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Thompson HM, Govindarajulu U, Doucette J, Nabeel I. Short-acting opioid prescriptions and Workers' Compensation using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Am J Ind Med 2024; 67:474-482. [PMID: 38491940 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short-acting opioids have been utilized for pain management with little known about their use in patients on Workers' Compensation (WC) insurance. Our goal was to investigate this association in the ambulatory care setting. METHODS Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, visits from patients aged 18-64 during the years 2010 until 2018 were evaluated (excluding 2017 due to data availability). Demographic and co-morbidity data from each visit was obtained along with the visit year. The first short-acting opioid medication prescribed in the database was considered. Survey-weighted frequencies were evaluated. Logistic regression estimated the crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for the use of short-acting opioid prescription. RESULTS There were 155,947 included visits with 62.5% for female patients. Most patients were White with 11.7% identifying as Black, and 6% identifying as another race. Over 13% of the sample was of Hispanic descent. WC was the identified insurance type in 1.6% of the sample population. Of these patients, 25.6% were prescribed a short-acting opioid, compared with 10.1% of those with another identified insurance. On multivariable regression, Black patients had increased odds of being prescribed a short-acting opioid compared to white patients (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.34). Those on WC had 1.7-fold higher odds of being prescribed short-acting opioids (95% CI: 1.46-2.06). CONCLUSION Certain patient characteristics, including having WC insurance, increased the odds of a short-acting opioid prescription. Further work is needed to identify prescribing patterns in specific high-risk occupational groups, as well as to elicit potential associated health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Thompson
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Usha Govindarajulu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Center for Biostatistics, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Doucette
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ismail Nabeel
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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2
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Walpola RL, Issakhany D, Gisev N, Hopkins RE. The accessibility of pharmacist prescribing and impacts on medicines access: A systematic review. Res Social Adm Pharm 2024; 20:475-486. [PMID: 38326207 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacist prescribing has been introduced in several countries as a strategy to improve access to health care and medicines. However, the direct impacts of pharmacist prescribing on medicines access, and the overall accessibility of pharmacist prescribing services, are not well known. OBJECTIVES This systematic review aimed to assess the direct impacts of pharmacist prescribing on medicines access, and the accessibility of pharmacist prescribing services, in community and primary care settings. METHODS PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL were searched for studies published in English between 01 January 2003 to 15 June 2023. Both quantitative and qualitative primary studies were included if they described pharmacist prescribing in a primary care setting. Outcomes included findings related to access to medicines as a result of pharmacist prescribing (primary outcome), and access to pharmacist prescribing services overall (secondary outcome). Narrative synthesis of outcomes was undertaken. RESULTS A total of 47 studies were included from four countries (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand). Thirteen studies provided evidence that pharmacist prescribing may improve medicines access in several ways, including: increasing the proportion of eligible people receiving medicines, increasing the number of overall dispensed prescriptions, or reducing time to receipt of treatment. The remainder of the included studies reported on the accessibility of pharmacist prescribing services. Published studies highlight that pharmacist prescribers practicing in community settings are generally accessible, with pharmacist prescribers viewed by patients as easy and convenient to consult. There was limited evidence about the affordability of pharmacy prescribing services, and a number of potential equity issues were observed, including reduced access to pharmacist prescribers in more socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and those with greater proportions of populations at risk of health inequities, such as culturally and linguistically diverse communities. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review found that pharmacist prescribing services were both highly accessible and beneficial in improving access to medicines. However, measures of medicines access varied, and few studies included direct measures of medicines access as an outcome of pharmacist prescribing, highlighting a need for future studies to incorporate direct measures of medicines access when assessing the impact of pharmacist prescribing services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh L Walpola
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia; School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Dabrina Issakhany
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Natasa Gisev
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ria E Hopkins
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Melis EJ, Vriezekolk JE, van der Laan JCC, Smolders JMH, van den Bemt BJF, Fenten MGE. Long-term postoperative opioid use in orthopaedic patients. Eur J Pain 2024; 28:797-805. [PMID: 38108651 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.2219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of long-term opioid use after orthopaedic surgery varies from 1.4% to 24% and has mostly been studied with prescription data, making it difficult to estimate the size and impact of the problem. This study aims to assess the prevalence and predictors of long-term postoperative opioid use in a high volume and tertiary orthopaedic centre by using online patient reported measures. METHODS This Dutch prospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients who underwent any type of orthopaedic surgery from June to August 2021. Six months after surgery patients were invited to complete an online survey on current opioid use and patients' willingness to taper opioids. The demographics, clinical factors and preoperative opioid use were extracted from the patient file. RESULTS In total, 607 patients (mean age 61.2 years, 63.4% female) completed the survey. Seventy-six patients (12.5%) used opioids 6 months after surgery of which 20 (3.3%) did not use opioids before surgery. The median (Q1-Q3) postoperative daily dose after 6 months was 29.9 mg (10.0-76.1) morphine equivalents. Most of them (88.2%) wanted to taper opioids. Affected body region (OR's: 6.84-12.75) and pre-operative opioid use (OR = 35.33) were significant predictors of long-term opioid use. CONCLUSION The prevalence of long-term postoperative opioid use was 12.5%; one in thirty patients became a new long-term opioid user. Pre-operative opioid use and affected body region were predictive for long-term opioid use. These findings, together with the observation that long-term opioid users want to taper opioids, emphasize the relevance of prevention, recognition and tapering support in the perioperative setting. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level II. SIGNIFICANCE Short-term opioid use can unintentionally progress to long-term opioid use. The prevalence of long-term opioid use after orthopaedic surgery varies widely and is mostly prescription-based, making it difficult to estimate the magnitude of the problem. This study assessed long-term postoperative opioid use in a full breadth orthopaedic population using patient reported measures, making conclusions much more robust. The prevalence of long-term postoperative opioid use in this study was 12.5%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eward J Melis
- Department of Pharmacy, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Johanna E Vriezekolk
- Department of Research and Innovation, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - José M H Smolders
- Department of Orthopaedics, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J F van den Bemt
- Department of Pharmacy, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Research and Innovation, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pharmacy, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Maaike G E Fenten
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Bakker A, Smith A, Liebrenz M. Comment on Domzaridou et al.: Recognising the complexities of co-prescriptions and lifestyle factors in opioid agonist treatment. Addiction 2024; 119:965-966. [PMID: 38221224 DOI: 10.1111/add.16433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander Smith
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Liebrenz
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Poeran J, Park CH. Postpartum Opioid Prescribing and Persistent Use in Western Countries. Anesth Analg 2024; 138:967-969. [PMID: 38621284 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jashvant Poeran
- From the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine
- Medicine, Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science
- Departments of Population Health Science & Policy
| | - Chang H Park
- Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Varney B, Zoega H, Gillies MB, Gisev N, Weston Shand A, Pearson SA, Havard A. Prevalence and Persistence of Prescription Opioid Use Following Hospital Discharge After Childbirth: An Australian Population-Based Cohort Study. Anesth Analg 2024; 138:970-979. [PMID: 37319031 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000006582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid analgesics are used for acute postpartum pain relief but carry risks, including persistent long-term opioid use. Our primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of persistent use following hospital discharge after childbirth. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study of women discharged from public or private hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, between 2012 and 2018 following vaginal birth (VB) or cesarean delivery (CD). We used linked hospitalization and medicine dispensing data to calculate the prevalence of opioid use within 14 days of hospital discharge for childbirth using an external estimate of the total number of hospital admissions for childbirth per year as the denominator. Among women dispensed an opioid postdischarge, we estimated the prevalence of persistent use defined as ≥3 dispensings between 30- and 365-days postdischarge. To calculate the odds of persistent opioid use, we performed a series of logistic regressions each including a single characteristic of interest. Included characteristics were maternal and birth characteristics, maternal medical conditions, prior use of certain medicines, and the initial opioid dispensed following discharge for childbirth. RESULTS The final cohort comprised of 38,832 women who were dispensed an opioid in the 14 days following discharge after childbirth. Between 2012 and 2018, the prevalence of opioid use was increased following CD (public hospital 16.6%-21.0%; private hospital 9.8%-19.5%) compared with VB (public hospital 1.5%-1.5%; private hospital 1.2%-1.4%) and was higher following discharge from public hospitals compared with private. The most commonly dispensed opioids following discharge for childbirth were oxycodone (44.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 44.3-45.3), codeine (42.1%; 95% CI, 41.6-42.6), and tramadol (12.9%; 95% CI, 12.6-13.2). Among women dispensed an opioid, the prevalence of persistent opioid use was 5.4% (95% CI, 5.1-5.6). This prevalence was 11.4% (95% CI, 10.5-12.3) following a VB as compared with 4.3% (95% CI, 4.1-4.6) among those who underwent a CD ( P < .001). Characteristics associated with persistent opioid use included smoking during pregnancy, age <25 years, living in remote areas, discharged from a public hospital, history of opioid use disorder, other substance use disorder, mental health diagnosis, or prior use of prescription opioids, nonopioid analgesics, or benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS The results of this cohort study indicate that Australian women have a higher prevalence of opioid use following CD compared to VB. One in 19 women dispensed an opioid postdischarge used opioids persistently. Careful monitoring of opioid therapy following childbirth is warranted, particularly among women with characteristics we identified as high risk for persistent opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Varney
- From the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Helga Zoega
- From the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Malcolm Bjørn Gillies
- From the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natasa Gisev
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Antonia Weston Shand
- Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, Sydney, Australia
- Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sallie-Anne Pearson
- From the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alys Havard
- From the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Esfandiari NH, Papaleontiou M. Levothyroxine Prescribing: Why Simple Is so Complex. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:e1406-e1407. [PMID: 37793166 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nazanene H Esfandiari
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maria Papaleontiou
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Carville KS, Meagher N, Abo YN, Manski-Nankervis JA, Fielding J, Steer A, McVernon J, Price DJ. Burden of antimicrobial prescribing in primary care attributable to sore throat: a retrospective cohort study of patient record data. BMC Prim Care 2024; 25:117. [PMID: 38632513 PMCID: PMC11022400 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02371-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reducing antibiotic use in Australia, and the subsequent impact on antimicrobial resistance, requires multiple, sustained approaches with appropriate resources and support. Additional strategies to reduce antibiotic prescribing include effective vaccines, against pathogens such as Streptococcus pyogenes, the most common bacterial cause of sore throat. As part of efforts towards assessing the benefits of introducing new strategies to reduce antimicrobial prescribing, we aimed to determine the burden of antimicrobial prescribing for sore throat in general practice. METHODS General practice activity data from 2013 - 2017 derived from the first 8 practices participating in the 'Primary Care Audit, Teaching and Research Open Network' (Patron) program were analysed according to reason for visit (upper respiratory tract infection, URTI, or sore throat) and antibiotic prescription. The main outcome measures were percentage of sore throat or URTI presentations with antibiotic prescription by age. RESULTS A total of 722,339 visits to general practice were made by 65,449 patients; 5.7% of visits were for URTI with 0.8% meeting the more specific criteria for sore throat. 66.1% of sore throat visits and 36.2% of URTI visits resulted in antibiotic prescription. Penicillin, the recommended antibiotic for sore throat when indicated, was the antibiotic of choice in only 52.9% of sore throat cases prescribed antibiotics. Broader spectrum antibiotics were prescribed more frequently in older age groups. CONCLUSIONS Frequency of antibiotic prescribing for sore throat is high and broad, despite Australian Therapeutic guideline recommendations. Multiple, sustained interventions to reduce prescribing, including availability of effective S. pyogenes vaccines that could reduce the incidence of streptococcal pharyngitis, could obviate the need to prescribe antibiotics and support ongoing efforts to promote antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie S Carville
- Doherty Epidemiology, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Niamh Meagher
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Yara-Natalie Abo
- Department of Microbiology, Infection Prevention and Control, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - James Fielding
- Doherty Epidemiology, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Steer
- Centre for International Child Health, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jodie McVernon
- Doherty Epidemiology, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Price
