respectively. A further 2% (46) were on statin/ezetimibe combination, 2% (42) on other LLT and 1% (30) on ezetimibe alone. At follow-up, around 70% of patients were adherent to LLT, with those on moderate intensity treatments showing better adherence (76%) than those on low (63%) or high (67%) intensity treatments. Despite guideline recommendations, many patients following an ACS are not treated with high intensity statins, and adherence remains far from optimal. Effort should be made to increase the proportion of patients treated with high intensity statins following an ACS and to further improve treatment adherence.

P643Association of adherence and treatment intensity of lipid-lowering therapy with cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in very high-risk patients in Germany

Introduction

Both intensity and adherence to lipid lowering therapies (LLT) play an important role in effectiveness of the therapies in patients at risk for cardiovascular events.

Purpose

To evaluate the association of adherence and treatment intensity with cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in very high-risk patients (as defined by the current ESC guidelines) treated with statin and/or ezetimibe.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study was based on German health claims data (2010–2015) obtained from German Institute for Health Research (InGef) database and included patients ≥18 years with an initial LLT treatment (statin and/or ezetimibe) in 2011–2013, and diagnoses of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients must have had at least 2 LLT prescriptions in the first year to ensure intention of treatment. Follow-up period started 1 year after the second LLT prescription and continued until one of the events of the composite study endpoint (hospitalisation for myocardial infarction, unstable angina, ischemic stroke, heart failure, revascularization, or all-cause death) or 31.12.2015, whichever occurred earlier. Adherence was measured annually by the proportion of days covered (PDC) using prescription data. Treatment intensity was quantified based on expected LDL-C reduction as described in the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2018 guidelines. Adherence and treatment intensity were multiplied to create a combined measure of intensity after accounting for adherence.

Results

73,257 patients of the CVD cohort were 68 (SD=12) years old, 59% men; the DM cohort (no CVD) had 13,584 patients, age 64 (10), 47% men; 472 patients in the CKD cohort (no CVD) were 65 (15) years old, 46% men. In a Cox proportional hazards model, each 10% increase in treatment intensity (LDL-C lowering) was associated with 18% lower risk of CV event in the CVD (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.82–0.83), 21% - in the DM (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.76–0.83), and 15% - in the CKD (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.97) cohorts. Similarly, each 10% increase in adherence (PDC) was associated with 6% lower risk of CV event in the CVD (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.93–0.94), 7% - in the DM (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91–0.94), and 7% - in the CKD (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.97) cohorts. Each 10% increase in adherence-adjusted intensity was associated with 16% lower risk of CV event in the CVD (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.83 - 0.85), 19% - in the DM (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.78–0.85), and 17% - in the CKD (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72–0.96) cohorts. The models controlled for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index and other cardiovascular risk factors at baseline.

Conclusions

A higher adherence and/or treatment intensity of LLT was associated with significantly lower risk of CV outcomes or all-cause death in German very high-risk patients. Strategies to tailor intensity to patient profile and improve adherence could further lower risk of CV events.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Amgen Europe GmbH

P641Patient characteristics and treatment patterns in patients on lipid-lowering therapies following an acute coronary syndrome in France

Background introduction

Many patients, especially those at very high cardiovascular (CV) risk, do not reach low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets for at least 2 reasons: they may not receive a sufficiently intensive regimen, and/or they may not adhere to their medication.

Purpose

Describe demographic, clinical characteristics and treatment intensity and adherence in patients on lipid lowering therapies (LLT) following an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in France.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study on the PGRx (the Pharmacoepidemiologic General Research eXtension program)-ACS dataset in France, with data collected retrospective and prospectively via physicians, prescription records and patient interviews. Patients were accrued prospectively and/or retrospectively by centres from the PGRx Cardiology and General Practitioners networks. We included adult patients (≥18 years) suffering an ACS between 2013 and 2016 who received LLT at or within 92 days of their ACS hospital discharge. Follow-up was censored at time of new CV event, death, lost to follow-up or interview date (mean duration 12.4 months). Outcomes of interest included LLT intensity (high, moderate and low intensity statins with or without ezetimibe) and adherence measured as proportion of days covered (PDC).

