Characteristics and management of very elderly patients with heart failure: a retrospective, population cohort study

AIMS

Unmet needs exist in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure (HF) in the elderly population. Our aim was to analyse and compare data of diagnostics and management of very elderly patients (aged ≥85 years) compared with younger patients (aged 18-84 years) with HF in Sweden.

METHODS

Incidence of ≥2 HF diagnosis (ICD-10) was identified from primary/secondary care in Uppsala and Västerbotten during 2010-2015 via electronic medical records linked to data from national health registers. Analyses investigated the diagnosis, treatment patterns, hospitalizations and outpatient visits, and mortality.

RESULTS

Of 8702 patients, 27.7% were ≥85 years old, women (60.2%); most patients (80.7%) had unknown left ventricular ejection fraction; key co-morbidities comprised anaemia, dementia, and cerebrovascular disease. More very elderly patients received cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related management after diagnosis in primary care (13.6% vs. 6.5%; P < 0.0001), but fewer patients underwent echocardiography (19.3% vs. 42.9%; P < 0.0001). Within 1 year of diagnosis, very elderly patients were less likely to be hospitalized (all-cause admissions per patient: 1.9 vs. 2.3; P < 0.0001; CVD-related admissions per patient: 1.8 vs. 2.1; P = 0.0004) or prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) plus a β-blocker (45.2% vs. 56.9%; P < 0.0001) or an ACEI/ARB plus a β-blocker plus a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (15.4% vs. 31.7%; P < 0.0001). One-year mortality was high in patients ≥85 years old, 30.5% (CI: 28.3-32.7%) out of 1797 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the large number of very elderly patients with newly diagnosed HF in Sweden, poor diagnostic work-up and subsequent treatment highlight the inequality of care in this vulnerable population.

Ulcerative colitis progression: a retrospective analysis of disease burden using electronic medical records

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease. Present knowledge regarding UC disease progression over time is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To assess UC progression to severe disease along with disease burden and associated factors.

METHODS

Electronic medical records linked with Swedish national health registries (2005-2015) were used to identify disease progression of UC. Odds of all-cause and disease-related hospitalization within 1 year were compared between patients with disease progression and those without. Annual indirect costs were calculated based on sick leave, and factors related to UC progression were examined.

RESULTS

Of the 1,361 patients with moderate UC, 24% progressed to severe disease during a median of 5.2 years. Severe UC had significantly higher odds for all-cause (OR [odds ratio] 1.47, 95% CI [confidence interval]: 1.12-1.94, P < 0.01) and UC-related hospitalization (OR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.76-3.47, P < 0.0001) compared to moderate disease. Average sick leave was higher in patients who progressed compared to those who did not (64.4 vs 38.6 days, P < 0.001), with higher indirect costs of 151,800 SEK (16,415 €) compared with 92,839 SEK (10,039 €) (P < 0.001), respectively. UC progression was related to young age (OR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.17-2.25, P < 0.01), long disease duration (OR 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.15, P < 0.001), and use of corticosteroids (OR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.67-3.72, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Disease progression from moderate to severe UC is associated with more frequent and longer hospitalizations and sick leave. Patients at young age with long disease duration and more frequent glucocorticosteroid medication are associated with progression to severe UC.

Healthcare resource utilisation and costs associated with a heart failure diagnosis: a retrospective, population-based cohort study in Sweden

OBJECTIVES

To examine healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs among heart failure (HF) patients using population data from Sweden.

DESIGN

Retrospective, non-interventional cohort study.

SETTING

Two cohorts were identified from linked national health registers (cohort 1, 2005-2014) and electronic medical records (cohort 2, 2010-2012; primary/secondary care patients from Uppsala and Västerbotten).

PARTICIPANTS

Patients (aged ≥18 years) with primary or secondary diagnoses of HF (≥2 International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision classification) during the identification period of January 2005 to March 2015 were included.

OUTCOME MEASURES

HRU across the HF phenotypes was assessed with logistic regression. Costs were estimated based on diagnosis-related group codes and general price lists.

RESULTS

Total annual costs of secondary care of prevalent HF increased from SEK 6.23 (€0.60) to 8.86 (€0.85) billion between 2005 and 2014. Of 4648 incident patients, HF phenotype was known for 1715: reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF): 64.5%, preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): 35.5%. Within 1 year of HF diagnosis, the proportion of patients hospitalised was only marginally higher for HFrEF versus HFpEF (all-cause (95% CI): 64.7% (60.8 to 68.4) vs 63.7% (60.8 to 66.5), HR 0.91, p=0.14; cardiovascular disease related (95% CI): 61.1% (57.1 to 64.8) vs 60.9% (58.0 to 63.7), HR 0.93, p=0.28). Frequency of hospitalisations and outpatient visits per patient declined after the first year. All-cause secondary care costs in the first year were SEK 122 758 (€12 890)/patient/year, with HF-specific care accounting for 69% of the costs. Overall, 10% of the most expensive population (younger; predominantly male; more likely to have comorbidities) incurred ~40% of total secondary care costs.

CONCLUSIONS

HF-associated costs and HRU are high, especially during the first year of diagnosis. This is driven by high hospitalisations rates. Understanding the profile of resource-intensive patients being at younger age, male sex and high Charlson comorbidity index scores at the time of the HF diagnosis is most likely a sign of more severe disease.

Recurrent heart failure hospitalizations increase the risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with heart failure in Sweden: a real-world study

Aims

Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We examined the impact of recurrent HF hospitalizations (HFHs) on cardiovascular (CV) mortality among patients with HF in Sweden.