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Yu AYX, Austin PC, Jackevicius CA, Chu A, Holodinsky JK, Hill MD, Kamal N, Kumar M, Lee DS, Vyas MV, Joundi RA, Khan NA, Kapral MK, McNaughton CD. Population Trends of New Prescriptions for Antihyperglycemics and Antihypertensives Between 2014 and 2022. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e034118. [PMID: 38563374 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.034118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the wake of pandemic-related health decline and health care disruptions, there are concerns that previous gains for cardiovascular risk factors may have stalled or reversed. Population-level excess burden of drug-treated diabetes and hypertension during the pandemic compared with baseline is not well characterized. We evaluated the change in incident prescription claims for antihyperglycemics and antihypertensives before versus during the pandemic. METHODS AND RESULTS In this retrospective, serial, cross-sectional, population-based study, we used interrupted time series analyses to examine changes in the age- and sex-standardized monthly rate of incident prescriptions for antihyperglycemics and antihypertensives in patients aged ≥66 years in Ontario, Canada, before the pandemic (April 2014 to March 2020) compared with during the pandemic (July 2020 to November 2022). Incident claim was defined as the first prescription filled for any medication in these classes. The characteristics of patients with incident prescriptions of antihyperglycemics (n=151 888) or antihypertensives (n=368 123) before the pandemic were comparable with their pandemic counterparts (antihyperglycemics, n=97 015; antihypertensives, n=146 524). Before the pandemic, monthly rates of incident prescriptions were decreasing (-0.03 per 10 000 individuals [95% CI, -0.04 to -0.01] for antihyperglycemics; -0.14 [95% CI, -0.18 to -0.10] for antihypertensives). After July 2020, monthly rates increased (postinterruption trend 0.31 per 10 000 individuals [95% CI, 0.28-0.34] for antihyperglycemics; 0.19 [95% CI, 0.14-0.23] for antihypertensives). CONCLUSIONS Population-level increases in new antihyperglycemic and antihypertensive prescriptions during the pandemic reversed prepandemic declines and were sustained for >2 years. Our findings are concerning for current and future cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Y X Yu
- Department of Medicine (Neurology) University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Toronto ON Canada
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
| | - Peter C Austin
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto ON Canada
| | - Cynthia A Jackevicius
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto ON Canada
- College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences Pomona CA
| | | | - Jessalyn K Holodinsky
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Hotchkiss Brain Institute University of Calgary AB Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine University of Calgary AB Canada
- Community Health Sciences University of Calgary AB Canada
| | - Michael D Hill
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Hotchkiss Brain Institute University of Calgary AB Canada
- Community Health Sciences University of Calgary AB Canada
| | - Noreen Kamal
- Department of Industrial Engineering Dalhousie University Halifax NS Canada
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Department of Medicine (Neurology) Dalhousie University Halifax NS Canada
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Department of Industrial Engineering Dalhousie University Halifax NS Canada
| | - Douglas S Lee
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology) University of Toronto, University Health Network Toronto ON Canada
| | - Manav V Vyas
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology) Unity Health Toronto, University of Toronto ON Canada
| | - Raed A Joundi
- Department of Medicine McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada
| | - Nadia A Khan
- Department of Medicine University of British Columbia Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Moira K Kapral
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
- Department of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) University of Toronto, University Health Network Toronto ON Canada
| | - Candace D McNaughton
- ICES Toronto ON Canada
- Department of Medicine (Emergency Medicine) University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Toronto ON Canada
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Snowden A, Young J, Savinc J. Can proactive support prevent unscheduled care? A controlled observational retrospective cohort study in cancer patients in Scotland. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:457. [PMID: 38609990 PMCID: PMC11010331 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10923-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Preventative spend is a global health and social care strategy. Improving Cancer Journeys (ICJ) is a proactive, holistic, multidisciplinary project consistent with this agenda, currently being rolled out across Scotland and parts of UK. ICJ helps people with cancer access whatever support they need to mitigate their most pressing concerns. This study hypothesised that ICJ service users should subsequently use less unscheduled care than matched cohorts not using ICJ. METHODS Retrospective observational cohort study using linked national datasets. N = 1,214 ICJ users in Glasgow were matched for age, sex, deprivation, cancer type, stage, and diagnosis year to two control groups: 1. Cancer patients from Glasgow before ICJ (pre-2014), 2. Cancer patients from rest of Scotland during study period (2014-2018). Cancer registrations were linked for 12-month baseline and study periods to: NHS24 calls, A&E admissions, inpatient hospital admissions, unscheduled care, number & cost of psychotropic prescriptions. Per-person mean service uses were compared between groups. RESULTS There was a significant increase in NHS24 calls in the ICJ group (0.36 per person vs. -0.03 or 0.35), more and longer A&E attendances in ICJ (0.37 per person vs. 0.19 or 0.26; 2.19 h per person vs. 0.81-0.92 h), more and longer hospital admissions in ICJ (4.25 vs. 2.59 or 2.53; 12.05 days vs. 8.37 or 8.64), more care pathways involving more steps in ICJ (0.77 spells vs. 0.39 or 0.57; 1.88 steps vs. 1.56 or 1.21), more psychotropic drug prescriptions and higher costs in ICJ (1.88 prescription vs. 1.56 or 1.21; £9.51 vs. £9.57 or £6.95) in comparison to both control groups. DISCUSSION ICJ users sourced significantly more unscheduled care than matched cohorts. These findings were consistent with much of the comparable literature examining the impact of non-health interventions on subsequent health spend. They also add to the growing evidence showing that ICJ reached its intended target, those with the greatest need. Together these findings raise the possibility that those choosing to use ICJ may also be self-identifying as a cohort of people more likely to use unscheduled care in future. This needs to be tested prospectively, because this understanding would be very helpful for health and social care planners in all countries where proactive holistic services exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austyn Snowden
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, Scotland.
| | - Jenny Young
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, Scotland
| | - Jan Savinc
- School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, Scotland
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11
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Attisso E, Guenette L, Dionne CE, Kröger E, Dialahy I, Tessier S, Jean S. New opioid prescription claims and their clinical indications: results from health administrative data in Quebec, Canada, over 14 years. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077664. [PMID: 38589264 PMCID: PMC11015182 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Describe new opioid prescription claims, their clinical indications and annual trends among opioid naïve adults covered by the Quebec's public drug insurance plan (QPDIP) for the fiscal years 2006/2007-2019/2020. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective observational study was conducted using data collected between 2006/2007 and 2019/2020 within the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System, a linkage administrative data. PARTICIPANTS A cohort of opioid naïve adults and new opioid users was created for each study year (median number=2 263 380 and 168 183, respectively, over study period). INTERVENTION No. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE AND ANALYSES A new opioid prescription was defined as the first opioid prescription claimed by an opioid naïve adult during a given fiscal year. The annual incidence proportion for each year was then calculated and standardised for age. A hierarchical algorithm was built to identify the most likely clinical indication for this prescription. Descriptive and trend analyses were performed. RESULTS There was a 1.7% decrease of age-standardised annual incidence proportion during the study period, from 7.5% in 2006/2007 to 5.8% in 2019/2020. The decrease was highest after 2016/2017, reaching 5.5% annual percentage change. Median daily dose and days' supply decreased from 27 to 25 morphine milligram equivalent/day and from 5 to 4 days between 2006/2007 and 2019/2020, respectively. Between 2006/2007 and 2019/2020, these prescriptions' most likely clinical indications increased for cancer pain from 34% to 48%, for surgical pain from 31% to 36% and for dental pain from 9% to 11%. Inversely, the musculoskeletal pain decreased from 13% to 2%. There was good consistency between the clinical indications identified by the algorithm and prescriber's specialty or user's characteristics. CONCLUSIONS New opioid prescription claims (incidence, dose and days' supply) decreased slightly over the last 14 years among QPDIP enrollees, especially after 2016/2017. Non-surgical and non-cancer pain became less common as their clinical indication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Attisso
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Line Guenette
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Clermont E Dionne
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Edeltraut Kröger
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Sustainable Health Research Centre, VITAM, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isaora Dialahy
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sonia Jean
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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12
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Martinez M, Kirkegaard A, Bouskill K, Yan XS, Wagner Z, Watkins KE. Surgeons' views of peer comparison and guideline-based feedback on postsurgery opioid prescriptions: a qualitative investigation. BMJ Open Qual 2024; 13:e002750. [PMID: 38580444 PMCID: PMC11002351 DOI: 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-002750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excess opioid prescribing after surgery can lead to prolonged opioid use and diversion. We interviewed surgeons who were part of a three-group cluster-randomised controlled trial aimed at reducing prescribed opioid quantities after surgery via two versions of a monthly emailed behavioural 'nudge' (messages encouraging but not mandating compliance with social norms and clinical guidelines around prescribing) at the end of the implementation year in order to understand surgeons' reasoning for changing or continuing their prescribing behaviour as a result of the intervention and the context for their rationale. METHODS The study took place at a large healthcare system in northern California with surgeons from three surgical specialties-orthopaedics, obstetrics/gynaecology and general surgery. Following the intervention period, we conducted semistructured interviews with 36 surgeons who had participated in the trial, ensuring representation across trial arm, specialty and changes in prescribing quantities over the year. Interviews focused on reactions to the nudges, impacts of the nudges on prescribing behaviours and other factors impacting prescribing. Three study team members coded and analysed the transcribed interviews. RESULTS Nudges were equally effective in reducing postsurgical opioid prescribing across surgical specialties and between intervention arms. Surgeons were generally receptive to the nudge intervention, noting that it reduced the size of their discharge opioid prescriptions by improving their awareness and intentionality around prescribing. Most were unaware that clinical guidelines around opioid prescribing existed. Some had reservations regarding the accuracy and context of information provided in the nudges, the prescription quantities encouraged by the nudges and feelings of being watched or admonished. A few described discussing the nudges with colleagues. Respondents emphasised that the prescribing behaviours are informed by individual clinical experience and patient-related and procedure-related factors. CONCLUSIONS Surgeons were open to learning about their prescribing behaviour through comparisons to guidelines or peer behaviour and incorporating this feedback as one of several factors that guide discharge opioid prescribing. Increasing awareness of clinical guidelines around opioid prescribing is important for curbing postsurgical opioid overprescribing. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05070338.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Martinez
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute and Center for Health Systems Research, Sutter Health, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | | | | | - Xiaowei Sherry Yan
- Center for Health Systems Research, Sutter Health, Walnut Creek, California, USA
| | | | - Katherine E Watkins
- Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, USA
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Oyler DR, Westgate PM, Walsh SL, Dolly Prothro J, Miller CS, Roberts MF, Freeman PR, Knudsen HK, Lang M, Dominguez-Fernandez E, Rojas-Ramirez MV. Alternatives to dental opioid prescribing after tooth extraction (ADOPT): protocol for a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:414. [PMID: 38575929 PMCID: PMC10996080 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04201-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dentists and oral surgeons are leading prescribers of opioids to adolescents and young adults (AYA), who are at high risk for developing problematic opioid use after an initial exposure. Most opioids are prescribed after tooth extraction, but non-opioid analgesics provide similar analgesia and are recommended by multiple professional organizations. METHODS This multi-site stepped wedge cluster-randomized trial will assess whether a multicomponent behavioral intervention can influence opioid prescribing behavior among dentists and oral surgeons compared to usual practice. Across up to 12 clinical practices (clusters), up to 33 dentists/oral surgeons (provider participants) who perform tooth extractions for individuals 12-25 years old will be enrolled. After enrollment, all provider participants will receive the intervention at a time based on the sequence to which their cluster is randomized. The intervention consists of prescriber education via academic detailing plus provision of standardized patient post-extraction instructions and blister packs of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Provider participants will dispense the blister packs and distribute the patient instructions at their discretion to AYA undergoing tooth extraction, with or without additional analgesics. The primary outcome is a binary, patient-level indicator of electronic post-extraction opioid prescription. Data for the primary outcome will be collected from the provider participant's electronic health records quarterly throughout the study. Provider participants will complete a survey before and approximately 3 months after transitioning into the intervention condition to assess implementation outcomes. AYA patients undergoing tooth extraction will be offered a survey to assess pain control and satisfaction with pain management in the week after their extraction. Primary analyses will use generalized estimating equations to compare the binary patient-level indicator of being prescribed a post-extraction opioid in the intervention condition compared to usual practice. Secondary analyses will assess provider participants' perceptions of feasibility and appropriateness of the intervention, and patient-reported pain control and satisfaction with pain management. Analyses will adjust for patient-level factors (e.g., sex, number of teeth extracted, etc.). DISCUSSION This real-world study will address an important need, providing information on the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention at modifying dental prescribing behavior and reducing opioid prescriptions to AYA. CLINICALTRIALS GOV: NCT06275191.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas R Oyler