Results

2695 eligible patients were included (77% men); mean age (SD) 63.1 (12.8), 18% had diabetes mellitus, mean (SD) LDL-C 112.1 (46.4) mg/dl. Treatment with LLT at discharge is summarised in table below. Age and baseline LDL-C were drivers of treatment intensity with higher proportion of patients on high intensity statins in younger patients and in those with higher baseline LDL-C. Overall 70% of patients were adherent (PDC≥80%). Patients on moderate intensity were more adherent (76%) than those on low (63%) or high intensity statins (67%).

Treatment patterns with LLT after an ACS LLT following ACS N (%) PDC at 1 year, Mean (SD) Adherent, N (%) Not Adherent, N (%) Ezetimibe 34 (1.3%) 82.8% (31.3%) 26 (76.5%) 8 (23.5%) Low intensity statins 64 (2.4%) 74.8% (33.8%) 40 (62.5%) 24 (37.5%) Moderate intensity statins 993 (37.1%) 82.0% (30.9%) 751 (75.6%) 242 (24.4%) High intensity statins 1515 (56.6%) 74.6% (36.2%) 1007 (66.5%) 508 (33.5%) Statin + ezetimibe 59 (2.2%) 75.9% (34.7%) 40 (67.8%) 19 (32.2%) Overall 2695 (100%) 77.6% (34.3%) 1871 (69.9%) 807 (30.1%)

Conclusion(s)

Our data show a substantial proportion of patients in France are not treated with high intensity statins after an ACS despite guidelines recommendation. Adherence to LLT is acceptable in patients after an ACS although it appears to worsen when high intense statins are used

Acknowledgement/Funding

Study has been funded by Amgen GmbH

[THE EARLY DIAGNOSTICS OF MULTIPLE PRIMARY TUMORS OF MALE UROGENITAL TRACT (REVIEW OF CLINICAL CASES)]

Multiple primary tumors (MPT) or polyneoplasias significance is very important. MTP are met rarely in male urogenital system; only single cases are described in the literature. Nevertheless, during the last years there has been an increase of their frequency. So, in order to understand are urogenital MPT popular in men, what is the connection between their appearance and whether there is a trend of increase or not, we have decided to investigate the cases histories of 272 oncourological patients between 18-84 years old have been studied in the period of 2013 - 2015. The tumor tissue specimens of 272 oncourological patients have been investigated too, taken after the surgery and do a histological examination. It is well known, that the diagnosis of tumors is heavily based on the study of the surgical material and its histopathology of their sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin. In result we discovered 13 men from different age groups, more often in elderly patients of 55-70 years, in whom 2 urogenital tumors were discovered. Men with multiple primary tumors of the urogenital system have got mainly double synchronous tumor. It is necessary to organize the dynamic control for oncourological patients life after treatment of the first tumor, even in asymptomatic or atypical clinical course with the morphological methods use in CT, ultrasonography.

[MALIGNANT TUMORS IN OVARIAN MATURE CYSTIC TERATOMAS INTRAOPERATIVE DIAGNOSTIC BASIS]

Extremely rare ovarian primary tumors formed in a mature cystic teratomaare described in the literature. This research work studies the frequency of malignant mature cystic teratoma, as well as their clinical and morphological features and necessity of intraoperative histological examination of all teratomas. Cases histories of 56 patients, suffering from ovarian mature cystic teratomahave been studied in MC Shengavit in the period of 2003 - 2015. Among them 4 patients with the somatic malignancies were identified. Morphological methods, which are considered to be "gold standard" of tumor investigation, were used in staining the slides with hematoxylin - eosin. According to the literature the secondary malignant transformation rarely occurs and is typical in postmenopausal women, with a frequency of 0.17-3%. According to the results of our study, malignant tumors in mature cystic teratomas were observed in 4 (7,14%) from the total number of mature cystic teratomas (n=56). There was not revealed a correlation between the duration of the complaints, age of the patients, sizes of ovarian mature teratoma and malignization degree. Thus, the greatest difficulties of clinical diagnosis of malignant tumors in the ovarian mature cystic teratomas were in the early stage of the disease, because of a variety of clinical manifestations, not pathognomonic for malignization. All mentioned symptoms may be observed in the patients with usual mature cystic teratomas. Тhis cases confirm the necessity to take tissue samples from the other ovary for intraoperative histopathological evaluation in each case of mature cystic teratomas. It is necessary to examine a large number of tumor sites, to prevent errors in the assessment of the maturity degree of teratoma.