Methods and results

Adults with incident HF were identified from linked national health registers and electronic medical records from 01 January 2005 to 31 December 2013 for Uppsala and until 31 December 2014 for Västerbotten. CV mortality and all‐cause mortality were evaluated. A time‐dependent Cox regression model was used to estimate relative CV mortality rates for recurrent HFHs. Assessment was also done for ejection fraction‐based HF phenotypes and for comorbid atrial fibrillation, diabetes, or chronic renal impairment. Overall, 3878 patients with HF having an index hospitalization were included, providing 9691.9 patient‐years of follow‐up. Patients were relatively old (median age: 80 years) and were more frequently male (55.5%). Compared with patients without recurrent HFHs, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR [95% confidence interval; CI]) for CV mortality and all‐cause mortality were statistically significant for patients with one, two, three, and four or more recurrent HFHs. The risk of CV mortality and all‐cause mortality increased approximately six‐fold in patients with four or more recurrent HFHs vs. those without any HFHs (HR [95% CI]: 6.26 [5.24–7.48] and 5.59 [4.70–6.64], respectively). Similar patterns were observed across the HF phenotypes and patients with comorbidities.

Conclusions

There is a strong association between recurrent HFHs and CV and all‐cause mortality, with the risk increasing progressively with each recurrent HFH.

Organisation of primary diabetes care in people with type 2 diabetes in relation to all-cause mortality: A nationwide register-based cohort study

AIMS

To examine if personnel resources and organisational features in Swedish primary health-care centres (PHCCs) are associated to all-cause mortality (ACM) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A total of 187,570 people with T2DM registered in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) during 2013 were included in this nationwide cohort study. Individual NDR data were linked to data from a questionnaire addressing personnel resources and organisational features for 787 (68%) PHCCs as well as to individual data on socio-economic status and comorbidities. Furthermore, data on ACM were obtained and followed up until 30 January 2018. Hierarchical Cox regression analyses were applied.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 27,136 (14.5%) participants had died. An association was found between number of whole-time-equivalent (WTE) general practitioner's (GP's) devoted to diabetes care/500 people with T2DM and lower risk of early death (hazard ratio 0.919 [95% confidence interval 0.895-0.945] per additional WTE GP; p = 0.002). No other personnel resources or organisational features were significantly associated with ACM.

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide register-based cohort study suggests that the number of WTE GPs devoted to diabetes care have an impact on the risk of early death in people with T2DM.

Associations between quality of work features in primary health care and glycaemic control in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: A nationwide survey

AIMS

To describe and analyse the associations between primary health care centres' (PHCCs') quality of work (QOW) and individual HbA1c levels in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study invited all 1152 Swedish PHCCs to answer a questionnaire addressing QOW conditions. Clinical, socio-economic and comorbidity data for 230,958 people with T2DM were linked to data on QOW conditions for 846 (73.4%) PHCCs.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 56% had controlled (≤52mmol/mol), 31.9% intermediate (53-69mmol/mol), and 12.1% uncontrolled (≥70mmol/mol) HbA1c. An explanatory factor analysis identified seven QOW features. The features having a call-recall system, having individualized treatment plans, PHCCs' results always on the agenda, and having a follow-up strategy combined with taking responsibility of outcomes/results were associated with lower HbA1c levels in the controlled group (all p<0.05). For people with intermediate or uncontrolled HbA1c, having individualized treatment plans was the only QOW feature that was significantly associated with a lower HbA1c level (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide study adds important knowledge regarding associations between QOW in real life clinical practice and HbA1c levels. PHCCs' QOW may mainly only benefit people with controlled HbA1c and more effective QOW strategies are needed to support people with uncontrolled HbA1c.

Cellular immunological changes in patients with LADA are a mixture of those seen in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

There is currently scarce knowledge of the immunological profile of patients with latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in the adult (LADA) when compared with healthy controls (HC) and patients with classical type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunological profile of LADA patients and compare to HC and patients with T1D and T2D. All patients and age‐matched HC were recruited from Uppsala County. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from freshly collected blood to determine the proportions of immune cells by flow cytometry. Plasma concentrations of the cytokine interleukin (IL)‐35 were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of CD11c⁺CD123^– antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) was lower, while the proportions of CD11c⁺CD123⁺ APCs and IL‐35⁺ tolerogenic APCs were higher in LADA patients than in T1D patients. The proportion of CD3^–CD56^highCD16⁺ natural killer (NK) cells was higher in LADA patients than in both HC and T2D patients. The frequency of IL‐35⁺ regulatory T cells and plasma IL‐35 concentrations in LADA patients were similar to those in T1D and T2D patients, but lower than in HC. The proportion of regulatory B cells in LADA patients was higher than in healthy controls, T1D and T2D patients, and the frequency of IL‐35⁺ regulatory B cells was higher than in T1D patients. LADA presents a mixed cellular immunological pattern with features overlapping with both T1D and T2D.

Epidemiology of heart failure and trends in diagnostic work-up: a retrospective, population-based cohort study in Sweden

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the trends in heart failure (HF) epidemiology and diagnostic work-up in Sweden.

Methods

Adults with incident HF (≥2 ICD-10 diagnostic codes) were identified from linked national health registers (cohort 1, 2005-2013) and electronic medical records (cohort 2, 2010-2015; primary/secondary care patients from Uppsala and Västerbotten). Trends in annual HF incidence rate and prevalence, risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related 1-year mortality and use of diagnostic tests 6 months before and after first HF diagnosis (cohort 2) were assessed.

