Incidence Rates of Infections, Malignancies, Thromboembolism, and Cardiovascular Events in an Alopecia Areata Cohort from a US Claims Database.

Introduction: Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune disease with an underlying immuno-inflammatory pathogenesis. Treatments can include systemic corticosteroids and immunomodulators (such as Janus kinase inhibitors); these medications may be associated with a risk of some adverse events. However, large-scale observational studies of baseline incidence rates (IRs) of infection, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and thromboembolism in US patients with AA, including those with alopecia totalis or alopecia universalis (AT/AU), are limited.

Prevalence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and mental health conditions among an alopecia areata cohort from a US administrative claims database.

Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with an increased burden of autoimmune and inflammatory disease and mental health conditions that may have a negative impact on quality of life. However, the exact burden of comorbidities on US patients with AA and the clinical subtypes alopecia totalis (AT) and alopecia universalis (AU) compared with those without AA is not well understood. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the incidence rates and prevalence of AA and its clinical subtypes and examine the autoimmune and inflammatory disease and mental health condition diagnosis burden in US patients with AA and a matched cohort without AA.

The incidence of acute myocardial infarction after elective spinal fusions or joint replacement surgery in the United States: a large-scale retrospective observational cohort study in 322,585 patients : Post-surgical myocardial infarction data.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an uncommon but fatal complication among patients undergoing elective spinal fusion surgery (SF), total hip arthroplasty (THA), and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our objective was to estimate the incidence of AMI among adults undergoing elective SF, THA, and TKA in different post-operative risk windows and characterize high-risk sub-populations in the United States.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a longitudinal electronic healthcare record (EHR) database from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2018.

The incidence of stroke among selected patients undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusion: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Although stroke is a rare complication among spinal surgery patients, the recognition of this adverse event is critical given the aging population undergoing surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of stroke among selected adults undergoing elective posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) during various post-operative risk windows and among different subgroups.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study using a longitudinal electronic healthcare record (EHR) database was conducted from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2018.

Persistence with Newly Initiated Antidepressant Medication in Rhode Island Medicaid: Analysis and Insights for Promoting Patient Adherence.

Objective: To describe persistence to newly prescribed antidepressant medications within the Rhode Island Medicaid population.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed antidepressant medication persistence in a cohort of new users for a period spanning 2013-2014, focusing on the acute treatment phase (first 12 weeks of treatment). Covariates assessed included patient gender, age, comorbidity status, and measures of health system utilization.

Incidence of stroke and seizure in Alzheimer's disease dementia.

Background: the objective of the study was to estimate and compare the incidence rates of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke and seizure among cohorts with and without Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records (EMRs) from primary care practices that participated in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1990 to 31 July 2009. For each AD-dementia patient, we selected one general population control patient without AD-dementia matched to one AD-dementia patient on year of birth, sex and physician practice.

A common data model to assess cardiovascular hospitalization and mortality in atrial fibrillation patients using administrative claims and medical records.

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) is frequently associated with cardiovascular comorbidities. Observational health care databases are commonly used for research purposes in studies of quality of care, health economics, outcomes research, drug safety, and epidemiology. This retrospective cohort study applied a common data model to administrative claims data (Truven Health Analytics MarketScan(®) claims databases [MS-Claims]) and electronic medical records data (Geisinger Health System's MedMining electronic medical record database [MG-EMR]) to examine the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization and all-cause mortality in relation to clinical risk factors in recent-onset AF and to assess the consistency of analyses for each data source.

Impact of health care payer type on HIV stage of illness at time of initiation of antiretroviral therapy in the USA.

There is evidence that earlier initiation of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with better outcomes, including lower morbidity and mortality. Based on recent studies indicating that Medicaid enrollees are more likely to have suboptimal access to medical care, we hypothesized that HIV severity at time of ART initiation is worse for Medicaid patients than patients with other health care coverage. We conducted a US retrospective analysis of GE Centricity Outpatient Electronic Medical Records spanning 1 January 1997 through 30 September 2009.

A new user cohort study comparing the safety of long-acting inhaled bronchodilators in COPD.

Objective: To investigate a possible increased risk observed in tiotropium clinical trials of stroke and other adverse events.

Design: New users of long-acting anticholinergic therapy (tiotropium HandiHaler®) were compared with new users of long-acting β-agonist (LABA) monotherapy, and propensity scores were used to control confounding.

Setting: UK healthcare system general practitioner electronic medical record database.