Assessing the economic value of avoiding hospital admissions by shifting the management of gram+ acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections to an outpatient care setting

OBJECTIVE

To estimate, from a US payer perspective, the cost offsets of treating gram positive acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSI) with varied hospital length of stay (LOS) followed by outpatient care, as well as the cost implications of avoiding hospital admission.

METHODS

Economic drivers of care were estimated using a literature-based economic model incorporating inpatient and outpatient components. The model incorporated equal efficacy, adverse events (AE), resource use, and costs from literature. Costs of once- and twice-daily outpatient infusions to achieve a 14-day treatment were analyzed. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Costs were adjusted to 2015 US$.

RESULTS

Total non-drug medical cost for treatment of ABSSSI entirely in the outpatient setting to avoid hospital admission was the lowest among all scenarios and ranged from $4039-$4924. Total non-drug cost for ABSSSI treated in the inpatient setting ranged from $9813 (3 days LOS) to $18,014 (7 days LOS). Inpatient vs outpatient cost breakdown was: 3 days inpatient ($6657)/11 days outpatient ($3156-$3877); 7 days inpatient ($15,017)/7 days outpatient ($2495-$2997). Sensitivity analyses revealed a key outpatient cost driver to be peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) costs (average per patient cost of $873 for placement and $205 for complications).

LIMITATIONS

Drug and indirect costs were excluded and resource use was not differentiated by ABSSSI type. It was assumed that successful ABSSSI treatment takes up to 14 days per the product labels, and that once-daily and twice-daily antibiotics have equal efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Shifting ABSSSI care to outpatient settings may result in medical cost savings greater than 53%. Typical outpatient scenarios represent 14-37% of total medical cost, with PICC accounting for 28-43% of the outpatient burden. The value of new ABSSSI therapies will be driven by eliminating the need for PICC line, reducing length of stay and the ability to completely avoid a hospital stay.

Clinical and economic burden of invasive fungal diseases in Europe: focus on pre-emptive and empirical treatment of Aspergillus and Candida species

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) have been widely studied in recent years, largely because of the increasing population at risk. Aspergillus and Candida species remain the most common causes of IFDs, but other fungi are emerging. The early and accurate diagnosis of IFD is critical to outcome and the optimisation of treatment. Rapid diagnostic methods and new antifungal therapies have advanced disease management in recent years. Strategies for the prevention and treatment of IFDs include prophylaxis, and empirical and pre-emptive therapy. Here, we review the available primary literature on the clinical and economic burden of IFDs in Europe from 2000 to early 2011, with a focus on the value and outcomes of different approaches.

Risk of breast cancer by individual insulin use: an international multicenter study

OBJECTIVE Several studies have been published in 2009 suggesting a possible association between insulin glargine and increased risk of malignancies, including breast cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the relation between the individual insulins (glargine, aspart, lispro, and human insulin) and development of breast cancer. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Seven hundred seventy-five incident cases of primary invasive or in situ carcinoma breast cancer occurring in women with diabetes from 92 centers in the U.K., Canada, and France were matched to a mean of 3.9 diabetic community control subjects (n = 3,050; recruited from 580 general practices) by country, age, recruitment date, and diabetes type and management. The main risk model was a multivariate conditional logistic regression model with case/control status as the dependent variable and individual insulin use, 8 years preceding the index date, as the independent variable, controlling for past use of any insulin, oral antidiabetes drugs, reproductive factors, lifestyle, education, hormone replacement therapy and history of contraceptive use, BMI, comorbidities, diabetes duration, and annual number of physician visits. Glargine was also compared with every other insulin by computing all ratios using the variance-covariance matrix of logistic model parameters. RESULTS Adjusted odds ratios of breast cancer for each type of insulin versus no use of that insulin were 1.04 (95% CI 0.76-1.44) for glargine, 1.23 (0.79-1.92) for lispro, 0.95 (0.64-1.40) for aspart, and 0.81 (0.55-1.20) for human insulin. Two-by-two comparisons found no difference between glargine and the different types of insulins. Insulin dosage or duration of use and tumor stage did not change the results. CONCLUSIONS This international study found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer in patients with diabetes among the different types of insulin with short- to mid-term duration of use. Longer-term studies would be of interest.