Results

Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were similar for cohort 1 (N=174,537) and 2 (N=8,702), with mean ages of 77.4 and 76.6 years, respectively; almost 30% of patients were aged ≥85 years. From 2010 to 2014, age-adjusted annual incidence rate of HF/1,000 inhabitants decreased (from 3.20 to 2.91, cohort 1; from 4.34 to 3.33, cohort 2), while age-adjusted prevalence increased (from 1.61% to 1.72% and from 2.15% to 2.18%, respectively). Age-adjusted 1-year all-cause and CVD-related mortality was higher in men than in women among patients in cohort 1 (all-cause mortality hazard ratio [HR] men vs women 1.07 [95% CI 1.06-1.09] and CVD-related mortality subdistribution HR for men vs women 1.04 [95% CI 1.02-1.07], respectively). While 83.5% of patients underwent N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide testing, only 36.4% of patients had an echocardiogram at the time of diagnosis, although this increased overtime. In the national prevalent HF population (patients with a diagnosis in 1997-2004 who survived into the analysis period; N=273,999), death from ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction declined between 2005 and 2013, while death from HF and atrial fibrillation/flutter increased (P<0.0001 for trends over time).

Conclusion

The annual incidence rate of HF declined over time, while prevalence of HF has increased, suggesting that patients with HF were surviving longer over time. Our study confirms that previously reported epidemiological trends persist and remain to ensure proper diagnostic evaluation and management of patients with HF.

Resources and organisation in primary health care are associated with HbA1c level: A nationwide study of 230958 people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

AIMS

To examine the association between personnel resources and organisational features of primary health care centres (PHCCs) and individual HbA_1c level in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

People with T2DM attending 846 PHCCs (n=230958) were included in this cross-sectional study based on PHCC-level data from a questionnaire sent to PHCCs in 2013 and individual-level clinical data from 2013 for people with T2DM reported in the Swedish National Diabetes Register, linked to individual-level data on socio-economic status and comorbidities. Data were analysed using a generalized estimating equations linear regression models.

RESULTS

After adjusting for PHCC- and individual-level confounding factors, personnel resources associated with lower individual HbA_1c level were mean credits of diabetes-specific education among registered nurses (RNs) (-0.02mmol/mol for each additional credit; P<0.001) and length of regular visits to RNs (-0.19mmol/mol for each additional 15min; P<0.001). Organisational features associated with HbA_1c level were having a diabetes team (-0.18mmol/mol; P<0.01) and providing group education (-0.20mmol/mol; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large sample, PHCC personnel resources and organisational features were associated with lower HbA_1c level in people with T2DM.

Resource allocation and organisational features in Swedish primary diabetes care: Changes from 2006 to 2013

AIMS

To compare the resource allocation and organisational features in Swedish primary diabetes care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) between 2006 and 2013.

METHODS

Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, questionnaires covering personnel resources and organisational features for patients with T2DM in 2006 and 2013 were sent to all Swedish primary health care centres (PHCCs) during the following year. In total, 684 (74.3%) PHCCs responded in 2006 and 880 (76.4%) in 2013.

RESULTS

Compared with 2006, the median list size had decreased in 2013 (p<0.001), whereas the median number of listed patients with T2DM had increased (p<0.001). Time devoted to patients with T2DM and diabetes-specific education levels for registered nurses (RNs) had increased, and more PHCCs had in-house psychologists (all p<0.001). The use of follow-up systems and medical check-ups had increased (all p<0.05). Individual counselling was more often based on patients' needs, while arrangement of group-based education remained low. Patient participation in setting treatment targets mainly remained low.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though the diabetes-specific educational level among RNs increased, the arrangement of group-based education and patient participation in setting treatment targets remained low. These results are of concern and should be prioritised as key features in the care of patients with T2DM.

Education, immigration and income as risk factors for hemoglobin A1c >70 mmol/mol when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or latent autoimmune diabetes in adult: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research is to study education, income and immigration as risk factors for high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c >70 mmol/mol (8.6%)) when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or latent autoimmune diabetes in the adult (LADA).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients were included from the All New Diabetics in Scania study (2008-2013). Level of education, disposable income and immigration year were retrieved from the longitudinal integrated database for labour market research (LISA) register compiled by Statistics Sweden. Logistic regression models were used to estimate ORs for HbA1c >70 mmol/mol (8.6%) at diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 3794 patients with incident T2D (n=3 525) or LADA (n=269) were included. Patients with T2D with a low (≤9 years) or medium (10-12 years) levels of education were more likely to have high HbA1c at diagnosis compared with patients with T2D with a high (>12 years) level of education (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.08 to1.66, OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.54). Low-income patients with T2D (<60% of median) were more likely to have high HbA1c at diagnosis compared with high-income patients withT2D (>150% of median) (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.79).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with lower levels of education or low income and are more likely to have HbA1c is >70 mmol/mol (8.6%) when diagnosed with T2D. An understanding of how socioeconomic position influences the clinical presentation at diagnosis may facilitate screening programs designed to target populations at risk for delayed diagnosis.

Prevalence and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy at diagnosis (DRAD) in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or latent autoimmune diabetes in the adult (LADA)

PURPOSE

To study prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) at diagnosis (DRAD) and to estimate contributing risk by sociodemographic, cardiovascular and metabolic characteristics present in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or latent autoimmune diabetes in the adult (LADA).