Prescription patterns for asthma medications in children and adolescents with health care insurance in the United States.

Asthma is the most common chronic condition of childhood, and its prevalence has increased over recent decades. However, many children and adolescents with asthma are not being managed in accordance with guideline recommendations. The objective of this study was to analyze prescribing patterns for asthma medications in 6- to 18-yr-olds, with a focus on those aged 6-11 yr.

Infliximab paediatric Crohn's disease educational plan: a European, cross-sectional, multicentre evaluation.

Background: The infliximab (Remicade; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ, USA) Risk Management Plan included the development, execution and tracking of an education programme directed towards prescribers of infliximab for patients with paediatric Crohn's disease (the Infliximab Paediatric Crohn's Disease Educational Plan). The programme content consisted of educational materials and communications aimed at educating prescribers on the risks associated with infliximab use.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the risk minimization plan.

Lymphoma among patients with atopic dermatitis and/or treated with topical immunosuppressants in the United Kingdom.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been associated with an increased risk of lymphoma.

Objectives: To assess the risk of lymphoma associated with AD and use of topical corticosteroids (TCS) or topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCI) in a database allowing medical record validation.

Methods: We conducted a nested-case control study using the United Kingdom-based The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database.

Dosage, titration, and gaps in treatment with extended release niacin in clinical practice.

Objective: To examine the dosage, titration patterns, and gaps in treatment of newly-initiated ER niacin in clinical practice.

Research Design And Methods: Historical cohort study using the Ingenix Lab/Rx database. Patients were at least 20 years old, received an initial, index ER niacin prescription between January 1, 2001 and June 30, 2003, and had no ER niacin use in the preceding 12 months.

Comparative safety of long-acting inhaled bronchodilators: a cohort study using the UK THIN primary care database.

Background: Use of a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator, either an anticholinergic or a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist (beta-agonist), is recommended for maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In COPD, the organ system most frequently requiring medical care, other than the respiratory system, is the cardiac system.

Objectives: To compare the risk of total mortality and certain respiratory and cardiac adverse events among users of the two types of recommended long-acting bronchodilators, we conducted a cohort study.

The effect of antihypertensive drugs and drug combinations on the incidence of new-onset type-2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of antihypertensive drugs on new-onset type-2 diabetes.

Methods: This was a cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). Patients newly diagnosed with hypertension between 1991 and 2001, and treated with antihypertensive drugs, were included.

Pooled clinical trial analysis of tiotropium safety.

Background: Marketing approval of pharmaceutical products is often based on data from several thousand subjects or fewer. Evaluation of safety is greatly enhanced by augmenting the safety database with postapproval studies.

Methods: We conducted a pooled analysis of adverse event data from 19 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with tiotropium in patients with obstructive lung disease.

Risk of lymphoma following exposure to calcineurin inhibitors and topical steroids in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Systemic use of immunosuppressant agents increases the risk of lymphoma in transplantation. We performed a nested case-control study in the PharMetrics database to evaluate the association between topical immunosuppressants and lymphoma in a cohort of patients with atopic dermatitis. We identified cases of lymphoma and randomly selected four controls for each case, matched by length of follow-up.

Use of cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors (COX-2) and prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in UK and USA populations. Implications for COX-2 cardiovascular profile.

Background: COX-2 and NSAIDS differ in their gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) toxicity from pharmacological, clinical and epidemiologic point of views.

Objective: Describe the patterns of use of NSAIDS and COX-2 in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database in UK and the PharMetrics database in USA.

Methods: We examined the experience of 10 distinct cohorts of new users of diclofenac, naproxen, ibuprofen, piroxicam, other NSAIDS, meloxicam, celecoxib, etoricoxib, rofecoxib and valdecoxib.

Discontinuation of antihypertensive drugs among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients in UK general practice.

Objectives: To evaluate antihypertensive drug discontinuation among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study using the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). Patients newly diagnosed with hypertension between 1991 and 2001 and subsequently treated with antihypertensive drugs were included.

Mortality of cystic fibrosis patients treated with tobramycin solution for inhalation.

Background: Tobramycin solution for inhalation (TOBI; TSI) is indicated to treat patients with cystic fibrosis who are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Preliminary findings from a randomized trial indicate that patients who received TSI had about half the mortality rate of those assigned to placebo.

Methods: We used the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation registry data to conduct a retrospective cohort study of the risk of death among cystic fibrosis patients in 1999 according to their use of TSI during 1998.