Individual insulin use and the risk of breast cancer: An international clinical epidemiology study

1578

Background: The association between individual insulin use and cancer risk has been previously considered with studies reporting higher breast cancer incidence for insulin glargine. Objective: To assess the relative risk of breast cancer associated with individual insulin use (glargine, human insulin, insulin analogs aspart and lispro). Methods: Systematic case-control study of incident breast cancer occurring in women with diabetes from across the United Kingdom, Canada and France. Participants and Settings: 775 case-patients with diabetes and primary invasive or in situ carcinoma of the breast (diagnosed between 1 January, 2008 and 30 June, 2009) selected from 39,958 incident breast cancer patients from 92 large oncology clinics; and 3,050 control-patients with diabetes selected from 580 general practices and matched on country, age, date, type of diabetes (1 or 2), and management by diabetologist or general practitioner. Data on exposure: Data was collected from physicians and patients. Statistical analysis: The main risk model was a multivariable conditional logistic regression including individual insulin use, 8 years preceding the index date, and controlling for past use of any insulin, oral antidiabetic drug use, reproductive factors, lifestyle, education, hormone replacement therapies and contraceptive use, body mass index, comorbidities, diabetes duration, and annual number of physician visits. Results: Adjusted odds ratios of breast cancer were: 1.04 [95% Confidence Interval: 0.76-1.44] for glargine; 1.23 [0.79-1.92] for lispro; 0.95 [0.64-1.40] for aspart; 0.81 [0.55-1.20] for human insulin. Similar results were observed in new insulin users. No effect of dose or duration of use was observed for glargine on the risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: This first international case-controlled study found no difference in the risk of developing breast cancer among patients according to individual insulin use.

Socioeconomic differences in case finding among general practices in England: analysis of secondary data

OBJECTIVES

To determine how levels of case finding differ between general practices in England by level of population socio-economic deprivation.

METHOD

Observational analysis of data from the Quality and Outcome Framework in England for 2005/06. It covered 8339 primary care practices. Reported prevalence and estimated prevalence for coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and hypertension were compared.

RESULTS

The gap between estimated and reported prevalence increased with population deprivation and was higher among practices in more deprived areas (defined as Spearhead areas) for all four conditions after adjustment for practice level variables.

CONCLUSIONS

There is some evidence of unmet need in areas of social deprivation. Existing financial incentives in the Quality and Outcome Framework may be insufficient to promote active case finding by practices serving deprived populations.

[Background diseases in thyroid cancer]

The study of thyroid cancer background diseases in hospitals of Republic of Armenia was carried out. 529 cases of primary thyroid cancer were studied from 1999 to 2011. It was found that in women, concomitant thyroid pathology is more common than in men (p<0.05). The morphological verification of any nodules in the thyroid gland is necessary. Thyroid cancer can occur on the background of benign thyroid diseases, but this is no reason for regarding these as a precancerous conditions. According to the results of this study, the incidence of «hidden» carcinomas is the same, as revealed on the background of benign Thyroid diseases and without the benign nodes. One of the most important prognostic factors for long-term survival of patients with thyroid cancer is a timely diagnosis. Early detection of tumors and the exact differential diagnosis of benign nodes with carcinomas can eliminate the malignant process in the initial stages of its development. In our material there was no case of a combination of thyrotoxic Goiter with thyroid cancer.

