Predictors of high-intensity care at the end of life among older adults with solid tumors: A population-based study.

Introduction: High-intensity end-of-life (EoL) care can be burdensome for patients, caregivers, and health systems and does not confer any meaningful clinical benefit. Yet, there are significant knowledge gaps regarding the predictors of high-intensity EoL care. In this study, we identify risk factors associated with high-intensity EoL care among older adults with the four most common malignancies, including breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer.

Rhode Island (RI) Women's Breast Cancer Mammography Use Prior to and After Cancer Diagnosis: Linkage of RI Cancer Registry Data With RI All-Payer Claims Database.

Objective: A limitation of the central cancer registries to examine associations between mammography use and cancer diagnosis is their lack of cancer screening history. To fill this measurement gap, Rhode Island Cancer Registry (RICR) breast cancer (BC) records were linked to Rhode Island-all-payer claims database (RI-APCD) to study Rhode Island (RI) women's regular mammography use and identify its predictors.

Methods: From the linked 2011-2019 data, we identified 4 study cohorts: (1) women who ever received mammography by Women's Cancer Screening Program (WCSP) and were diagnosed with BC ("WCSP-BC" cohort: n = 149), (2) women diagnosed with BC outside of WCSP (BC-control cohort: n = 4304), (3) women with a history of mammography use at WCSP but no BC diagnosis (n = 6513), and (4) general RI women with no BC diagnosis (n = 15 121).

Association between adherence with oral anticancer medications and short-term health care resource utilization: A 2010-2018 claims-based analysis.

Background: There is limited evidence on the effect of adherence to oral anticancer medications on health care resource utilization (HRU) among patients with cancer.

Objective: To determine the association between adherence to oral anticancer medication and subsequent HRU.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Optum Clinformatics Data Mart commercial claims database.

Association of guideline-concordant care with survival, health care utilization, and costs among older women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objectives: To examine guideline-concordant care (GCC) for ovarian cancer, identify its predictors, and evaluate the associations between GCC and survival, health care expenditures, and utilization.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data.

Methods: Women aged 66 to 90 years who received a diagnosis of stage II or higher epithelial ovarian cancer during 2011-2015 were included (N = 3237).

Evaluation of the association between health insurance status and healthcare utilization and expenditures among adult cancer survivors in the United States.

Background: Health care expenditures for cancer care has increased significantly over the past decade and is further projected to rise. This study examined the associations between health insurance status and total direct health care expenditures and health care utilization among cancer survivors living in the United States.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of cancer survivors aged ≥18 years, identified from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) during 2017 using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes specific for cancer.

Real-World Outcomes Associated With Letermovir Use for Cytomegalovirus Primary Prophylaxis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies.

Background: A systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world observational studies was conducted to summarize the impact of letermovir cytomegalovirus (CMV) primary prophylaxis (PP) among adult allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) recipients.

Methods: Systematic searches in Medline/PubMed, Embase, and conferences (from database inception to October 2021) were conducted to identify studies for inclusion. Random-effects models were used to derive pooled estimates on the relative effectiveness of letermovir PP compared to controls.

PHARMACY DEDUCTIBLES CAN COMPLICATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEASURES OF PATIENT COST SHARING AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE.

This letter pertains to our recent publication in , which describes a study that was jointly funded by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and the National Pharmaceutical Council.

Path of least recurrence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of fidaxomicin versus vancomycin for Clostridioides difficile infection.

Study Objective: Current Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment guidelines recommend either fidaxomicin or vancomycin as first-line therapy for initial and recurrent CDI. The objective of this study was to compare recurrence rates of fidaxomicin and vancomycin for the treatment of CDI in clinically relevant and real-world subgroups via systematic review and meta-analysis.

Design & Data Sources: A systematic literature review was performed by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.

Adverse Events Induced by Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Nivolumab Monotherapy among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were performed to examine treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) for combination of nivolumab (NIVO) and ipilimumab (IPI) compared to NIVO monotherapy among cancer patients. We searched several databases to identify relevant RCTs. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects model.

Predictors of adherence to oral anticancer medications: An analysis of 2010-2018 US nationwide claims.

Various factors, including patient demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, therapy-related factors, clinical characteristics, and health-system factors, can affect patient adherence to oral anticancer medications (OAMs). To determine the proportion of patients initiating oral anticancer therapy who were adherent to OAMs and to identify significant predictors of adherence to OAMs, including patient OOP costs and patient demographics. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from Optum Clinformatics Data Mart commercial claims database for 2010-2018.

The effect of antiretroviral therapy with high central nervous system penetration on HIV-related cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic complications are a significant concern for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) infection. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are prevalent in PLWHA. Yet, the efficacy of medications that penetrate the central nervous system (CNS) at preventing or slowing the progression of HAND remains largely unknown.

Association of guideline-concordant initial systemic treatment with clinical and economic outcomes among older women with metastatic breast cancer in the United States.

Purpose: We examined guideline-concordant initial systemic treatment among women with metastatic breast cancer, its predictors, and if guideline-concordant treatment was associated with mortality, healthcare utilization and Medicare expenditures.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results-Medicare linked database. Women aged 66-90 years diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer during 2010-2013 (N = 1282) were included.

Disparities in Guideline-Concordant Initial Systemic Treatment in Women with HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: A SEER-Medicare Analysis.