METHODS

Patients (n=2174) recently diagnosed T2D (93%) or LADA (7%) were included upon arrival for their baseline DR screening. Fundus photographs of 4902 eyes were graded by a senior ophthalmologist according to the International Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale. Official registers held by Statistics Sweden provided sociodemographic variables. The National Patient Register and Swedish Prescribed Drug Register were used to assess cardiovascular risk. Beta cell function (HOMA2%b) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA2%s) were estimated from fasting (f) C-Peptide using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) 2 calculator. Odds ratios (OR) for DRAD were estimated using generalized estimating equation models.

RESULTS

The prevalence of DRAD was 12% (7% mild and 5% moderate) and of diabetic macular edema it was 11% (all within vascular arch). The prevalence did not significantly differ between T2D and LADA. Due to sample size, the regression analysis of LADA patients did not yield any significant estimates. In T2D low educational level (≤9years) increased risk for DRAD by 44% (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.07-1.93) and <50% beta-cell function adjusted for HbA1c and insulin sensitivity at diagnosis increased the risk by 77% (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.28-2.44). For every unit increase in BMI, risk for DRAD decreased by 3% (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

DRAD prevalence in patients recently diagnosed with T2D or is 12%. Low educational level and low beta cell function at diagnosis are risk factors for DRAD. Estimation of beta cell function from (f)C-Peptide and (f)P-Glucose may be a valuable tool in identifying patients at risk for DRAD.

Diabetes and CVD risk during angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker treatment in hypertension: a study of 15,990 patients

Differences in clinical effectiveness between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in the primary treatment of hypertension are unknown. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients treated with ARBs or ACEis. Patients initiated on enalapril or candesartan treatment in 71 Swedish primary care centers between 1999 and 2007 were included. Medical records data were extracted and linked with nationwide hospital discharge and cause of death registers. The 11 725 patients initiated on enalapril and 4265 on candesartan had similar baseline characteristics. During a mean follow-up of 1.84 years, 36 482 patient-years, the risk of new diabetes onset was lower in the candesartan group (hazard ratio (HR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69–0.96, P=0.01) compared with the enalapril group. No difference between the groups was observed in CVD risk (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.87–1.13, P=0.86). More patients discontinued treatment in the enalapril group (38.1%) vs the candesartan group (27.2%). In a clinical setting, patients initiated on candesartan treatment had a lower risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes and lower rates of drug discontinuation compared with patients initiated on enalapril. No differences in CVD risk were observed.

Survival and clinical metastases among prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy in Sweden

OBJECTIVES

To examine the incidence of metastases and clinical course of prostate cancer patients who are without confirmed metastasis when initiating androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study conducted using electronic medical records from Swedish outpatient urology clinics linked to national mandatory registries to capture medical and demographic data. Prostate cancer patients initiating ADT between 2000 and 2010 were followed from initiation of ADT to metastasis, death, and/or end of follow-up.

RESULTS

The 5-year cumulative incidence (CI) of metastasis was 18%. Survival was 60% after 5 years; results were similar for bone metastasis-free survival. The 5-year CI of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was 50% and the median survival from CRPC development was 2.7 years. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and PSA doubling time were strong predictors of bone metastasis, any metastasis, and death.

CONCLUSION

This study provides understanding of the clinical course of prostate cancer patients without confirmed metastasis treated with ADT in Sweden. Greater PSA values and shorter PSA doubling time (particularly ≤ 6 months) were associated with increased risk of bone metastasis, any metastasis, and death.

The burden of preserved ejection fraction heart failure in a real-world Swedish patient population

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate resource use and associated costs in patients with a diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) in Sweden.

METHODS

This retrospective study identified real-world patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis code for heart failure (I50) for the period between July 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006 from electronic medical records of primary care centers in Uppsala County Council, and in the Swedish patient registry data. Patients were categorized as having HF-PEF (left ventricle ejection fraction [LVEF] > 50%) during the index period. The study assessed medication utilization, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, and associated healthcare costs, as well as the incidence rates and time to all-cause and heart failure mortality following the index period.

RESULTS

The study included 137 HF-PEF patients with a mean age of 77.1 (SD = 9.1) years. Over 50% of HF-PEF patients were female and hypertensive. Nearly all patients received ≥ 1 medication post-index. Patients had an average of 1.5 heart failure related hospitalizations per follow-up year. The average annual per patient cost for the management of a HF-PEF patient was found in Sweden to be Swedish Krona (SEK) 108,246 (EURO [EUR] 11,344). Hospitalizations contributed to more than 80% of the total cost. All-cause mortality over the 18-month study period was 25.5%, and more than 50% of these deaths occurred within 1 year of index.

LIMITATIONS

Due to the limitations of registry data, it is not possible to confirm the HF diagnosis, and therefore the accuracy of registry records must be assumed. Other factors such as short follow-up time, the study-mandated LVEF assessment, and a lack of drug duration data may also have an impact on the study results.

CONCLUSIONS

All-cause mortality was high in the HF-PEF population, with more than half of patients dying within 1 year of study follow-up. Study results also indicate that 60% of HF-PEF patients have ≥ 1 hospitalization during follow-up. Hospitalizations, especially heart failure related admissions, represent a substantial proportion of the total healthcare burden of patients with HF-PEF in Sweden.