Does general practice reduce health inequalities? Analysis of quality and outcomes framework data

BACKGROUND

The government set a series of targets to reduce health inequalities in England by 2010. Primary care has an important role in reducing health inequalities. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of general practice on reducing area-based health inequalities.

METHODS

Analysis of differences in achievement on clinical indicators between practices in Spearhead and non-Spearhead Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) using data from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for 2004/05 and 2005/06, practice characteristics and Spearhead status of PCTs. The study used data on 8339 primary care practices in England. Unweighted mean reported achievement on subset of 26 clinical indicators was calculated. The study analysed differences in achievement by Spearhead status and deprivation in both years and the change between years. Multiple regression analysis of relationship between Spearhead status, income deprivation, reported achievement and other factors also were carried out.

RESULTS

Practices in Spearhead PCTs performed worse than practices in non-Spearhead PCTs in both years but showed greater improvement. Among the most deprived practices, there were no differences in QOF achievement between Spearhead and non-Spearhead PCTs. Previous year's achievement was the strongest predictor of performance.

CONCLUSION

The narrowing in performance between practices in Spearhead and non-Spearhead PCTs may have indirectly contributed to a reduction in area-based health inequalities but the differences are small. The lack of difference between the most deprived practices in Spearhead and non-Spearhead PCTs suggest that area-based initiatives to tackle inequalities have not yet had an observable impact on deprived practices. Unobserved factors explain most of the variation in achievement.

A review of the public health impact of the Quality and Outcomes Framework

There are clear policy objectives in England to encourage primary care and general practice to address health inequalities. In this paper we explore the potential impact of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) on health inequalities and review the available evidence including analysis of the area based differences in performance between practices in Spearhead and non-Spearhead areas. Overall, the evidence suggests that differences in performance, as measured by the QOF, between practices in deprived and non-deprived areas are narrowing. Although QOF achievement improved in all practices there is weak evidence as to the impact of the QOF on health. The evidence is equivocal as to whether improvements in clinical care and the narrowing gap in performance are influenced by the incentives created by the QOF or whether this translates into reduced health inequalities. Even though the QOF is only part of the range of incentives which affects practices, it is vital that indicators are aligned to the objective of reducing health inequalities. Additional research is needed to understand whether the QOF ensures that those who are the most difficult to reach and those whose need of care is greatest are getting access to high quality primary care and whether in turn it will succeed in reducing health inequalities.

Would compliance with cancer care standards improve survival for breast, colorectal and lung cancers?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether cancer service standards are associated with survival for breast, colorectal and lung cancers at population level.

METHODS

Standards of hospital cancer services in England, measured in 2001, were aggregated for 30 cancer networks covering populations of between 500 000 and 3 million people, and compared with 1-year and 5-year relative cancer survival for the incident period 1996-2001, using rank correlation.

RESULTS

Relative survival and the cancer standards each showed statistically significant differences across cancer networks. For tumour-specific services, the total score of 35 standards was associated with longer relative survival for both colorectal and lung cancers (p<0.05), but not breast cancer, while colorectal cancer survival was strongly (p<0.01) associated with the specific standard "written agreement describing referral guidelines", and lung cancer (p<0.05) with two other guideline standards. There were also associations of longer survival with two measures of nursing staff specialist qualifications. Compliance with general standards for cancer services was not associated with survival for breast cancer, and showed only borderline (p<0.1) associations for colo-rectal cancer, while some standards on medical and management lead staff were significantly associated (p<0.05) with poorer survival for lung cancer. Overall, compliance with standards for hospital pathology and radiology services also showed no associations with survival.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that compliance with some clinical service standards, such as guidelines, could contribute to better survival at population level, while more general organisational aspects of cancer services may not directly improve survival.