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 760 Press Avenue, Ste. 260, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
| | - Philip M Westgate
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sharon L Walsh
- Department of Behavioral Science and Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jennifer Dolly Prothro
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 760 Press Avenue, Ste. 260, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Craig S Miller
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Medicine, and Radiology, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Monica F Roberts
- Substance Use Priority Research Area, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Patricia R Freeman
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, 760 Press Avenue, Ste. 260, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Hannah K Knudsen
- Department of Behavioral Science and Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Maggie Lang
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Enif Dominguez-Fernandez
- Department of Oral Health Science, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Marcia V Rojas-Ramirez
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Medicine, and Radiology, College of Dentistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Kang ES, Lim YC, Jang BH, Lee YJ, Ha IH, Lee YS. Changes in lymph node surgery in breast cancer and preoperative drug prescription analysis for postoperative pain management: A retrospective, cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298270. [PMID: 38574043 PMCID: PMC10994348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the changes in lymph node surgery types and prescription patterns of postoperative medications for pain management in patients with breast cancer using national health insurance claim data from South Korea. The study population comprised patients with at least one record of a principal diagnosis of breast cancer (ICD-10 code: C50) from the national health insurance claim database between 2010 and 2019. Patients who underwent mastectomy or lumpectomy only once were selected for the analysis. Patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with mastectomy or lumpectomy on the day of surgery were included in the ALND group, whereas those who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) were included in the SLNB group. Prescription records of opioids before, after and on the date of breast cancer surgery were collected and categorized according to the opioid type. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to compare postoperative opioid prescriptions. The proportion of those undergoing ALND among 3,080 patients decreased consistently after 2014, while the proportion undergoing SLNB increased. Although the rate of pain medication prescription on the day of surgery was similar between the two groups, the rate of prescription of postoperative pain medication and anticancer agents was lower in the SLNB group than in the ALND group. Logistic regression modeling showed that the SLNB group had lower odds of receiving opioids than did the ALND group (Odds ratio (OR) = 0.727, Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.546-0.970). A consistent trend was observed when the model was adjusted for neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the use of preoperative pain medications (OR = 0.718, CI = 0.538-0.959). To manage postoperative pain and prevent chronic pain with minimal side effects, sufficient discussion among clinicians, patients, and other healthcare professionals is imperative, along with adequate treatment planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Sol Kang
- Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Cheol Lim
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Hyoung Jang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Jae Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hyuk Ha
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye-Seul Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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15
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Müskens JLJM, van Dulmen SA, Hek K, Westert GP, Kool RB. Low-value chronic prescription of acid reducing medication among Dutch general practitioners: impact of a patient education intervention. BMC Prim Care 2024; 25:106. [PMID: 38575887 PMCID: PMC10996147 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-024-02351-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dyspepsia is a commonly encountered clinical condition in Dutch general practice, which is often treated through the prescription of acid-reducing medication (ARM). However, recent studies indicate that the majority of chronic ARM users lack an indication for their use and that their long-term use is associated with adverse outcomes. We developed a patient-focussed educational intervention aiming to reduce low-value (chronic) use of ARM. METHODS We conducted a randomized controlled study, and evaluated its effect on the low-value chronic prescription of ARM using data from a subset (n = 26) of practices from the Nivel Primary Care Database. The intervention involved distributing an educational waiting room posters and flyers informing both patients and general practitioners (GPs) regarding the appropriate indications for prescription of an ARM for dyspepsia, which also referred to an online decision aid. The interventions' effect was evaluated through calculation of the odds ratio of a patient receiving a low-value chronic ARM prescription over the second half of 2021 and 2022 (i.e. pre-intervention vs. post-intervention). RESULTS In both the control and intervention groups, the proportion of patients receiving chronic low-value ARM prescriptions slightly increased. In the control group, it decreased from 50.3% in 2021 to 49.7% in 2022, and in the intervention group it increased from 51.3% in 2021 to 53.1% in 2022. Subsequent statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in low-value chronic prescriptions between the control and intervention groups (Odds ratio: 1.11 [0.84-1.47], p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Our educational intervention did not result in a change in the low-value chronic prescription of ARM; approximately half of the patients of the intervention and control still received low-value chronic ARM prescriptions. The absence of effect might be explained by selection bias of participating practices, awareness on the topic of chronic AMR prescriptions and the relative low proportion of low-value chronic ARM prescribing in the intervention as well as the control group compared to an assessment conducted two years prior. TRIAL REGISTRATION 10/31/2023 NCT06108817.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris L J M Müskens
- IQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Simone A van Dulmen
- IQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Karin Hek
- Nivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gert P Westert
- IQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rudolf B Kool
- IQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Center, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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16
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Yin X, Jiang Y, Wu Y, Su X, Hou S, Li J, Luo W, Yu M, Zang J, Wang W, Zhao Q, Zhu Y, Zhao G, Jiang Q, Wang N. Differences in antibiotic use between COPD and non-COPD residents based on the health information system. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:758-766. [PMID: 38340039 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the differences in antibiotic use between COPD and non-COPD residents, and to explore the effect of COPD on antibiotic use. METHODS Participants aged 40 years old or over from the Songjiang Adult Cohort were included. Information on prescription and baseline survey was collected based on the health information system. A logit-negative binomial Hurdle model was used to explore correlations between COPD and percentage of antibiotic use and average rate of antibiotic prescribing of different types of antibiotic. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between COPD and antimicrobial combination therapy and routes of administration. RESULTS A total of 34576 individuals were included and 1594 (4.6%) were COPD patients. During the 6 years' follow-up, the percentage of antibiotic use for COPD patients was 98.4%, which was 7.88 (95%CI: 5.24-11.85) times of that for non-COPD patients after adjusting for potential confounders. The prescribing rate was 3220 prescriptions (95%CI: 3063.6-3385.2) per 1000 person-years for COPD patients, which was 1.96 (95%CI: 1.87-2.06) times of that for non-COPD patients. Other beta-lactam antibacterials, Macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins, and quinolone antibacterials were the most commonly used types of antibiotic. Except for aminoglycoside antibacterials, both percentage of antibiotic use and rate of antibiotic prescription were increased in COPD patients. COPD patients were more likely to be prescribed a maximum of two antibiotics (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.20-1.50); and were more likely to use antibiotics intravenously (OR=2.77, 95%CI: 2.47-3.11). CONCLUSION COPD patients were more likely to have increased antibiotic use in a large-scale population-based adult cohort, suggesting COPD patients are a high-priority group for the management of antibiotic use in communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yin
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Yonggen Jiang
- Department of Chronic Disease, Shanghai Songjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Yiling Wu
- Department of Chronic Disease, Shanghai Songjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Xuyan Su
- Department of Chronic Disease, Shanghai Songjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Shanshan Hou
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Preventive Healthcare, Zhongshan Community Health Service Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Wei Luo
- Department of Chronic Disease, Shanghai Songjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Minjun Yu
- Department of Preventive Healthcare, Maogang Community Health Service Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Jinxin Zang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Preventive Healthcare, Xinqiao Community Health Service Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Yinfeng Zhu
- Department of Preventive Healthcare, Sheshan Community Health Service Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Genming Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Qingwu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
| | - Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China
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Adams AJ, Klepser ME. Pharmacist Prescribing Models for HIV Pre-exposure and Post-exposure Prophylaxis. Ann Pharmacother 2024; 58:434-440. [PMID: 37480245 DOI: 10.1177/10600280231187171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
State strategies for pharmacist prescribing exist on a continuum from most restrictive to least restrictive. Using human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis as a case study, there are 3 viable pharmacist prescribing models: (1) population-based collaborative practice agreements; (2) government protocols; and (3) standard of care prescribing. The advantages and disadvantages of these 3 models are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J Adams
- Division of Financial Management, Idaho, Boise, ID, USA
| | - Michael E Klepser
- College of Pharmacy, Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Collaboration to Harmonize Antimicrobial Registry Measures, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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Hall SV, Pangori A, Tilea A, Schroeder A, Admon LK, Zivin K. Antidepressant Prescriptions Increased For Privately Insured People With Perinatal Mood And Anxiety Disorder, 2008-20. Health Aff (Millwood) 2024; 43:514-522. [PMID: 38560803 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
We aimed to determine whether antidepressant prescriptions for perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD) increased after several professional organizations issued clinical recommendations in 2015 and 2016. This serial, cross-sectional, logistic regression analysis evaluated changes in antenatal and postpartum antidepressant prescriptions among commercially insured people who had a live-birth delivery as well as a PMAD diagnosis during the period 2008-20. For people with antenatal PMAD, the odds of an antenatal antidepressant prescription decreased 3 percent annually from 2008 to 2016 and increased by 32 percent in 2017, and the annual rate of change increased 5 percent for 2017-20 compared with 2008-16. For people with postpartum PMAD, the odds of a postpartum antidepressant prescription decreased 2 percent annually from 2008 to 2016 and experienced no significant change in 2017, but the annual rate of change increased 3 percent for 2017-20 compared with 2008-16. The clinical recommendations issued in 2015 and 2016 were associated with increased antidepressant prescriptions for PMAD, particularly for antenatal PMAD. These findings indicate that clinical recommendations represent an effective tool for changing prescribing patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Kara Zivin
- Kara Zivin, University of Michigan, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and Mathematica, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Weissman YL, Calvarysky B, Shochat T, Korotkov Z, Grossman A, Leibovici L, Turjeman A. Disparities in Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor Prescription and Dispensing in the Israeli Population-A Retrospective Cohort Study. Diabetes Care 2024; 47:692-697. [PMID: 38377492 DOI: 10.2337/dc23-1652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe disparities in prescribing and dispensing sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in Israel. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of adults with type 2 diabetes eligible for SGLT2i treatment from 2017 to 2023. The primary outcome was the time between initial eligibility and the first prescription of SGLT2i. RESULTS Among 32,742 eligible patients, only 53% were prescribed SGLT2i. Multivariable analyses, adjusting for death as a competing risk, revealed delays in prescription were associated with older age, Arab or Bedouin ethnicity, neoplasms, acute kidney failure, falls, previous hospitalization, urinary tract infections, and dementia. Factors associated with shorter time intervals to prescription were sex (men), medium/high socioeconomic status, and residing in an intermediate or central area of Israel. CONCLUSIONS Disparities in drug prescription exist, even in a country with universal health coverage. Addressing these disparities requires improvements in health care systems, education, and alert systems to overcome barriers to evidence-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaara Leibovici Weissman
- Internal Medicine Department E, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Bronislava Calvarysky
- Pharmacy Service, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
- School of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tzippy Shochat
- Statistical Consultant, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
| | - Zoya Korotkov
- Internal Medicine Department B, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
| | - Alon Grossman
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Internal Medicine Department B, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
| | - Leonard Leibovici
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Research Authority, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
| | - Adi Turjeman
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Research Authority, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
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Wang TT, Lee CC, Young LD, Tannyhill RJ, Keith DA. Trends in Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Search Activity and Opioid Prescribing by Oral-Maxillofacial Surgeons in Massachusetts 2016-2022. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2024; 82:386-389. [PMID: 38565283 DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Tim T Wang
- Resident, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Clinical Fellow, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Cameron C Lee
- Head and Neck Oncology Fellow, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; Clinical Research Fellow, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Leonard D Young
- Epidemiologist, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | | | - David A Keith
- Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA.