Predictors of clinical metastases and survival among nonmetastatic prostate cancer (PC) patients (pts) treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in Sweden

e16066

Background: ADT is the standard of care in Sweden for PC pts with signs of recurrence after primary therapy (tx). Studies of predictors of metastasis (mets) and survival have largely focused on pt characteristics at cancer diagnosis. Time-varying factors, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, may have greater impact on a pt’s risk of disease progression. This study examines predictors of mets and survival among men with PC treated with ADT. Methods: Using electronic medical records from Swedish urology clinics linked to national registries (Cancer Registry, National Pt Registry, Cause of Death Registry), we identified men with PC and no evidence of mets treated with ≥6 months (mos) ADT (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists/antagonists or bilateral orchiectomy) between 2000-2010 with ≥2 PSA values. Men were followed from ADT index date to mets, death, or end of follow-up (12/31/2010). Multivariate competing risks regression analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CIs; predictors and covariates of interest included PC diagnosis year (yr), age, comorbidities, anti-androgen tx, region, and time-varying characteristics (PSA absolute value, PSA doubling time [DT]). Results: Cohort was 446 men with mean follow-up of 3.3 yrs. Most mets were to the bone (7-yr cumulative incidence 25% for bone, 30% for any mets). Median survival was 6 yrs (5.9 mos after bone mets, 6.1 mos after any mets). Higher PSA and shorter PSA DT were strong predictors of all outcomes. In particular, PSA DT ≤ 6 mos was associated with increased risk of bone mets (13.9 [8.0 – 24.1]), any mets (7.9 [4.9 – 12.8]), mortality (5.7 [3.9 – 8.5]), and bone mets-free survival (6.9 [4.7–10.1]) when compared to PSA DT > 6 mos. HRs were adjusted for age, Charlson comorbidity index, anti-androgen tx, and region. Conclusions: PC pts treated with ADT are at significant risk of bone mets, any mets, and death. This study based on real-world data demonstrates the importance of PSA measured after ADT initiation in defining high risk of these outcomes, particularly PSA DT ≤6 mos. PC pts may benefit from new tx to prevent disease progression since survival is short after bone or other mets.

Automated data extraction--a feasible way to construct patient registers of primary care utilization

INTRODUCTION

Electronic medical records (EMRs) enable analysis of health care data by using data mining techniques to build research databases. Though the reliability of the data extraction process is crucial for the credibility of the final analysis, there are few published validations of this process. In this paper we validate the performance of an automated data mining tool on EMR in a primary care setting.

METHODS

The Pygargus Customized eXtraction Program (CXP) was programmed to find and then extract data from patients meeting criteria for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at one primary health care clinic (PHC). The ability of CXP to extract relevant cases was assessed by comparing cases extracted by an EMR integrated search engine. The concordance of extracted data with the original EMR source was manually controlled.

RESULTS

Prevalence of T2DM was 4.0%, which correspond well to previous estimations. By searching for drug prescriptions, diagnosis codes, and laboratory values, 38%, 53%, and 91% of relevant cases were found, respectively. The sensitivity of CXP regarding extraction of relevant cases was 100%. The specificity was 99.9% due to 12 non-T2DM cases extracted. The congruity at single-item level was 99.6%. The 13 incorrect data items were all located in the same structural module.

CONCLUSION

The CXP is a reliable and accurate data mining tool to extract selective data from EMR.

Resource utilization and cost of heart failure associated with reduced ejection fraction in Swedish patients

AIM

The purpose of this study was to assess healthcare utilization and costs for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) in Sweden.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This was a retrospective, population-based cohort study of patients diagnosed with HF-REF during a period of 18 months at 31 primary care centers in Uppsala County, Sweden. Data was obtained from computerized records from these centers, the Swedish Patient Registry, the Swedish Prescription Registry, the Cause of Death Registry, and a local echocardiography registry maintained by the Department of Physiology, Uppsala University Hospital. Main outcome measures were cardiovascular and heart-failure-related hospitalizations, outpatient visits, medication utilization, mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular, and heart-failure), and healthcare costs for HF-REF patients. During the index period, 252 heart failure patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction measurement ≤ 40% and were categorized as having HF-REF. More than half of the patients had ≥ 1 cardiovascular or heart failure-related hospitalization. On average, patients had >2 such hospitalizations annually. They also averaged ∼1 cardiovascular or heart-failure-related outpatient visit per year. All-cause mortality was high: 15.9% patients died within 1 year after the index date. The mean annual cost per patient for heart-failure-related hospitalizations was SEK 72,613 (EUR 7610). In contrast, annual prescription costs were low, on average 3% of total cost (SEK 3503, EUR 367 per patient)

LIMITATIONS

The main limitations of this study include a short follow-up time and small sample size. Also, certain data were missing, such as echocardiograms (available for only 28% of patients), and information on patients' New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, validity period for prescriptions or the units of medication prescribed, and medication dosing. Furthermore, the overall mortality could have been under-estimated, as only the primary cause of death was included in the analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The main burden associated with HF-REF is related to hospitalizations for heart-failure events. Effective treatment options that decrease hospitalization rates could reduce patients' suffering and potentially offer considerable cost savings.

Cardiovascular events in subgroups of patients during primary treatment of hypertension with candesartan or losartan

Merging data from existing electronic patient records, and electronic hospital discharge and cause of death registers, is a fast and relatively inexpensive method for comparing different treatments with regard to clinical outcome. This study compared the effects of antihypertensive treatment with candesartan or losartan on cardiovascular disease (CVD) using Swedish registers. Patients without previous CVD who were prescribed candesartan (n=7329) or losartan (n=6771) for hypertension during 1999-2007 at 72 Swedish primary care centers were followed for up to 9 years. Both medications were given according to current recommendations, and there was no difference observed in achieved blood pressures. The authors have previously shown that candesartan lowered the risk of all CVD (primary composite end point) more so than losartan (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.96). Candesartan also had a significantly better effect with regards to reducing the development of heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and peripheral arterial disease. In the present analysis, the authors found that candesartan, compared with losartan, reduced the risk of all CVD, irrespective of sex, age, previous antihypertensive treatment, baseline blood pressure, and presence of diabetes. These clinical findings may reflect differences between candesartan and losartan in their binding characteristics to the angiotensin type 1 receptor.