Background: Data on guideline-concordant initial systemic treatment among women with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are limited. We determined the proportion of women with HER2-negative MBC who received guideline-concordant treatment and the extent to which independent variables explained differences in guideline-concordant treatment by hormone receptor (HR) status.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the SEER-Medicare database.

Dyslipidemia and Rate of Under-Target Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in Korea.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate under target rates of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in Korean patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) or an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in real world practice.

Methods: Dyslipidemia International Study II was an international observational study of patients with stable CAD or an ACS. Lipid profiles and use of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) were documented at enrollment, and for the ACS cohort, 4 months follow-up was recommended.

Guideline-Concordant Treatment Among Elderly Women With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer in the United States.

Background: It is crucial to identify whether women with HER2-positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are treated according to treatment guidelines and whether treatment disparities exist. This study examined guideline-concordant treatment among women with HER2+ MBC and determined the magnitude of differences in treatment between those with positive and negative hormone receptor (HR) status using a nonlinear decomposition technique.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using the SEER-Medicare linked database.

Psychotropic polypharmacy and its association with health-related quality of life among cancer survivors in the USA: a population-level analysis.

Purpose: Cancer survivors that use multiple psychotropic medications are at an increased risk of psychotropic polypharmacy. We examined the association between psychotropic polypharmacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among cancer survivors living in the USA.

Methods: We used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data for 2010, 2012, and 2014 to identify adult cancer survivors.

Report of the 2018-2019 Research and Graduate Affairs Committee.

The 2018-2019 Research and Graduate Affairs Committee (RGAC) was charged with critically evaluating the leadership development support necessary for pharmacy researchers, including postdoctoral trainees, to develop the skills needed to build and sustain successful research programs and analyzing how well those needs are being met by existing programs both within AACP and at other organizations. The RGAC identified a set of skills that could reasonably be expected to provide the necessary foundation to successfully lead a research team and mapped these skills to the six domains of graduate education in the pharmaceutical sciences established by the 2016-2017 RGAC (Table 1). In addition, the RGAC identified competency in team science and the bench-to-bedside-to-beyond translational spectrum as being critical elements of research leadership.

Association between polypharmacy and health-related quality of life among cancer survivors in the United States.

Purpose: Polypharmacy (PP) is present in many cancer survivors and may lead to lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The study's objective was to evaluate the association between PP and HRQoL among cancer survivors in the US.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was conducted.

Association between polypharmacy and health-related quality of life among US adults with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Purpose: There are known associations between cardiometabolic risk factors and polypharmacy; however, there is no evidence about how polypharmacy among adults with cardiometabolic risk factors impacts their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The main objective of this study was to assess the association between polypharmacy and HRQoL among adults with cardiometabolic risk factors living in the USA.

Methods: Individuals age ≥ 18 years with at least one of the three cardiometabolic risk factors (diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension) were identified from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2015 data.

Prevalence of Lipid Abnormalities and Cholesterol Target Value Attainment in Patients with Stable and Acute Coronary Heart Disease in the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Careful management of lipid abnormalities in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. The extent of hyperlipidemia in these very high-risk patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with the treatment strategies employed, is not clear.

Methods: The Dyslipidemia International Study II was a multinational observational analysis carried out from 2012 to 2014.

Development and Application of a Measurement Framework to Evaluate Safe, Effective and Efficient Medication Use Among Older Adults.

Background: A majority of older adults in the United States (US) use prescription medications. Comprehensive population-level approaches to examine medication safety, effectiveness, and costs among older adults are needed.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop a framework of quality measures spanning the domains of safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of prescription medication use among older adults, and to apply those measures using pharmacy claims data.

Real-World Direct Health Care Costs Associated with Psychotropic Polypharmacy Among Adults with Common Cancer Types in the United States.

Background: Psychotropic polypharmacy is not uncommon among cancer patients and may contribute to the increased direct health care cost burden in this population.

Objective: To estimate average direct health care costs in the year following cancer diagnosis among cancer patients receiving psychotropic polypharmacy compared with those without psychotropic polypharmacy, using a multivariable analysis framework.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients aged 18 years and older diagnosed with the most commonly occurring cancers (breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal) in the United States during 2011-2012 using the deidentified Optum Clinformatics Data Mart commercial claims database.

Prevalence of Psychotropic Polypharmacy and Associated Healthcare Resource Utilization during Initial Phase of Care among Adults with Cancer in USA.

Background: The use of psychotropic medications is not uncommon among patients with newly diagnosed cancer. However, the impact of psychotropic polypharmacy on healthcare utilization during the initial phase of cancer care is largely unknown.

Methods: We used a claims database to identify adults with incident breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers diagnosed during 2011-12.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Target Attainment in Patients Surviving an Acute Coronary Syndrome in Thailand: Results From the Dyslipidaemia International Study (DYSIS) II.

Background: Patients suffering an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at increased risk for future cardiovascular events. Effective management of hyperlipidaemia in such patients is essential. We aimed to document the use of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target achievement in patients hospitalised with an ACS in Thailand.

Cholesterol goal achievement and lipid-lowering therapy in patients with stable or acute coronary heart disease in Singapore: results from the Dyslipidemia International Study II.

Introduction: Dyslipidaemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). There is a lack of data on the extent of lipid abnormalities and lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in Singapore.

Methods: The Dyslipidemia International Study (DYSIS) II was a multinational observational study of patients with stable CHD and hospitalised patients with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).