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Beukelman T, Su Y, Xie F, George MD, England BR, Curtis C, Clinton C, Stewart P, Curtis JR. Using Electronic Health Records and Linked Claims Data to Assess New Medication Use and Primary Nonadherence in Rheumatology Patients. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024; 76:550-558. [PMID: 37909385 PMCID: PMC10963164 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of new medication prescriptions observed in electronic health records (EHR) that represent true incident medication use, accounting for undocumented previous prescriptions (prevalent medication use) and failure to initiate treatment (primary nonadherence) with linked administrative claims data as the reference standard. METHODS Using single-specialty rheumatology EHR data from more than 700 community practices in the United States linked to administrative claims data, we identified first (index) EHR prescriptions and assessed the positive predictive value (PPV) of different EHR-derived new user definitions to identify true incident use (no prior claims). We then assessed how often index EHR prescriptions that met a definition of new use resulted in primary nonadherence (no subsequent claims). RESULTS Overall, 12,405 index EHR prescriptions were identified with PPVs of 0.59 to 0.67 for true incident use. PPVs increased to 0.76 to 0.85 by excluding medications listed during the EHR medication reconciliation process and further increased to 0.87 to 0.93 by requiring ≥12 elapsed months since the first rheumatology office visit. Primary nonadherence at three months was observed in 33% to 38% overall and varied substantially by medication class, ranging from 15% to 23% for conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to 54% to 64% for targeted synthetic DMARDs. CONCLUSION New DMARD use was accurately distinguished from prevalent use with EHR prescriptions and simple new user definitions that include current medications collected during medication reconciliation. Primary nonadherence was frequent and varied by DMARD class. This has important implications for epidemiologic studies using EHR data and for optimal delivery of clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Beukelman
- Foundation for Science, Technology, Education, and Research, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Yujie Su
- Illumination Health, Hoover, Alabama
| | | | | | - Bryant R England
- University of Nebraska Medical Center and Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey R Curtis
- Foundation for Science, Technology, Education, and Research, Birmingham, Alabama, Illumination Health, Hoover, Alabama, and University of Alabama at Birmingham
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22
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Shafi DES, Jørgensen KN, Bjella T, Nesvåg R, Dieset I, Melle I, Andreassen OA, Jönsson EG. Prescriptions of psychotropic and somatic medications among patients with severe mental disorders and healthy controls in a naturalistic study. Nord J Psychiatry 2024; 78:212-219. [PMID: 38306243 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2024.2305806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Psychotropic and somatic medications are both used in treating severe mental disorders (SMDs). Realistic estimates of the prevalence of use across medication categories are needed. We obtained this in a clinical cohort of patients with SMD and healthy controls (HCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Prescriptions filled at Norwegian pharmacies the year before and after admittance to the Thematically Organized Psychosis (TOP) study were examined in 1406 patients with SMD (mean age 32.5 years, 48.2% women) and 920 HC (34.1 years, 46.2% women). Using data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD), the number of users in different anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) categories was compared using logistic regression. Population estimates were used as reference data. RESULTS Use of antipsychotics (N05A), antiepileptics (N03A), antidepressants (N06A), anxiolytics (N05B), hypnotics and sedatives (N05C), anticholinergics (N04A), psychostimulants, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and nootropic agents (N06B) and drugs for addiction disorders (N07B) was significantly more prevalent in patients with SMD than HC. Use of diabetes treatment (A10), antithrombotic drugs (B01), beta blockers (C07), lipid modifiers (C10), and thyroid and endocrine therapeutics (H03) was also more prevalent in patients with SMD, but with two exceptions somatic medication use was comparable to the general population. Among HC, there was low prevalence of use for most medication categories. CONCLUSION Patients were using psychiatric medications, but also several types of somatic medications, more often than HC. Still, somatic medication use was mostly not higher than in the general population. The results indicate that HC had low use of most medication types.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kjetil Nordbø Jørgensen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway
| | - Thomas Bjella
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ingrid Dieset
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Acute Psychiatric Department, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Melle
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erik G Jönsson
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
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23
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Wang Y, Wang G, Zhu L, Li X, Li J, Li Z. Inappropriate prescription of intravenous antibiotics at a tertiary children's hospital in China. Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2024; 76:161-166. [PMID: 34098708 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.21.05902-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotics are one of the most frequently prescribed medication classes worldwide. Inappropriate prescription of antibiotics has increased the risk of drug-resistant infections and associated mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the patterns of intravenous antibiotics prescribing in emergency and outpatient departments of a tertiary children's hospital in China. METHODS Data on intravenous prescriptions dispensed by the emergency and outpatient department from January 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016 were extracted from the information system of the Children's Hospital of Fudan University. Prevalence of intravenous antibiotics use and the suitability of intravenous antibiotic prescription were evaluated on the basis of a completed microbiological examination, antibiotics susceptibility testing, and dose prescribed for patients diagnosed with pneumonia, acute bronchitis, fever, and acute upper respiratory infection (AURI) patients. The prescription rate was expressed as the number of intravenous antibiotic prescriptions per total number of prescriptions. RESULTS Overall, 94.2% of pediatric patients and 78.5% of issued intravenous prescriptions were for antibiotics. beta-lactam antibacterial (90.5%) and macrolides (18.5%) were the most commonly used categories of antibiotics, while cefuroxime (28.8%) was the most used antibiotic. Besides, pneumonia (31.3%), acute bronchitis (14.1%), fever (6.5%), and AURI (5.5%) were the most commonly recorded infections. However, in these four diseases, the rate of conducting microbiological examination was 0.3%, 0.2%, 2.1%, and 2.8%, respectively. Approximately, 52.1%, 40.0%, 40.4%, and 30.5% of intravenous antibiotic prescriptions were inappropriately used in pneumonia, acute bronchitis, fever, and AURI, respectively. Doses higher and lower than the recommended were often for each of these four diseases. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of intravenous antibiotic prescription was high in pediatric emergency and outpatient departments. Inappropriate use of intravenous antibiotics commonly occurred in pneumonia, acute bronchitis, fever, and AURI. Appropriate interventions and prevention strategies need to be developed to curtail inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Education, Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Tropical Herbs, School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Guangfei Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxia Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiping Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, National Children's Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China -
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24
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Loftus J, Levy HP, Stevenson JM. Documentation of results and medication prescribing after combinatorial psychiatric pharmacogenetic testing: A case for discrete results. Genet Med 2024; 26:101056. [PMID: 38153010 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.101056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Combinatorial pharmacogenetic (PGx) panels intended to aid psychiatric prescribing are available to clinicians. Here, we evaluated the documentation of PGx panel results and subsequent prescribing patterns within a tertiary health care system. METHODS We performed a query of psychiatry service note text in our electronic health record using 71 predefined PGx terms. Patients who underwent combinatorial PGx testing were identified, and documentation of test results was analyzed. Prescription data following testing were examined for the frequency of prescriptions influenced by genes on the panel along with the medical specialties involved. RESULTS A total of 341 patients received combinatorial PGx testing, and documentation of results was found to be absent or incomplete for 198 patients (58%). The predominant method of documentation was through portable document formats uploaded to the electronic health record's "Media" section. Among patients with at least 1 year of follow-up, a large majority (194/228, 85%) received orders for medications affected by the tested genes, including 132 of 228 (58%) patients receiving at least 1 non-psychiatric medication influenced by the test results. CONCLUSION Results from combinatorial PGx testing were poorly documented. Medications affected by these results were often prescribed after testing, highlighting the need for discrete results and clinical decision support.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Loftus
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Howard P Levy
- Maryland Primary Care Physicians, Hanover, MD; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - James M Stevenson
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
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25
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Tang KM, Lee P, Anosike BI, Asas K, Cassel-Choudhury G, Devi T, Gennarini L, Raizner A, Rhim HJH, Savva J, Shah D, Philips K. Decreasing Prescribing Errors in Antimicrobial Stewardship Program-Restricted Medications. Hosp Pediatr 2024; 14:281-290. [PMID: 38482585 DOI: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) restrict prescribing practices to regulate antimicrobial use, increasing the risk of prescribing errors. This quality improvement project aimed to decrease the proportion of prescribing errors in ASP-restricted medications by standardizing workflow. METHODS The study took place on all inpatient units at a tertiary care children's hospital between January 2020 and February 2022. Patients <22 years old with an order for an ASP-restricted medication course were included. An interprofessional team used the Model for Improvement to design interventions targeted at reducing ASP-restricted medication prescribing errors. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles included standardizing communication and medication review, implementing protocols, and developing electronic health record safety nets. The primary outcome was the proportion of ASP-restricted medication orders with a prescribing error. The secondary outcome was time between prescribing errors. Outcomes were plotted on control charts and analyzed for special cause variation. Outcomes were monitored for a 3-month sustainability period. RESULTS Nine-hundred ASP-restricted medication orders were included in the baseline period (January 2020-December 2020) and 1035 orders were included in the intervention period (January 2021-February 2022). The proportion of prescribing errors decreased from 10.9% to 4.6%, and special cause variation was observed in Feb 2021. Mean time between prescribing errors increased from 2.9 days to 8.5 days. These outcomes were sustained. CONCLUSIONS Quality improvement methods can be used to achieve a sustained reduction in the proportion of ASP-restricted medication orders with a prescribing error throughout an entire children's hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Tang
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Philip Lee
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
| | - Brenda I Anosike
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Kathleen Asas
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Gina Cassel-Choudhury
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Tanvi Devi
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
| | - Lisa Gennarini
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Aileen Raizner
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Hai Jung H Rhim
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | | | - Dhara Shah
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
| | - Kaitlyn Philips
- Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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26
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Koh KA, Szymkowiak D, Tsai J. Benzodiazepine Prescriptions for Homeless Veterans Affairs Service Users With Mental Illness. Psychiatr Serv 2024; 75:316-325. [PMID: 37904492 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite elevated risk for substance use disorder and overdose death in the homeless population, benzodiazepine prescribing for this population has not been examined. In this study, the authors used data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system to examine benzodiazepine prescribing and risky and potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing practices for homeless VA service users. METHODS Using national VA administrative data (2018-2019), the authors conducted logistic regression to compare likelihood of benzodiazepine prescribing and t tests to compare indicators of risky and potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine prescribing patterns for homeless service users with mental illness (N=244,113) and their housed peers (N=2,763,513). RESULTS Unadjusted analyses showed that benzodiazepines were prescribed for 7.5% of homeless VA service users with mental illness, versus 9.4% of their housed peers (p<0.001). Analyses adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and health care utilization showed that homeless service users were less likely than their housed peers to receive a benzodiazepine prescription (AOR=0.70, 99% CI=0.68-0.72). However, compared with their housed peers, homeless service users received higher rates of risky and potentially inappropriate benzodiazepine prescriptions, including multiple concurrent benzodiazepine prescriptions (9.4% vs. 7.0%, p<0.001) and concurrent prescriptions for benzodiazepines and opioids (36.9% vs. 31.2%, p<0.001) or sedatives (61.9% vs. 45.9%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although homeless VA service users with mental illness were less likely than their housed peers to receive a benzodiazepine prescription, benzodiazepine prescriptions for these service users had more characteristics of risky and potentially inappropriate prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Koh
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School, and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Boston (Koh); National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Tampa, Florida (Szymkowiak, Tsai); School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston (Tsai)
| | - Dorota Szymkowiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School, and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Boston (Koh); National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Tampa, Florida (Szymkowiak, Tsai); School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston (Tsai)
| | - Jack Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School, and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Boston (Koh); National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Tampa, Florida (Szymkowiak, Tsai); School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston (Tsai)
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27
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Lalmohamed A, Venekamp RP, Bolhuis A, Souverein PC, van de Wijgert JHHM, Gulliford MC, Hay AD. Within-episode repeat antibiotic prescriptions in patients with respiratory tract infections: A population-based cohort study. J Infect 2024; 88:106135. [PMID: 38462077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial stewardship interventions mainly focus on initial antibiotic prescriptions, with few considering within-episode repeat prescriptions. We aimed to describe the magnitude, type and determinants of within-episode repeat antibiotic prescriptions in patients presenting to primary care with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study among 530 sampled English general practices within the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). All individuals with a primary care RTI consultation for which an antibiotic was prescribed between March 2018 and February 2022. Main outcome measurement was repeat antibiotic prescriptions within 28 days of a RTI visit stratified by age (children vs. adults) and RTI type (lower vs. upper RTI). Multivariable logistic regression and principal components analyses were used to identify risk factors and patient clusters at risk for within-episode repeat prescriptions. FINDINGS 905,964 RTI episodes with at least one antibiotic prescription were identified. In adults, 19.9% (95% CI 19.3-20.5%) had at least one within-episode repeat prescription for a lower RTI, compared to 10.5% (95% CI 10.3-10.8%) for an upper RTI. In children, this was around 10% irrespective of RTI type. The majority of repeat prescriptions occurred a median of 10 days after the initial prescription and was the same antibiotic class in 48.3% of cases. Frequent RTI related GP visits and prior within-RTI-episode repeat antibiotic prescriptions were main factors associated with repeat prescriptions in both adults and children irrespective of RTI type. Young (<2 years) and older (65+) age were associated with repeat prescriptions. Among those aged 2-64 years, allergic rhinitis, COPD and oral corticosteroids were associated with repeat prescriptions. INTERPRETATIONS Repeat within-episode antibiotic use accounts for a significant proportion of all antibiotics prescribed for RTIs, with same class antibiotics unlikely to confer clinical benefit and is therefore a prime target for future antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arief Lalmohamed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Roderick P Venekamp