Prevalence of lipid abnormalities before and after introduction of lipid modifying therapy among Swedish patients with dyslipidemia (PRIMULA)

BACKGROUND

Data on the prevalence of dyslipidemia and attainment of goal/normal lipid levels in a Swedish population are scarce. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and attainment of goal/normal lipid levels in patients treated with lipid modifying therapy (LMT).

METHODS

This longitudinal retrospective observational study covers time periods before and after treatment. Data were collected from 1994-2007 electronic patient records in public primary healthcare centers in Uppsala County, Sweden. Patients were included if they had been treated with LMT and had at least one lipid abnormality indicating dyslipidemia and if complete lipid profile data were available. Thresholds levels for lipids were defined as per Swedish guidelines.

RESULTS

Among 5,424 patients included, at baseline, the prevalence of dyslipidemia (≥1 lipid abnormality) was by definition 100%, while this figure was 82% at follow-up. At baseline, 60% had elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) combined with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and/or elevated triglycerides (TG s), corresponding figure at follow-up was 36%. Low HDL-C and/or elevated TGs at follow-up remained at 69% for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), 50% among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and 66% among patients with 10 year CHD risk >20%. Of the total sample, 40% attained goal levels of LDL-C and 18% attained goal/normal levels on all three lipid parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Focusing therapy on LDL-C reduction allows 40% of patients to achieve LDL-C goal and helps reducing triglyceride levels. Almost 60% of patients experience persistent HDL-C and/or triglyceride abnormality independently of LDL-C levels and could be candidates for additional treatments.

Health-care costs of losartan and candesartan in the primary treatment of hypertension

A recent study of two widely used angiotensin receptor blockers reported a reduced risk of cardiovascular events (−14.4%) when using candesartan compared with losartan in the primary treatment of hypertension. In addition to clinical benefits, costs associated with treatment strategies must be considered when allocating scarce health-care resources. The aim of this study was to assess resource use and costs of losartan and candesartan in hypertensive patients. Resource use (drugs, outpatient contacts, hospitalizations and laboratory tests) associated with losartan and candesartan treatment was estimated in 14 100 patients in a real-life clinical setting. We electronically extracted patient data from primary care records and mandatory Swedish national registers for death and hospitalization. Patients treated with losartan had more outpatient contacts (+15.6%), laboratory tests (+13.8%) and hospitalizations (+13.8%) compared with the candesartan group. During a maximum observation time of 9 years, the mean total costs per patient were 10 369 Swedish kronor (95% confidence interval: 3109–17 629) higher in the losartan group. In conclusion, prescribing candesartan for the primary treatment of hypertension results in lower long-term health-care costs compared with losartan.

Effects of losartan vs candesartan in reducing cardiovascular events in the primary treatment of hypertension

Although angiotensin receptor blockers have different receptor binding properties no comparative studies with cardiovascular disease (CVD) end points have been performed within this class of drugs. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there are blood pressure independent CVD-risk differences between losartan and candesartan treatment in patients with hypertension without known CVD. Seventy-two primary care centres in Sweden were screened for patients who had been prescribed losartan or candesartan between the years 1999 and 2007. Among the 24 943 eligible patients, 14 100 patients were diagnosed with hypertension and prescribed losartan (n=6771) or candesartan (n=7329). Patients were linked to Swedish national hospitalizations and death cause register. There was no difference in blood pressure reduction when comparing the losartan and candesartan groups during follow-up. Compared with the losartan group, the candesartan group had a lower adjusted hazard ratio for total CVD (0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.96, P=0.0062), heart failure (0.64, 95% CI 0.50–0.82, P=0.0004), cardiac arrhythmias (0.80, 95% CI 0.65–0.92, P=0.0330), and peripheral artery disease (0.61, 95% CI 0.41–0.91, P=0.0140). No difference in blood pressure reduction was observed suggesting that other mechanisms related to different pharmacological properties of the drugs may explain the divergent clinical outcomes.

Prevalence and incidence of Type 2 diabetes and its complications 1996-2003--estimates from a Swedish population-based study

AIMS

To determine the prevalence and incidence of Type 2 diabetes and its complications in Uppsala county, Sweden between 1996 and 2003.

METHODS

Retrospective population-based study of patients with Type 2 diabetes identified in computerized medical records at 26 county primary care centres. Prevalence and incidence of Type 2 diabetes were estimated in the population aged 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and > or = 80 years. Mortality, prevalence and incidence of complications in patients with Type 2 diabetes were determined through linkage to national inpatient, uraemia and cause-of-death registers.

RESULTS

Crude prevalence of Type 2 diabetes increased from 2.2 to 3.5% between 1996 and 2003. In the population aged > or = 30 years, the age- and sex-adjusted period increase was 53%[odds ratio (OR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47-1.58]. Crude population incidence was approximately stable after 1997 (3.7 cases/1000 residents in 1997 compared with 3.8/1000 in 2003). Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates in Type 2 diabetic patients decreased by 4% per year (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.97). Prevalence rates of cardiovascular disease in Type 2 diabetic patients were essentially stable, affecting 13.8% of females and 18.0% of males in 2003. No trend was detected for prevalence of renal failure or incidence of acute myocardial infarction, stroke and amputation.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes increased in Uppsala county between 1996 and 2003 as a consequence of approximately stable incidence since 1997 and declining mortality. Rates of diabetes-related complications, notably cardiovascular disease, continued to impose a substantial burden.