Identifying drivers for consumer acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortilla

The traditional production of corn tortilla has been modified by new processing technologies to make possible a commercial-scale production; this practice has resulted in products having sensory properties different from those produced by the traditional method. There is no published information on sensory attributes driving acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortillas. Identifying sensory drivers for acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortillas will help commercially produce products that satisfy consumers' expectations. A consumer study was conducted to evaluate acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortillas and determine drivers of acceptance and purchase intent of the products. Ten samples of corn tortillas were selected to represent a variety of corn tortillas available in the Mexican market. Three hundred Mexican consumers evaluated acceptability of appearance, color, thickness, rollability, resistance to tearing, aroma, chewiness, taste and aftertaste, and overall liking using a 9-point hedonic scale. Overall acceptance and purchase intent were determined with a yes/no scale. Analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance revealed that consumers were able to differentiate differences in sensory acceptability among 10 samples. For example, 2 homemade and 1 small commercial-scale samples, with an overall liking score of 6.6 to 6.7, were more acceptable than others. Rollability, resistance to tearing, and chewiness were attributes underlying overall differences among 10 samples. Attributes determining overall acceptance of corn tortillas were chewiness and overall liking. Purchase intent was influenced by overall appearance, rollability, chewiness, taste, and overall liking. This study revealed critical sensory attributes and their weights given by Mexican consumers when making decisions for acceptance and purchase intent of corn tortilla.

Comparative indicators for cancer network management in England: availability, characteristics and presentation

Background

In 2000, the national cancer plan for England created 34 cancer networks, new organisational structures to coordinate services across populations varying between a half and three million people. We investigated the availability of data sets reflecting measures of structure, process and outcome that could be used to support network management.

Methods

We investigated the properties of national data sets relating to four common cancers – breast, colorectal, lung and prostate. We reviewed the availability and completeness of these data sets, identified leading items within each set and put them into tables of the 34 cancer networks. We also investigated methods of presentation.

Results

The Acute Hospitals Portfolio and the Cancer Standards Peer Review recorded structural characteristics at hospital and cancer service level. Process measures included Hospital Episode Statistics, recording admissions, and Hospital Waiting-List data. Patient outcome measures included the National Survey of Patient Satisfaction for cancer, and cancer survival, drawn from cancer registration. Data were drawn together to provide an exemplar indicator set a single network, and methods of graphical presentation were considered.

Conclusion

While not as yet used together in practice, comparative indicators are available within the National Health Service in England for use in performance assessment by cancer networks.

Structure of Thermotoga maritima stationary phase survival protein SurE: a novel acid phosphatase

BACKGROUND

The rpoS, nlpD, pcm, and surE genes are among many whose expression is induced during the stationary phase of bacterial growth. rpoS codes for the stationary-phase RNA polymerase sigma subunit, and nlpD codes for a lipoprotein. The pcm gene product repairs damaged proteins by converting the atypical isoaspartyl residues back to L-aspartyls. The physiological and biochemical functions of surE are unknown, but its importance in stress is supported by the duplication of the surE gene in E. coli subjected to high-temperature growth. The pcm and surE genes are highly conserved in bacteria, archaea, and plants.

RESULTS

The structure of SurE from Thermotoga maritima was determined at 2.0 A. The SurE monomer is composed of two domains; a conserved N-terminal domain, a Rossman fold, and a C-terminal oligomerization domain, a new fold. Monomers form a dimer that assembles into a tetramer. Biochemical analysis suggests that SurE is an acid phosphatase, with an optimum pH of 5.5-6.2. The active site was identified in the N-terminal domain through analysis of conserved residues. Structure-based site-directed point mutations abolished phosphatase activity. T. maritima SurE intra- and intersubunit salt bridges were identified that may explain the SurE thermostability.

CONCLUSIONS

The structure of SurE provided information about the protein's fold, oligomeric state, and active site. The protein possessed magnesium-dependent acid phosphatase activity, but the physiologically relevant substrate(s) remains to be identified. The importance of three of the assigned active site residues in catalysis was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis.