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Albert Bolhuis
- Department of Life Sciences and the Centre for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Patrick C Souverein
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Janneke H H M van de Wijgert
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin C Gulliford
- King's College London, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, London, UK
| | - Alastair D Hay
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Kumar A, Dowd-Green C, Green R, Stewart R. Institutional practices for charitable medication access for uninsured patients. Am J Manag Care 2024; 30:e135-e139. [PMID: 38603539 DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2024.89535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify the most frequently prescribed medications, the location where prescriptions were filled, and whether a voucher was utilized among patients enrolled in a charitable care program within an academic medical center. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study analyzing electronic health record and pharmacy dispensing information at a medical center's outpatient pharmacies. METHODS Patients included in this analysis were enrolled in a charitable care program and had at least 1 ambulatory encounter in a primary care clinic from March 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021. The study identified frequently prescribed medications, prescription payment methods, the overall cost of prescriptions if available, and the percentage of patients who filled their prescription at a medical center's outpatient pharmacies vs external outpatient pharmacies. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the results. RESULTS This study included 511 patients, 87% of whom were Spanish speaking. A total of 8453 prescriptions were identified, and more than half of the prescriptions were sent to external outpatient pharmacies. The most common medications prescribed were for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pain treatment. Forty-seven percent of all prescriptions were sent to the medical center's outpatient pharmacies. The medical center's charitable care program covered the costs of 44% of the prescriptions sent to internal pharmacies, assisting 148 unique patients and incurring a cost of $111,052 for the medical center. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study was able to characterize patient demographics, historical costs related to charitable care coverage, and the utilization of health care services among this population. This information can be used to support the development and implementation of a charitable medication formulary, with the aims of improving quality of care for this population and reducing medical center costs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caitlin Dowd-Green
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, 600 N Wolfe St, Carnegie 180, Baltimore, MD 21287.
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Eronen ST, Kurko T, Kivelä SL, Paunio T, Airaksinen M, Rantamäki T. Sleep medicines are often prescribed for older adults (≥75 years) without appropriate dosing instructions: A nationwide retrospective register study in Finland. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2024; 149:350-360. [PMID: 38268137 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep medicines should be prescribed cautiously, accompanied by instructions that ensure appropriate use and reduce risks. This is especially important for older adults, for whom many of these medicines are classified as potentially inappropriate medicines. METHODS We investigated the use and appropriateness of dosing instructions for sleep medicines (described in the Finnish National Current Care Guideline for Insomnia) prescribed for older adults (≥75 years) and dispensed with instruction label in pharmacies. The retrospective reimbursement register data for year 2020 by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland was used as the data source (1,080,843 purchases by 143,886 individuals of which 565,228 purchases were pharmacy dispenses). The appropriateness of the pharmacy dosing instructions containing keyword(s) referring to insomnia treatment was examined according to the prescribed dose, time of intake, frequency of use, and warnings/remarks. A random sample of 1000 instructions was used to manually analyze the phrasing and appropriateness. OUTCOMES We focused our analysis on 58.1% (328,285 purchases by 87,396 individuals) of the pharmacy dispenses, which contained dosing instructions referring insomnia treatment. Of these, zopiclone and mirtazapine were the most prescribed drugs (134,631 and 112,463 purchases, respectively). Dose and time of intake were specified in most of the instructions (98.4% and 83.4%, respectively), whereas frequency of use was specified in 57.3%. A small percentage of the instructions included warnings/remarks (2.8%). Overall, only 2.1% of the instructions contained information about a single dose, time of intake, temporary use, and warnings/remarks and were thus defined as sufficient. Notably, 47.7% (n = 515,615) of all the purchases in our dataset were dispensed via automated multi-dose dispensing systems, which is aimed for long-term treatment. INTERPRETATION It is common to prescribe sleep medicines for older adults without appropriate dosing instructions, particularly excluding warnings against long-term, regular use. Actions to change the current prescribing practices are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sini-Tuulia Eronen
- Laboratory of Neurotherapeutics, Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Terhi Kurko
- Research at Kela, Social Insurance Institution, Kela, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä
- Unit of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tiina Paunio
- SleepWell Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja Airaksinen
- Clinical Pharmacy Group, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tomi Rantamäki
- Laboratory of Neurotherapeutics, Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- SleepWell Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Chai G, Xu J, Goyal S, Woods C, Ho A, Song J, Dal Pan G. Trends in Incident Prescriptions for Behavioral Health Medications in the US, 2018-2022. JAMA Psychiatry 2024; 81:396-405. [PMID: 38198145 PMCID: PMC10782382 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.5045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Importance The COVID-19 pandemic reportedly increased behavioral health needs and impacted treatment access. Objective To assess changes in incident prescriptions dispensed for medications commonly used to treat depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and opioid use disorder (OUD), before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and Participants This was a cross-sectional study using comprehensive, population-level, nationally projected data from IQVIA National Prescription Audit on incident prescriptions (prescriptions dispensed to patients with no prior dispensing from the same drug class in the previous 12 months) dispensed for antidepressants, benzodiazepines, Schedule II (C-II) stimulants, nonstimulant medications for ADHD, and buprenorphine-containing medication for OUD (MOUD), from US outpatient pharmacies. Data were analyzed from April 2018 to March 2022. Exposure Incident prescriptions by drug class (by prescriber specialty, patient age, and sex) and drug. Main Outcomes and Measures Interrupted time-series analysis to compare changes in trends in the monthly incident prescriptions dispensed by drug class and percentage changes in aggregate incident prescriptions dispensed between April 2018 and March 2022. Results Incident prescriptions dispensed for the 5 drug classes changed from 51 500 321 before the COVID-19 pandemic to 54 000 169 during the pandemic. The largest unadjusted percentage increase in incident prescriptions by prescriber specialty was among nurse practitioners across all drug classes ranging from 7% (from 1 811 376 to 1 944 852; benzodiazepines) to 78% (from 157 578 to 280 925; buprenorphine MOUD), whereas for patient age and sex, the largest increases were within C-II stimulants and nonstimulant ADHD drugs among patients aged 20 to 39 years (30% [from 1 887 017 to 2 455 706] and 81% [from 255 053 to 461 017], respectively) and female patients (25% [from 2 352 095 to 2 942 604] and 59% [from 395 678 to 630 678], respectively). Trends for C-II stimulants and nonstimulant ADHD drugs (slope change: 4007 prescriptions per month; 95% CI, 1592-6422 and 1120 prescriptions per month; 95% CI, 706-1533, respectively) significantly changed during the pandemic, exceeding prepandemic trends after an initial drop at the onset of the pandemic (level changes: -50 044 prescriptions; 95% CI, -80 202 to -19 886 and -12 876 prescriptions; 95% CI, -17 756 to -7996, respectively). Although buprenorphine MOUD dropped significantly (level change: -2915 prescriptions; 95% CI, -5513 to -318), trends did not significantly change for buprenorphine MOUD, antidepressants, or benzodiazepines. Conclusions and Relevance Incident use of many behavioral health medications remained relatively stable during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, whereas ADHD medications, notably C-II stimulants, sharply increased. Additional research is needed to differentiate increases due to unmet need vs overprescribing, highlighting the need for further ADHD guideline development to define treatment appropriateness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Chai
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Jing Xu
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Sonal Goyal
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Corinne Woods
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Amy Ho
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Jaejoon Song
- Office of Biostatistics, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Gerald Dal Pan
- Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
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Averkamp B, Li K, Wally MK, Roomian T, Griggs C, Runyon M, Hsu JR, Seymour RB, Beuhler M, Bosse MJ, Castro M, Gibbs M, Jarrett S, Leas D, Odum S, Yu Z, Rachal J, Saha A, Sullivan DM, Watling B. Opioid Prescribing Rate for Nonoperative Distal Radius Fractures and Clinician Response to a Clinical Decision Support Alert. J Emerg Med 2024; 66:e413-e420. [PMID: 38490894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioids are commonly prescribed for the management of acute orthopedic trauma pain, including nonoperative distal radius fractures. OBJECTIVES This prospective study aimed to determine if a clinical decision support intervention influenced prescribing decisions for patients with known risk factors. We sought to quantify frequency of opioid prescriptions for acute nonoperative distal radius fractures treated. METHODS We performed a prospective study at one large health care system. Utilizing umbrella code S52.5, we identified all distal radius fractures treated nonoperatively, and the encounters were merged with the Prescription Reporting with Immediate Medication Mapping (PRIMUM) database to identify encounters with opioid prescriptions and patients with risk factors for opioid use disorder. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine patient characteristics associated with the prescription of an opioid. Among encounters that triggered the PRIMUM alert, we calculated the percentage of encounters where the PRIMUM alert influenced the prescribing decision. RESULTS Of 2984 encounters, 1244 (41.7%) included an opioid prescription. Age increment is a significant factor to more likely receive opioid prescriptions (p < 0.0001) after adjusting for other factors. Among encounters where the physician received an alert, those that triggered the alert for early refill were more likely to influence physicians' opioid prescribing when compared with other risk factors (p = 0.0088). CONCLUSION Over 90% of patients (106/118) continued to receive an opioid medication despite having a known risk factor for abuse. Additionally, we found older patients were more likely to be prescribed opioids for nonoperatively managed distal radius fractures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Averkamp
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Katherine Li
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Meghan K Wally
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Tamar Roomian
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | | | - Michael Runyon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Joseph R Hsu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Rachel B Seymour
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | | | - Michael J Bosse
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | | | - Michael Gibbs
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Steven Jarrett
- Patient Safety, Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Daniel Leas
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina; Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Susan Odum
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - Ziqing Yu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | - James Rachal
- Department of Psychiatry, Charlotte, North Carolina
| | | | - D Matthew Sullivan
- Atrium Health Information and Analytic Services, Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Koch FC, Olivier J, Brett J, Buckley NA, Gisev N, Pearson S, Daniels B. The impact of tightened prescribing restrictions for PBS-subsidised opioid medicines and the introduction of half-pack sizes, Australia, 2020-21: an interrupted time series analysis. Med J Aust 2024; 220:315-322. [PMID: 38522006 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of the tightened Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescribing rules for immediate release (IR) and controlled release (CR) opioid medicines (1 June 2020), which also eliminated repeat dispensing without authorisation for codeine/paracetamol and tramadol IR and introduced half-pack size item codes for IR formulations. DESIGN, SETTING Population-based interrupted time series analysis of PBS dispensing data claims for a 10% sample of PBS-eligible residents and IQVIA national opioid medicine sales data (PBS-subsidised and private prescriptions), 28 May 2018 - 6 June 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mean amount of PBS-subsidised opioid medicines dispensed per day and mean overall amount sold per day - each expressed as oral morphine equivalent milligrams (OME) - overall, by formulation type (IR, CR), and by specific formulation. RESULTS During the twelve months following the PBS changes, daily PBS-subsidised opioid medicine dispensing was 81 565 OME lower (95% CI, -106 146 to -56 984 OME) than the mean daily level for 2018-20, a decline of 3.8% after adjusting for the pre-intervention trend; the relative reduction was greater for IR (8.4%) than CR formulations (2.6%). Total daily sales of all, IR formulation, and CR formulation opioid medicines did not change significantly after the PBS changes. Repeat dispensing of prescriptions comprised 7.4% of PBS-subsidised opioid dispensing before 1 June 2020, and 1.3% after the changes. Half-pack sizes comprised 8.4% of PBS-subsidised IR opioid medicine dispensing and 2.8% of all opioid medicines sold in the twelve months after the PBS changes. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of new PBS rules for subsidised opioid medicines was followed by a decline in PBS-subsidised dispensing. Some people may have bypassed the new restrictions by switching to private prescriptions, but our findings suggest that opioid medicine use in Australia declined as a result of the new restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jake Olivier
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
- Transport and Road Safety Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
| | | | | | - Natasa Gisev
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW
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Osler M, Rosenqvist TW, Wium-Andersen IK, Wium-Andersen MK, Sloth MMB, Larsen EN, Jørgensen MB, Gronemann FH. Sedative drug prescription patterns in Danish adults from 2002 through 2021. A register-based cohort study. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 172:129-135. [PMID: 38377668 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pharmacological treatment strategies for insomnia seem to vary, and there is lack of knowledge about how sedative drugs are used in a real-world setting. We investigated changes in sedative drug prescription patterns in Danish adults who initiated treatment between 2002 and 2016. METHODS All adults with a first-time purchase of a sedative drug registered in the Danish National Prescription Register from 2002 through 2016 were followed for five years between 2002 and 2021 for subsequent prescriptions of sedative drugs, death, or emigration. Sedative drugs were classified into anxiolytic benzodiazepines (N05BA), hypnotic benzodiazepines (N05CD), Z-drugs (N05CF), melatonin (N05CH01), promethazine (R06AD), and low-dose quetiapine (N05AH04). Analyses were stratified on time: 2002-2006, 2007-2011, and 2012-2016. RESULTS A total of 842,880 individuals purchased their first sedative drug between 2002 and 2016. Most of them (40.0%) initiated treatment between 2002 and 2006, whereas 29.2% initiated treatment in 2012-2016. In 2002-2006, anxiolytic benzodiazepines (46.4%), Z-drugs (42.8%), and hypnotic benzodiazepines (5.4%) were the most common first treatment. This pattern changed over time with a gradual increase in the use of melatonin, promethazine, and low-dose quetiapine, which in 2011-2016 accounted for 27% of all first treatments. During the five years from first prescription, around 27% shifted to a different sedative drug. This percentage increased slightly over time, but over time the first shift to another drug class was most often to a Z-drug or anxiolytic benzodiazepine. Few individuals (5.8%) had more than one shift and the third choice seemed randomly distributed across all other drug classes. CONCLUSION Sedative drug prescriptions are distributed on different drug classes, with Z-drugs and anxiolytic benzodiazepines as the most frequent first treatment, and second choice in case of shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merete Osler
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Thomas Wolff Rosenqvist
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Kim Wium-Andersen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie Kim Wium-Andersen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathilde Marie Brünnich Sloth
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma Neble Larsen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Balslev Jørgensen
- Psychiatric Center Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frederikke Hørdam Gronemann
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark
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MacLachlan JH, Abbott M, Jones T, Sheils S, Richmond JA. Hepatitis C treatment prescribing in Australia by provider, 2020-2022: the underestimated role of nurse practitioners. Intern Med J 2024; 54:695-696. [PMID: 38637279 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H MacLachlan
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mielle Abbott
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tracey Jones
- Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sinead Sheils
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jacqueline A Richmond
- Disease Elimination, Disease Elimination, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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35
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Yermukhanova L, Kimatova K, Nazarbayeva R, Dostanova Z, Aimbetova G. A Nonsystematic Review of the Features of Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly at the Stage of Taking Medications. J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 64:391-398. [PMID: 38129179 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The human body is subservient to the age-related changes that affect not only the outer appearance but also organs and tissues. They also concern the processes of pharmacokinetics and dynamics. This means that the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of drugs used by an elderly patient will be slowed down. Therefore, it becomes necessary to prescribe a special dosing regimen for older people. An actual problem is also that, with age, many patients require more drugs than young people. This increases the risk of side effects because many drugs are difficult to combine with each other. Pharmacy of our time is a science that is constantly developing and modernizing, which allows changing therapy for the better: prescribing drugs in smaller quantities, with a smaller range of adverse reactions and a better effect. The aim of the work is to analyze the impact and relationship of older age on the pharmacotherapy of patients, as well as the risks of drug-induced diseases. To carry out this work, such research methods as analysis, synthesis, comparative analysis, classification, analogy, abstraction, induction, and generalization were used. The features of the stages of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the elderly were considered; we studied the data of clinical studies and literature in geriatrics; and the effects of a combination or increase in the dosage of drugs have been noted. After the collection of research data and the analysis, it turned out that it is real and necessary to avoid the negative consequences of pharmacotherapy in elderly and senile patients. Considering the natural age-related changes in the condition and functioning of organs and systems, constantly monitoring the effectiveness of drugs and undesirable reactions of the body to them, adjusting treatment protocols will have a favorable result and help optimize pharmacotherapy for the elderly and reduce the risk of side effects and diseases caused by medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyudmila Yermukhanova
- Department of Public Health and Health Care, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Kerbez Kimatova
- Department of Public Health and Health Care, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Rysty Nazarbayeva
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine and Scientific Management, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Zhanar Dostanova
- Center of Nursing Excellence, West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov Medical University, Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan
| | - Gulshara Aimbetova
- Department of Public Health, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
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36
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Mintzes B. Do regulatory safety warnings on medicines miss the mark? Drug Ther Bull 2024; 62:50. [PMID: 38458656 DOI: 10.1136/dtb.2023.000053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mintzes
- School of Pharmacy and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Hossain MS, Ahmed TS, Haque MA, Chowdhury MAB, Uddin MJ. Prevalence of unqualified sources of antimalarial drug prescription for children under the age of five: A study in 19 low- and middle-income countries. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300347. [PMID: 38512855 PMCID: PMC10956821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimalarial drug resistance poses a severe danger to global health. In Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), there is a lack of reliable information on antimalarial prescriptions for recent malarial fever in children under five. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of unqualified sources of antimalarial drug prescription for children under the age of five in 19 low- and middle-income countries. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study of the Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) datasets (n = 106265) across 19 LMICs. The recent MIS datasets were used, and the study only included children under five who had taken an antimalarial drug for a recent malarial fever. The outcome variable was classified into two distinct categories: those who had taken antimalarial drugs for malarial fever from qualified sources and those who did not. FINDINGS Among LMICs, we found that 87.1% of children under five received an antimalarial prescription from unqualified sources who had recently experienced malarial fever. In several LMICs (Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ghana), a substantial portion of recent antimalarial prescriptions for malaria was taken from unqualified sources (about 60%). Some LMICs (Guinea (31.8%), Mali (31.3%), Nigeria (20.4%), Kenya (2.6%), and Senegal (2.7%)) had low rates of antimalarial drug consumption even though children under five received a high percentage of antimalarial prescriptions from qualified sources for a recent malarial fever. Living in rural areas, having mothers with higher education, and having parents with more wealth were frequently taken antimalarial from qualified sources for recent malarial fever in children under five across the LMICs. INTERPRETATION The study draws attention to the importance of national and local level preventative strategies across the LMICs to restrict antimalarial drug consumption. This is because antimalarial prescriptions from unqualified sources for recent malarial fever in children under five were shockingly high in most LMICs and had high rates of unqualified prescriptions in certain other LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sabbir Hossain
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Research Team, Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Talha Sheikh Ahmed
- Department of Geography and Environment, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Anamul Haque
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Research Team, Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Muhammad Abdul Baker Chowdhury
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Research Team, Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Md Jamal Uddin
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health Research Team, Department of Statistics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Department of General Educational and Development, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Kolberg L, Khanijau A, van der Velden FJS, Herberg J, De T, Galassini R, Cunnington AJ, Wright VJ, Shah P, Kaforou M, Wilson C, Kuijpers T, Martinón-Torres F, Rivero-Calle I, Moll H, Vermont C, Pokorn M, Kolnik M, Pollard AJ, Agyeman PKA, Schlapbach LJ, Tsolia MN, Yeung S, Zavadska D, Zenz W, Schweintzger NA, van der Flier M, de Groot R, Usuf E, Voice M, Calvo-Bado L, Mallet F, Fidler K, Levin M, Carrol ED, Emonts M, von Both U. Raising AWaRe-ness of Antimicrobial Stewardship Challenges in Pediatric Emergency Care: Results from the PERFORM Study Assessing Consistency and Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescribing Across Europe. Clin Infect Dis 2024; 78:526-534. [PMID: 37820031 PMCID: PMC10954344 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimization of antimicrobial stewardship is key to tackling antimicrobial resistance, which is exacerbated by overprescription of antibiotics in pediatric emergency departments (EDs). We described patterns of empiric antibiotic use in European EDs and characterized appropriateness and consistency of prescribing. METHODS Between August 2016 and December 2019, febrile children attending EDs in 9 European countries with suspected infection were recruited into the PERFORM (Personalised Risk Assessment in Febrile Illness to Optimise Real-Life Management) study. Empiric systemic antibiotic use was determined in view of assigned final "bacterial" or "viral" phenotype. Antibiotics were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRe classification. RESULTS Of 2130 febrile episodes (excluding children with nonbacterial/nonviral phenotypes), 1549 (72.7%) were assigned a bacterial and 581 (27.3%) a viral phenotype. A total of 1318 of 1549 episodes (85.1%) with a bacterial and 269 of 581 (46.3%) with a viral phenotype received empiric systemic antibiotics (in the first 2 days of admission). Of those, the majority (87.8% in the bacterial and 87.0% in the viral group) received parenteral antibiotics. The top 3 antibiotics prescribed were third-generation cephalosporins, penicillins, and penicillin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Of those treated with empiric systemic antibiotics in the viral group, 216 of 269 (80.3%) received ≥1 antibiotic in the "Watch" category. CONCLUSIONS Differentiating bacterial from viral etiology in febrile illness on initial ED presentation remains challenging, resulting in a substantial overprescription of antibiotics. A significant proportion of patients with a viral phenotype received systemic antibiotics, predominantly classified as WHO Watch. Rapid and accurate point-of-care tests in the ED differentiating between bacterial and viral etiology could significantly improve antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kolberg
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aakash Khanijau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Fabian J S van der Velden
- Pediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy Department, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jethro Herberg
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tisham De
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Galassini
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aubrey J Cunnington
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria J Wright
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Priyen Shah
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Myrsini Kaforou
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Wilson
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Taco Kuijpers
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Irene Rivero-Calle
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Henriette Moll
- Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clementien Vermont
- Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marko Pokorn
- Univerzitetni Klinični Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mojca Kolnik
- University Medical Center Ljubljana, University Children's Hospital, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Philipp K A Agyeman
- Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luregn J Schlapbach
- Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria N Tsolia
- Second Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital ‘P. and A. Kyriakou,’ National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dace Zavadska
- Children Clinical University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Rīgas Stradina Universitāte, Riga, Latvia
| | - Werner Zenz
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Nina A Schweintzger
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michiel van der Flier
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald de Groot
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Effua Usuf
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia
| | - Marie Voice
- Micropathology Ltd, The Venture Center, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Leonides Calvo-Bado
- Micropathology Ltd, The Venture Center, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - François Mallet
- Joint Research Unit Hospice Civils de Lyon–bioMérieux, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Katy Fidler
- Academic Department of Pediatrics, Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, East Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Levin
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Enitan D Carrol
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marieke Emonts
- Pediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy Department, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Division Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
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Crisafulli S, Fontana A, L'Abbate L, Vitturi G, Cozzolino A, Gianfrilli D, De Martino MC, Amico B, Combi C, Trifirò G. Machine learning-based algorithms applied to drug prescriptions and other healthcare services in the Sicilian claims database to identify acromegaly as a model for the earlier diagnosis of rare diseases. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6186. [PMID: 38485706 PMCID: PMC10940660 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56240-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Acromegaly is a rare disease characterized by a diagnostic delay ranging from 5 to 10 years from the symptoms' onset. The aim of this study was to develop and internally validate machine-learning algorithms to identify a combination of variables for the early diagnosis of acromegaly. This retrospective population-based study was conducted between 2011 and 2018 using data from the claims databases of Sicily Region, in Southern Italy. To identify combinations of potential predictors of acromegaly diagnosis, conditional and unconditional penalized multivariable logistic regression models and three machine learning algorithms (i.e., the Recursive Partitioning and Regression Tree, the Random Forest and the Support Vector Machine) were used, and their performance was evaluated. The random forest (RF) algorithm achieved the highest Area under the ROC Curve value of 0.83 (95% CI 0.79-0.87). The sensitivity in the test set, computed at the optimal threshold of predicted probabilities, ranged from 28% for the unconditional logistic regression model to 69% for the RF. Overall, the only diagnosis predictor selected by all five models and algorithms was the number of immunosuppressants-related pharmacy claims. The other predictors selected by at least two models were eventually combined in an unconditional logistic regression to develop a meta-score that achieved an acceptable discrimination accuracy (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI 0.66-0.75). Findings of this study showed that data-driven machine learning algorithms may play a role in supporting the early diagnosis of rare diseases such as acromegaly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Fontana
- Unit of Biostatistics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Luca L'Abbate
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giacomo Vitturi
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, P.Le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona, Italy
| | - Alessia Cozzolino
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Gianfrilli
- Section of Medical Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Amico
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carlo Combi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gianluca Trifirò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, P.Le L.A. Scuro 10, 37124, Verona, Italy.