Resource use and costs of type 2 diabetes in Sweden - estimates from population-based register data

AIMS

To examine medical resource use of Swedish patients with type 2 diabetes during 2000-2004 and to estimate annual costs of care.

METHODS

Retrospective population-based cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes identified in computerised medical records at 26 primary care centres in Uppsala county, Sweden. Annual quantities of medical resources were determined for prevalent cases during 2000-2004 using register data from outpatient primary care, outpatient hospital care, the National Inpatient Register and a national register for treatment of uraemia. Average costs of care of patients with type 2 diabetes were estimated based on year 2004 resource quantities of 8230 prevalent study cases.

RESULTS

Annual quantities of medical resource use were stable in outpatient primary care and outpatient hospital care, with patients making an average of two General Practitioner visits and 3.5 outpatient hospital visits each year. Higher rates of hospitalisation [12% in 2000 (n = 6711) compared with 16% in 2004 (n = 8230)] led to an increase in the mean (SD) number of inpatient days from 2.3 (11.8) to 2.7 (11.9) (p = 0.040) between 2000 and 2004. Mean (SD) total costs of care in 2004 were EUR 3602 (EUR 9537). Inpatient care was the major contributor to costs, accounting for 57% of total costs while drug costs accounted for an average 7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Swedish type 2 diabetic patients in this large sample from Uppsala county required steady annual amounts of outpatient care and increasing amounts of inpatient care during 2000-2004. The associated costs in 2004 were substantial, with inpatient care identified as the most important component.

Determinants of cholesterol goal attainment at 12 months in patients with hypercholesterolaemia not at consensus goal after 3 months of treatment with lipid-lowering drugs

BACKGROUND

Less than half of patients in Scandinavian societies achieve target cholesterol values established by consensus coronary prevention panels.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using logistic regression analysis, we determined that patients not at consensus cholesterol goals after 3 months of treatment using lipid-lowering medications were significantly more likely to achieve these goals at 12 months if they were treated with an active management strategy (changes in lipid-lowering therapy within 3 months), had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, or initiated lipid-lowering more recently, compared with their counterparts without these factors.

CONCLUSION

An active management strategy is associated with a higher probability of achieving treatment goals in patients not at goal after 3 months following treatment initiation.

Association between achieving treatment goals for lipid-lowering and cardiovascular events in real clinical practice

BACKGROUND

There is substantial evidence that treatment with lipid-lowering agents can decrease cardiovascular morbidity and total mortality in patients with elevated serum lipid values and/or prior ischaemic heart disease. However, only a minority of these high-risk patients are believed to receive treatment, and among those who do receive pharmaceutical treatment the majority do not reach the therapeutic goal. Our goal was to investigate if this translates to a higher risk of cardiovascular events in real clinical practice.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study using linkage of electronic medical records, the Swedish national inpatient registry and cause of death registry was performed, enrolling a total of 4976 patients who received treatment with a lipid-lowering agent at any time between 1 January 1993 and 1 December 2001.

METHODS

Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the impact of goal attainment along with potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

Patients who reached treatment goals were 24% less likely to suffer a cardiovascular event (relative risk: 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.96) than patients who did not reach treatment goals. A substantial proportion of patients treated with lipid-lowering agents do not achieve the treatment goals.

CONCLUSIONS

Failure to reach treatment goals translates into a higher risk of cardiovascular events, and it is thus of importance to ensure that patients reach goals.

Cost of care for patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between attainment of treatment goals with lipid-lowering therapy and healthcare costs.

PARTICIPANTS

9789 patients who received treatment with a lipid-lowering agent at any time between 1 January 1993 and 14 April 2003.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cohort study using linkage of patient medical records from 29 Swedish primary care centres and the Swedish national inpatient register. The primary outcomes of interest were the total costs of medical care and costs of cardiovascular-related inpatient care during the year before treatment initiation and during years 1, 2 and 3 of treatment. The cost data were analysed with a two-part random-effects regression model.

RESULTS

Of the 9789 patients identified in the database for the study, 6316 had at least one cholesterol measurement during the year after the index prescription and were included in the analysis. 37% of the patients attained the goal of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 3.0 mmol/L and total cholesterol < 5.0 mmol/L. Patients who attained treatment goal had 44% higher pre-treatment costs of care. During the first year of treatment, patients who attained treatment goal had 28% higher costs of care. After the first year, costs for goal-attaining patients were 17% higher. However, the cost of cardiovascular-related inpatient care in patients attaining cholesterol treatment goal was twice as high as in patients not achieving goal before treatment start and 40% lower 2-3 years after treatment start.

CONCLUSION

Patients reaching target cholesterol levels showed a trend of cost reductions over time, whereas no such trend could be found for patients not reaching goal levels. Reductions in costs were substantial for cardiovascular-related inpatient care for patients attaining cholesterol goals compared with patients not attaining cholesterol goals.

Do guidelines matter? A population-based study of diabetes drug use during 20 years

OBJECTIVE

To analyse diabetes drug use in a defined population during 20 years in relation to recommendations in published guidelines.

DESIGN

From the Tierp Study Database, all medical records for diabetes patients at the primary health care centre in Tierp municipality and all prescriptions for diabetes drugs at the local pharmacies during the period 1975-1994 were collected. Data for 2125 persons were obtained, generating 13,190 person-years of observation.

SETTING

Tierp primary health care district.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Diabetes treatment.

