Sequence symmetry analysis graphic adjustment for prescribing trends.

Background: Sequence symmetry analysis (SSA) is a signal detection method that can be used to assist with adverse drug event detection. It provides both a risk estimate and a data visualisation. Published methods provide results in the form of an adjusted sequence ratio, which adjusts for underlying market trends of medicine use, however no method for adjusting the visualisation is available.

Comorbid diabetes and COPD: impact of corticosteroid use on diabetes complications.

Objective: To identify if there is a dose-dependent risk of diabetes complications in patients treated with corticosteroids who have both diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

Research Design And Methods: A retrospective study of administrative claims data from the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs, from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2008, of diabetes patients newly initiated on metformin or sulfonylurea. COPD was identified by dispensings of tiotropium or ipratropium in the 6 months preceding study entry.

Does antidepressant medication use affect persistence with diabetes medicines?

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of antidepressant use on persistence with newly initiated oral antidiabetic medicines in older people.

Methods: A retrospective study of administrative claims data from the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs, from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2008 of new users of oral antidiabetic medicines (metformin or sulfonylurea). Antidepressant medicine use was determined in the 6 months preceding the index date of the first dispensing of an oral antidiabetic medicine.

Major bleeding risk associated with warfarin and co-medications in the elderly population.

Purpose: Warfarin management in the elderly population is complex as medicines prescribed for concomitant diseases may further increase the risk of major bleeding associated with warfarin use. We aimed to quantify the excess risk of bleeding-related hospitalisation when warfarin was co-dispensed with potentially interacting medicines.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken over a 4-year period from July 2002 to June 2006 to examine bleeding risk associated with medications co-administered in patients taking warfarin using an administrative claims database from the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Influence of comorbidities on therapeutic progression of diabetes treatment in Australian veterans: a cohort study.

Background: This study assessed whether the number of comorbid conditions unrelated to diabetes was associated with a delay in therapeutic progression of diabetes treatment in Australian veterans.

Methodology/principal Findings: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken using data from the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) claims database between July 2000 and June 2008. The study included new users of metformin or sulfonylurea medicines.

Assessing overall duration of cardiovascular medicines in veterans with established cardiovascular disease.

Background: This study aimed to determine persistence, adherence, and time without therapy with cardiovascular medicines over all episodes of use among veterans following hospitalization for ischemic heart disease.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study using Department of Veterans' Affairs database including 9635 veterans with a hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, angina, or ischemic heart disease, and who had been dispensed cardiovascular medicines in the 3 months posthospitalization. The main outcome measures were duration of first treatment episode, duration of overall treatment episode, and adherence with recommended therapies: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), lipid-lowering therapy, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), beta-blockers, and antiplatelet therapy.