Targeted expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide to osteoblasts increases bone density in mice

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is concentrated in fine sensory nerve endings innervating all tissues, including bone. CGRP inhibits osteoclasts, stimulates insulin-like growth factor I and inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha production by osteoblasts in vitro. To investigate the role of CGRP in bone in vivo, mice were engineered to express CGRP in osteoblasts by placing the human CGRP gene under the control of the rat osteocalcin promoter (Ost-CGRP tg+ mice). Calvaria cultures from transgene positive (tg+), but not tg- mice, produced bioactive CGRP. Trabecular bone density and bone volume, determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography and bone histomorphometry, respectively, were higher in tg+ than tg- littermates. This increase in bone volume was associated with an increased bone formation rate. Trabecular bone density decreased in tg+ mice as a result of ovariectomy, but remained higher than in sham tg- mice. Targeting CGRP to osteoblasts appears to favor the establishment of a higher trabecular bone mass in mice.

Stabilizing function of trunk flexor-extensor muscles around a neutral spine posture

STUDY DESIGN

This study examined the coactivation of trunk flexor and extensor muscles in healthy individuals. The experimental electromyographic data and the theoretical calculations were analyzed in the context of mechanical stability of the lumbar spine.

OBJECTIVES

To test a set of hypotheses pertaining to healthy individuals: 1) that the trunk flexor-extensor muscle coactivation is present around a neutral spine posture, 2) that the coactivation is increased when the subject carries a load; and 3) that the coactivation provides the needed mechanical stability to the lumbar spine.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Theoretically, antagonistic trunk muscle coactivation is necessary to provide mechanical stability to the human lumbar spine around its neutral posture. No experimental evidence exists, however, to support this hypothesis.

METHODS

Ten individuals executed slow trunk flexion-extension tasks, while six muscles on the right side were monitored with surface electromyography: external oblique, internal oblique, rectus abdominis, multifidus, lumbar erector spinae, and thoracic erector spinae. Simple, but realistic, calculations of spine stability also were performed and compared with experimental results.

RESULTS

Average antagonistic flexor-extensor muscle coactivation levels around the neutral spine posture as detected with electromyography were 1.7 +/- 0.8% of maximum voluntary contraction for no external load trials and 2.9 +/- 1.4% of maximum voluntary contraction for the trials with added 32-kg mass to the torso. The inverted pendulum model based on static moment equilibrium criteria predicted no antagonistic coactivation. The same model based on the mechanical stability criteria predicted 1.0% of maximum voluntary contraction coactivation of flexors and extensors with zero load and 3.1% of maximum voluntary contraction with a 32-kg mass. The stability model also was run with zero passive spine stiffness to simulate an injury. Under such conditions, the model predicted 3.4% and 5.5% of maximum voluntary contraction of antagonistic muscle coactivation for no extra load and the added 32 kg, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that antagonistic trunk flexor-extensor muscle coactivation was present around the neutral spine posture in healthy individuals. This coactivation increased with added mass to the torso. Using a biomechanical model, the coactivation was explained entirely on the basis of the need for the neuromuscular system to provide the mechanical stability to the lumbar spine.

Targeted expression of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide to beta cells prevents diabetes in NOD mice

To investigate whether the immunosuppressive neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was a potential candidate for tissue-specific gene therapy, we engineered nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice to produce CGRP in beta cells by placing the modified calcitonin gene under the control of the rat insulin promoter. CGRP inhibits CD4 T cell production of the cytokines that have been implicated in the pathogeny of type I diabetes. Three transgene-positive mouse lines were obtained, two of which expressed immunoreactive CGRP in beta cells (NOD-CGRP mice). Isolated islets from one of these two transgene-positive founders produced active CGRP, whereas islets from transgene-negative littermates did not. The production of CGRP by beta cells prevented insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in male and reduced its incidence by 63% in female mice. This prevention was due to a local immunosuppressive effect of CGRP as no difference was detected between NOD-CGRP and NOD littermate lymph node, spleen, and thymus cells by either FACS analysis or proliferative response to stimulation by Ag, alloantigen or anti-CD3. These data suggest that CGRP is a potential therapeutic molecule to prevent or treat diabetes and possibly other diseases and conditions in which immune cells are involved. These data also suggest that endogenous CGRP concentrated in sensory nerve endings may regulate locally the immune response, further strengthening the importance of the functional neuroimmune link.