RESULTS

The annual prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased from 2.8% (565 patients) to 3.8% (734 patients). When guidelines emphasised diet treatment, treatment with diet only increased and oral pharmacological treatment decreased. When guidelines emphasised better glycaemic control, diet only decreased and biguanide treatment increased, and when guidelines emphasised vigorous glycaemic control, treatment with diet only decreased further and sulphonylurea and insulin use increased. The substantial age and sex differences in antidiabetic drug use at the beginning of the period were partly reduced over time.

CONCLUSIONS

The considerable changes in antidiabetic drug use during the study period coincided with changes in the guidelines issued. The age and sex differences in drug use became less pronounced towards the end of the period.

Written communication from specialists to general practitioners in cancer care. What are the expectations and how are they met?

OBJECTIVE

To examine how general practitioners (GPs) and specialists assess the importance of different aspects of information regarding cancer treatment in the discharge letter from the hospital.

DESIGN

A postal questionnaire study among GPs in two Swedish counties and cancer specialists (oncologists, surgeons and urologists) in six Swedish counties.

SUBJECTS

Two hundred and four GPs and 48 cancer specialists.

MAIN OUTCOME

Self-evaluation and assessment of the counterparts' evaluation of 17 items concerning cancer care in a discharge letter from hospital specialists to GPs.

RESULTS

GPs, especially female GPs, generally rated the items higher than the cancer specialists. The differences were most pronounced in items concerning caring and psychosocial dimensions. Concerning the assessment of the other MD group, GPs deemed specialists as more interested in technical items and less interested in psychosocial items than themselves, whereas specialists believed that GPs had a similar view as themselves.

CONCLUSION

The differences in self-evaluation and assessment of the other MD groups evaluation of the content in a discharge letter, concerning cancer patients from hospital specialists to GPs, might reflect different professional strategies in cancer management and hamper the efficiency in the shared care of these patients.

Well-being and treatment satisfaction in adults with diabetes: a Swedish population-based study

In order to implement the St Vincent Declaration programme, instruments for quality assurance of medical outcomes as well as measures of psychological outcomes of diabetes care had to be developed. This paper presents baseline values for three questionnaires measuring psychological Well-being, Treatment Satisfaction and General Health among a representative sample of adult people with diabetes in Sweden consisting of 423 individuals of which 153 were insulin treated and 270 were diet/tablet-treated. Cronbach's alpha indicated that each of the Well-being and Treatment Satisfaction subscales was internally reliable, alphas ranging from 0.66-0.88. Factor analysis resulted in identification of five subscales (depression, anxiety, positive well-being, treatment satisfaction and metabolic control). There was no relation between any of the quality of life subscales with HbA1c, BMI, duration of diabetes, frequency of blood glucose tests per day, insulin regimens or diabetic complications. Females reported a more negative impact of diabetes on daily life compared with males (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the Well-being and Treatment Satisfaction scales are reliable for quality assurance purposes in diabetes while the briefer general health instrument provides a useful assessment of the global impact of a chronic disease.

Metabolic control in diabetic subjects in three Swedish areas with high, medium, and low sales of antidiabetic drugs

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between use of antidiabetic drugs and metabolic control was studied in Swedish diabetic populations in areas with high (Gotland), medium (Tierp), and low (Skellefteå) sales of antidiabetic drugs.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 405 drug-treated diabetic subjects aged 50-74 yr. In all three areas, glyburide comprised approximately 75% of the oral treatment.

RESULTS

In accordance with sales, Gotland was found to be a heavy-use area, characterized by a high prevalence of insulin treatment (43%), combination therapy with sulfonylureas and biguanide (28%), and high prescribed daily doses (PDDs) of glyburide (15.5 +/- 0.8 mg) compared with other areas. In Skellefteå, 38% were on insulin, 4% were on combination therapy, and the PDD of glyburide was 7.1 +/- 0.6 mg. In Tierp, 27% were on insulin, 26% were on combination therapy, and the PDD of glyburide was 11.4 +/- 0.7 mg. In Gotland, both men and women had significantly lower HbA1c levels, regardless of treatment mode, and a tendency to be more overweight compared with the area with the least pharmacological intensity (Skellefteå).

CONCLUSIONS

In the three diabetic populations, good metabolic control, defined as an HbA1c level of less than 7% and acceptable weight control (body mass index less than 27 for men and less than 25 for women), was achieved among only 16% in Gotland, 17% in Skellefteå, and 12% in Tierp.

Prescription drug use among diabetics--a population study

Diabetes mellitus is a multifaceted disease which intervenes in the personal lives of those afflicted in many different ways. In this study prescription drug use among diabetics was analyzed in order to shed light on the characteristics of diabetic morbidity. Prescription drug use among diabetics and non-diabetics in a total population of 21,000 inhabitants in a defined geographic area were studied. The diabetic population was categorized according to the type of treatment received: insulin treatment, oral anti-diabetic treatment or dietary treatment or dietary treatment only. The pattern of prescription drug use differed between diabetics and non-diabetics and important differences were observed also between diabetics according to type of treatment. Drug use among those treated with insulin and those treated orally was substantially higher than among non-diabetics while the difference between diabetics on dietary regimen and non-diabetics was much smaller. All three treatment groups had considerably higher consumption of cardiovascular drugs than non-diabetics. Additional findings include more frequent antibiotic use among diabetics treated orally and on diet only than among non-diabetics. The use of these drugs was also common among insulin treated diabetics but did not differ significantly from among non-diabetics. Use of psychotropics was more common among diabetics treated with insulin and orally than among non-diabetics.