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Kim BH, Ha EK, Yoo H, Lee S, Rha YH, Han MY, Kim JH. Trends in Incidence and Drug Prescriptions for Croup in Children Under 5 Years of Age: A 2002-2019 Population-Based Study. J Korean Med Sci 2024; 39:e95. [PMID: 38469967 PMCID: PMC10927388 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tracking national croup trends can provide important insights for childhood health management. This study aimed to analyze the incidence and drug prescription trends in Korean children over a two-decade period. METHODS This population-based study encompassed 479,783 children aged < 5 years from 2002-2019, utilizing the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort. We identified participants with a primary croup diagnosis who were admitted to or visited the emergency room. Age-specific and age-adjusted incidence rates/10,000 person-years were calculated. We assessed using orthogonal polynomial contrasts and stratified by various factors (sex, age, residential area, economic status, comorbidities, and healthcare facility types). We observed changes in the use of five medications: inhaled steroids, systemic steroids, inhaled epinephrine, antibiotics, and short-acting bronchodilators. Generalized binomial logistic regression was used to analyze factors influencing prescription strategies. RESULTS In 2002, the croup-related visits were 16.1/10,000 person-years, increasing to 98.3 in 2019 (P for trend < 0.001). This trend persisted, regardless of age, sex, region, and economic status. Children with comorbid atopic dermatitis or asthma maintained consistent croup rates, while those without comorbidities increased. Treatment trends showed decreasing antibiotic (73-47%) and oxygen use (21.3-3.4%), with increasing nebulized epinephrine (9.3-41.5%) and multiple drug prescriptions (67.8-80.3%). Primary care centers exhibited a greater increase in prescription usage and hospitalization duration than did tertiary healthcare institutions. CONCLUSION Over the past two decades, croup incidence has risen, accompanied by increased epinephrine use and decreased antibiotic prescriptions. Longer hospitalization and higher medication use were mainly observed in primary care facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Hee Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Kyo Ha
- Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hana Yoo
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Soonchul Lee
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Yeong Ho Rha
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Man Yong Han
- Department of Pediatrics, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
| | - Ju Hee Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Matovelle P, Oliván-Blázquez B, Domínguez-García M, Casado-Vicente V, Pascual de la Pisa B, Magallón-Botaya R. Health Outcomes for Older Patients with Chronic Diseases During the First Pandemic Year. Clin Interv Aging 2024; 19:385-397. [PMID: 38464598 PMCID: PMC10924748 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s444716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Worldwide, chronic diseases are prevalent among the older adults, significantly affecting their health and healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, disrupting healthcare services. Our study assesses the impact on older individuals with chronic diseases who were not infected with COVID-19, analyzing comorbidities, medication use, mortality rates, and resource utilization using real data from Aragon, Spain. Methods A retrospective observational study, conducted in Aragon, Spain, focused on individuals aged 75 and older with at least one chronic disease, who were not infected of COVID-19. The research used actual data collected during three distinct periods: the first covered the six months prior to the pandemic, the second the six months after the lockdown, and the third the period between six and twelve months. Key variables included socio-demographics, comorbidities, clinical parameters, medication use, and health services utilization. Results We included 128.130 older adults. Mean age was 82.88 years, with 60.3% being women. The most common chronic diseases were hypertension (73.2%), dyslipidemia (52.5%), and dorsopathies (31.5%). More than 90% had more than 2 conditions. A notable decline in new chronic disease diagnoses was observed, particularly pronounced in the six to twelve months period after lockdown. Although statistically significant differences were observed in all clinical variables analyzed, they were considered clinically irrelevant. Furthermore, a decrease in healthcare services utilization and medication prescriptions was reported. Conclusion Our study highlights a decrease in new chronic disease diagnoses, ongoing reductions in healthcare utilization, and medication prescriptions for older adults with pre-existing chronic conditions, unaffected by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Matovelle
- Department of Geriatrics, San Juan de Dios Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Dermatology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez
- Group B21-20R, Health Research Institute of Aragon (IISA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), RD21/0016/0005, Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Domínguez-García
- Primary Care Research Unit (GAIAP), Aragon Health Research Institute (IISA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragonese Healthcare Service, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Verónica Casado-Vicente
- Parquesol Primary Care Center, Valladolid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pascual de la Pisa
- Santa María de Gracia Primary Care, Seville, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), RD21/0016/0015, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosa Magallón-Botaya
- Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Dermatology, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Group B21-20R, Health Research Institute of Aragon (IISA), Zaragoza, Spain
- Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care, and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), RD21/0016/0005, Zaragoza, Spain
- Parquesol Primary Care Center, Valladolid, Spain
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Satir A, Pfiffner M, Meier CR, Caduff Good A. Use of unlicensed drugs in a Swiss Pediatric University Hospital and associated prescribing error rates - a retrospective observational study. Swiss Med Wkly 2024; 154:3369. [PMID: 38579321 DOI: 10.57187/s.3369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS OF THE STUDY Unlicensed drugs are frequently used in paediatric care. To what extent they are prescribed in hospital care in Switzerland is unclear. Because prescribing errors seem to occur more frequently with unlicensed drugs, we aimed to assess the prevalence of unlicensed drug prescriptions in two study periods (2018 and 2019) at the University Children's Hospital Zurich, compare these periods and investigate whether unlicensed drugs were more prone to prescribing errors than licensed drugs. METHODS We conducted a sub-analysis of a retrospective single-centre observational study and analysed 5,022 prescriptions for a total of 1,000 patients from 2018 and 2019 in paediatric general wards. The rate of unlicensed drugs, consisting of imported or formula drugs, was investigated. The prescriptions from 2019 were further analysed on prescribing errors to see whether errors occurred more often in unlicensed or licensed drug use. RESULTS Of all prescriptions, 10.8% were unlicensed drugs, with around half each being imported and formula drugs. Among all patients, 34% were prescribed at least one unlicensed drug. Younger paediatric patients were prescribed more unlicensed drugs than older paediatric patients (newborns: 15.8% of prescriptions, infants: 13.4%, children: 10.6%, adolescents: 7.1%). Ibuprofen suppositories, midazolam oral solution and gentamicin i.v. solution were the most frequently prescribed imported drugs. Macrogol powder, lisinopril oral suspension and potassium chloride i.v. solution were the most frequently prescribed formula drugs. The most common drug forms in unlicensed use were oral liquid forms and i.v. SOLUTIONS Unlicensed drugs had a significantly higher rate of prescribing errors than licensed drugs (31.6 errors per 100 prescriptions [95% CI: 26.1-37.0] versus 24.3 errors per 100 prescriptions [95% CI: 22.3-26.2], p = 0.024). In particular, formula drugs carried a higher risk (36.4 errors per 100 prescriptions, p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS Unlicensed drugs are frequently prescribed in this paediatric hospital setting in Switzerland. Around every tenth prescription is an unlicensed drug. Because unlicensed drugs showed a significantly higher rate of prescribing errors, licensed drugs are favourable in terms of medication safety and should be prescribed whenever possible. If no licensed drug is available, imported drugs should be favoured over formula drugs due to lower prescribing error rates. To increase medication safety in paediatrics in Switzerland, efforts are necessary to increase the number of suitable licensed drug formulations for paediatric patients, including developing new innovative drug formulations for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aylin Satir
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Pfiffner
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph R Meier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Angela Caduff Good
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Irvin K, Kitsantas P, Wojtusiak J, Avramovic S, Xue H. Assessing the Impact of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Policy Guidance on Part D Prescriptions Among Hospice Patients. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2024; 41:302-308. [PMID: 37194055 DOI: 10.1177/10499091231176048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hospice care facilities are required to provide prescription drugs related to a hospice patient's terminal illness. From October 2010 to present, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a series of communications regarding Medicare paying for hospice patients' prescription drugs under Part D that should be covered under the hospice Medicare Part A benefit. On April 4, 2011, CMS issued specific policy guidance to providers aimed at preventing inappropriate billing. While CMS has documented Part D prescription decreases in hospice patients, no research exists that connects these decreases and the policy guidance. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the April 4, 2011, policy guidance on hospice patients' Part D prescriptions. This study employed generalized estimating equations to assess (1) total monthly average prescriptions of all medications and (2) four categories of commonly prescribed hospice medications in pre-and-post policy guidance. This research used the Medicare claims of 113,260 Part D-enrolled Medicare male patients aged 66 and older between April 2009 and March 2013, including 110,547 non-hospice patients and 2713 hospice patients. Hospice patients' monthly average total Part D prescriptions decreased from 7.3 pre-policy guidance to 6.5 medications following the issuing of the guidance, while the four categories of hospice-specific medications decreased from .57 to .49. The findings of this study show that CMS's guidance issued to providers to prevent the inappropriate billing of hospice patients' prescriptions to the Part D benefit may lead to Part D prescription decreases as observed in this sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Irvin
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University College of Health and Human Services, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Panagiota Kitsantas
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University College of Health and Human Services, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Janusz Wojtusiak
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University College of Health and Human Services, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Sanja Avramovic
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University College of Health and Human Services, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Hong Xue
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University College of Health and Human Services, Fairfax, VA, USA
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Goudman L, Moens M, Pilitsis JG. Incidence and Prevalence of Pain Medication Prescriptions in Pathologies with a Potential for Chronic Pain. Anesthesiology 2024; 140:524-537. [PMID: 38081041 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heightened risks of dependence, addiction, anxiolytic effects, or prescription overdose death due to long-term use of pain medication have increased awareness about extended pain medication use in chronic pain populations. The goal of this study was to evaluate the incidence and prevalence of pain medication prescriptions from 2012 to 2022 in common pathologies with a potential for chronic pain. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic health records from TriNetX (Cambridge, Massachusetts) Global Collaborative Network. For 10 distinct cohorts (total n = 9,357,584 patients), pain medication prescriptions were extracted for five classes, namely nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, opioids, gabapentinoids, neuropathic mood agents, and muscle relaxants. Annual incidence and prevalence of each class of medication were evaluated for the past 11 yr. RESULTS From 2012 to 2022, there was a significant increase in prescriptions of NSAIDs, except for patients with fibromyalgia, and persistent spinal pain syndrome (PSPS) type 2. Interestingly, over time, prescriptions of opioids in patients with complex regional pain syndrome, endometriosis, osteoarthritis, and PSPS type 2 increased, as did prescriptions of muscle relaxants for all cohorts except those with fibromyalgia. Incidence of prescriptions of neuropathic mood agents is high for patients with complex regional pain syndrome (both types) and PSPS type 2. Only for benzodiazepines did there seem to be a decline over the years, with a significantly decreased time trend in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1, fibromyalgia, and PSPS type 2. CONCLUSIONS During the last 11 yr, an increase in incidence of NSAIDs and acetaminophen, opioids, neuropathic agents, and muscle relaxants was observed. Only prescriptions of benzodiazepines significantly decreased over time in specific cohorts. Overall, patients with PSPS type 2 and complex regional pain syndrome (both types) consume a broad variety of pain medication classes. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Goudman
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy for reSearch and TeachIng NeuroModULation Uz BruSsel (STIMULUS) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), and Pain in Motion (PAIN) Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Neurosurgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium; Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
| | - Maarten Moens
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy for reSearch and TeachIng NeuroModULation Uz BruSsel (STIMULUS) Research Group, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), and Pain in Motion (PAIN) Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; and Departments of Neurosurgery and Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julie G Pilitsis
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida
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Cebron Lipovec N. Opioid analgesics prescribing trends 2010-2019 in Slovenia: National database study. Hum Psychopharmacol 2024; 39:e2891. [PMID: 38214662 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Significant increases in global opioid use have been reported in recent decades. This study analyzed opioid utilization in outpatient care in Slovenia between 2010 and 2019. METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study performed a nationwide database analysis of all outpatient opioid analgesic prescriptions based on Slovenian health insurance claims data. Prevalence was defined as the number of recipients prescribed at least one opioid per 1000 inhabitants. Opioid consumption was presented as the total number of dispensed prescriptions per 1000 inhabitants and dispensed defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants for each year analyzed. RESULTS The age-standardized prevalence of opioid recipients decreased by 21.5% during the study period. Total opioid consumption decreased both in the number of prescriptions (-9.2%) and DDD (-5.4%). Tramadol consumption decreased in terms of the number of prescriptions (-12.2%) and DDD (-2.7%), whereas prescriptions for strong opioids increased (10.2%) and DDDs decreased (-16.2%). The results suggest less intensive prescribing of strong opioids and more intensive prescribing for tramadol. The most frequently used strong opioids were fentanyl and oxycodone/naloxone. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of opioid recipients and opioid consumption is decreasing in Slovenia. Further research is needed to understand whether this finding reflects safe use or underuse of these important analgesics.
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Cameron CM, Shibl R, Cramb S, McCreanor V, Proper M, Warren J, Smyth T, Carter HE, Vallmuur K, Graves N, Bradford N, Loveday B. Community Opioid Dispensing after Injury (CODI): Cohort characteristics and opioid dispensing patterns. Injury 2024; 55:111216. [PMID: 38000939 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2023.111216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a focus of opioid-related research internationally, there is limited understanding of long-term opioid use in adults following injury. We analysed data from the 'Community Opioid Dispensing after Injury' data linkage study. AIMS This paper aims to describe the baseline characteristics of the injured cohort and report opioid dispensing patterns following injury-related hospitalisations. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalised after injury (ICD-10AM: S00-S99, T00-T75) in Queensland, Australia between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015, prior to implementation of opioid stewardship programs. Data were person-linked between hospitalisation, community opioid dispensing and mortality collections. Data were extracted for 90-days prior to the index hospital admission, to establish opiate naivety, to 720 days after discharge. Median daily oral morphine equivalents (i.e., dose) were averaged for each 30-day interval. Cumulative duration of dispensing and dose were compared by demographic and clinical characteristics, stratified by drug dependency status. RESULTS Of the 129,684 injured adults, 61.3 % had no opioids dispensed in the 2-year follow-up period. Adults having any opioids dispensed in the community (38.7 %) were more likely older, female, to have fracture injuries and injuries with a higher severity, compared to those with no opioids dispensed. Longer durations and higher doses of opioids were seen for those with pre-injury opioid use, more hospital readmissions and repeat surgeries, as well as those who died in the 2-year follow-up period. Median dispensing duration was 24-days with a median daily end dose of 13 oral morphine equivalents. If dispensing occurred prior to the injury, duration increased 10-fold and oral morphine equivalents doubled. Adults with a documented dependency prior to, or after, the injury had significantly longer durations of use and higher doses than the rest of the cohort receiving opioids. Approximately 7 % of the total cohort continued to be dispensed opioids at 2-years post injury. CONCLUSION This is a novel population-level profile of opioid dispensing patterns following injury-related hospitalisation, described for the time period prior to the implementation of opioid stewardship programs and regulatory changes in Queensland. Detailed understanding of this pre-implementation period is critical for evaluating the impact of these changes moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Cameron
- Jamieson Trauma Institute, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Health; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - R Shibl
- School of Science Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, QLD, Australia
| | - S Cramb
- Jamieson Trauma Institute, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Health; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - V McCreanor
- Jamieson Trauma Institute, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Health; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - M Proper
- Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Metro North Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - J Warren
- Jamieson Trauma Institute, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Health; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - T Smyth
- Jamieson Trauma Institute, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Health
| | - H E Carter
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - K Vallmuur
- Jamieson Trauma Institute, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Metro North Health; Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - N Graves
- Health Services and Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - N Bradford
- Centre for Healthcare Transformation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - B Loveday
- Q-Script Management Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Australia
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Alai J, Callen EF, Clay T, Goodman DW, Adler LA, Faraone SV. Differences in Primary Care Management of Patients With Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Based on Race and Ethnicity. J Atten Disord 2024; 28:923-935. [PMID: 38214134 DOI: 10.1177/10870547231218038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Examine differences in care patterns around adult ADHD between race (White/Non-White) and ethnic (Hispanic/Non-Hispanic) groups utilizing existing quality measures (QMs), concerning diagnosis, treatment, and medication prescribing. METHODS The AAFP National Research Network in partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical used an EHR dataset to evaluate achievement of 10 ADHD QMs. The dataset was obtained from DARTNet Institute and includes 4 million patients of 873 behavioral and primary care practices with at least 100 patients from 2010 to 2020. Patients 18-years or older with adult ADHD were included in this analysis. RESULTS White patients and Non-Hispanic/Latinx patients were more likely to achieve these QMs than Non-White patients and Hispanic/Latinx patients, respectively. Differences between groups concerning medication and monitoring demonstrate a disparity for Non-White and Hispanic/Latinx populations. CONCLUSIONS Using QMs in EHR data can help identify gaps in ADHD research. There is a need to continue investigating disparities of quality adult ADHD care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Alai
- American Academy of Family Physicians, Leawood, KS, USA
- DARTNet Institute, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Elisabeth F Callen
- American Academy of Family Physicians, Leawood, KS, USA
- DARTNet Institute, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Tarin Clay
- American Academy of Family Physicians, Leawood, KS, USA
- DARTNet Institute, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - David W Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Lenard A Adler
- Departments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephen V Faraone
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Cai C, Knudsen S, Weant K. Opioid Prescribing by Emergency Physicians: Trends Study of Medicare Part D Prescriber Data 2013-2019. J Emerg Med 2024; 66:e313-e322. [PMID: 38290881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emergency physicians play a critical role in mitigating the opioid epidemic in public health. OBJECTIVES To analyze the prescribing of emergency physicians for opioids among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the Part D program from 2013 to 2019. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive analysis of Medicare Part D prescriber data, focusing on opioid claims between 2013 and 2019. The primary outcome variables evaluated included proportion of opioid claims, trends of the most prescribed opioids, cost of opioid claims, and days' supply per claim. RESULTS A total of 63,586 emergency physicians were identified over the study period. Opioid prescription by emergency physicians decreased from 14.45% to 11.55%, and the cost spent on opioid drugs declined by 50%. The use of drugs such as hydrocodone-acetaminophen and oxycodone-acetaminophen declined substantially, whereas tramadol and acetaminophen-codeine prescription increased. The opioid prescribing rate and days' supply also decreased. CONCLUSIONS The decline in traditional opioid agents such as hydrocodone-acetaminophen was partly offset by an increase in opioids like tramadol, which carry additional potential adverse events. Opioid prescribing rate, average days' supply, and cost of opioid drugs significantly decreased from 2015 to 2019, after a spike in 2015. All regions observed a decrease in emergency physicians, but opioid prescribing rates varied across regions. These trends highlight successful opioid stewardship practices in some areas and the need for further development in others. This information can aid in designing tailored guidelines and policies for emergency physicians to promote effective opioid stewardship practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Cai
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Sophia Knudsen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Kyle Weant
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Outcomes Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
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Tsai J, Christian NJ, Szymkowiak D. Patterns of Psychiatric Medication Prescriptions for Veterans in Treatment Courts and Other Specialty Courts. J Psychiatr Pract 2024; 30:119-129. [PMID: 38526399 DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Psychiatric medications can serve as important tools for addressing behavioral health issues among criminal justice-involved (CJI) veterans. This study used national data on 12,790 CJI veterans in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Justice Outreach program from 2019 to 2020 to compare patterns of psychiatric medication prescriptions among veterans who entered a veterans treatment court (n = 6975), another specialty court (SC; n = 414), or no-SC (n = 5401). Different classes of medications were examined, including antidepressants, stimulants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and medications for substance use disorders. The results showed that 60.2% of the total sample was prescribed a psychiatric medication within 1 year of entering the Veterans Justice Outreach program. There was no significant difference in overall psychiatric prescribing among veterans treatment court, other SC, and no-SC groups, but there were a few differences in certain classes of psychiatric medications. Moreover, about 7.8% of veterans who were in the no-SC group and were prescribed psychiatric medications did not have a psychiatric diagnosis. Veterans who were younger, non-Hispanic white, married, with a VA service-connected disability rating, had a diagnosis of mental and/or substance use disorder, and used more VA health care services were more likely to have been prescribed psychiatric medication. Together, these findings illustrate the essential role of psychiatric medications in courts and programs that serve CJI veterans, as well as the important link between VA service engagement and psychiatric prescriptions.
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