Real-world hospitalization risk in patients with epilepsy treated with perampanel.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of hospitalization and emergency department admission following initiation of perampanel treatment in patients with epilepsy.

Methods: This study is a retrospective longitudinal cohort study (Optum® Clinformatics® Datamart). Patients 4 to 11 years of age with a diagnosis of partial onset seizures or ≥12 years of age with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures who had ≥1 perampanel prescription between 1/1/2014 and 3/31/2018 were eligible for the study.

Internet access and use by COPD patients in the National Emphysema/COPD Association Survey.

Background: Technology offers opportunities to improve healthcare, but little is known about Internet use by COPD patients. We tested two hypotheses: Internet access is associated with socio-demographic disparities and frequency of use is related to perceived needs.

Methods: We analyzed data from a 2007-2008 national convenience sample survey of COPD patients to determine the relationship between Internet access and frequency of use with demographics, socio-economic status, COPD severity, and satisfaction with healthcare.

Gender differences in symptoms and care delivery for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Morbidity and mortality for women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are increasing, and little is known about gender differences in perception of COPD care.

Methods: Surveys were administered to a convenience sample of COPD patients to evaluate perceptions about symptoms, barriers to care, and sources of information about COPD.

Results: Data on 295 female and 273 male participants were analyzed.

Failure to intensify hypertension therapy after rejected aliskiren claims.

Background: Failure to intensify therapy when indicated is a serious problem in the management of hypertension. Patients having an antihypertensive prescription rejected because of utilization management tools may be at a high risk of failing to intensify their therapy when it is warranted.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the patterns of therapy change after rejected aliskiren claims because of utilization management tools such as prior authorization, step therapy, and restrictive formulary.

Comparison of resource use by COPD patients on inhaled therapies with long-acting bronchodilators: a database study.

Background: The purpose of this analysis was to compare health care costs and utilization among COPD patients who had long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) OR long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA); LABA AND LAMA; or LABA, LAMA, AND inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription claims.

Methods: This was a 12 month pre-post, retrospective analysis using COPD patients in a national administrative insurance database. Propensity score and exact matching were used to match patients 1:1:1 between the LABA or LAMA (formoterol, salmeterol, or tiotropium), LABA and LAMA (tiotropium/formoterol or tiotropium/salmeterol), and LABA, LAMA and ICS (bronchodilators plus steroid) groups.

Treatment of COPD: relationships between daily dosing frequency, adherence, resource use, and costs.

Background: Medication adherence is important in managing COPD. This study analyzed real-world use of inhaled medications for COPD to characterize relationships between daily dosing frequency, adherence, healthcare resource utilization, and cost.

Methods: This retrospective study used a large administrative claims database covering 8 million insured lives in the US from 1999 to 2006.

Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker therapy after hospital discharge on subsequent rehospitalization for acute myocardial infarction and heart failure.

American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy following acute myocardial infarction (MI) or development of heart failure (HF). This study estimated the effects of initiating these therapies after hospitalization for MI or HF on subsequent 1-year rehospitalization rates for MI or HF. A retrospective multivariate analysis of medical claims for 14,327 patients receiving and 7905 not receiving an ACEI or ARB after discharge for MI or HF was conducted.

Trends in blood pressure control and treatment among type 2 diabetes with comorbid hypertension in the United States: 1988-2004.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetic patients with comorbid hypertension and blood pressure (BP) control rates in the United States and determine factors associated with these outcomes.

Methods: We used data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) III (1988-1994) and NHANES 1999-2004, a cross-sectional sample of the noninstitutionalized US populations. Type 2 diabetic patients were identified as patients at least 30 years of age with physician-diagnosed diabetes who were taking insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs to manage the condition.

Provider organization performance assessment utilizing diabetes physician recognition program.

Objective: To examine the level of care in a large provider organization with respect to the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP) standards of care and describe treatment patterns, diabetes-related complications, and achievement of clinical goals among patients stratified by glycemic control levels.

Study Design: Observational, retrospective, chart review study assessing care among patients with diabetes.

Methods: Diabetic patients aged > or =5 years who were prescribed insulin or oral hypoglycemics/antihyperglycemics for at least 12 months by 1 of 14 DPRP-participating physicians from the provider organization were eligible.

Evaluation of adverse events of oral antihyperglycemic monotherapy experienced by a geriatric population in a real-world setting: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background And Objective: To evaluate and compare the risk of adverse events (AEs) associated with the use of metformin, sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones among geriatric patients in a usual care setting.

Methods: An electronic medical record database was utilized to identify geriatric patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged > or =65 years from 1996 to 2005. Patients naive to oral antihyperglycemic drug (OAD) therapy were followed for 395 days post initiation of metformin, sulfonylurea or thiazolidinedione treatment.

Racial differences in medication compliance and healthcare utilization among hypertensive Medicaid recipients: fixed-dose vs free-combination treatment.

Objective: To assess compliance with antihypertensive therapy and healthcare utilization among African American and White Medicaid recipients who are receiving fixed-dose combination amlodipine besylate/benazepril HCl or a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker plus an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor prescribed as separate agents (free-combination).

Design: Longitudinal, retrospective, cohort analysis of South Carolina Medicaid claims for the years 1997 through 2002. Followup was 12 months from the index date, defined as the first prescription dispensing date for a study drug.

Compliance with antihypertensive therapy in the elderly: a comparison of fixed-dose combination amlodipine/benazepril versus component-based free-combination therapy.

Background: Treatment regimens that require fewer dosage units and less frequent dosing to decrease the complexity and cost of care are among the strategies recommended to improve compliance with antihypertensive therapy. Simplifying therapy may be particularly important for elderly patients, who are more likely to have co-morbid conditions and to be taking multiple medications.

Objective: To determine rates of compliance with antihypertensive therapy and total costs of care among elderly Medicaid recipients treated with fixed-dose combination amlodipine besylate/benazepril versus a dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist and ACE inhibitor prescribed as separate agents (free combination).

Comorbid conditions and glycemic control in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 1988 to 1994 to 1999 to 2004.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the U.S. elderly population between 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2004 and to assess glycemic control and comorbid conditions in this population.

Secondary failure of glycemic control for patients adding thiazolidinedione or sulfonylurea therapy to a metformin regimen.

Objective: To assess glycemic control and secondary failure in patients adding thiazolidinedione or sulfonylurea therapy to a metformin regimen in a managed care setting.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data.

Methods: Participants (mean age, 51.

Loss of glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were receiving initial metformin, sulfonylurea, or thiazolidinedione monotherapy.

Study Objectives: To examine glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) values longitudinally in patients who newly started metformin, sulfonylurea, or thiazolidinedione monotherapy; in a subset of patients whose A1C values were 7% or greater before starting therapy (baseline) and who achieved A1C goal (A1C < 7%) during therapy, rates of secondary failure (i.e., A1C value returned to > or = 7% during therapy) were compared for each drug.

Persistence, adherence, and risk of discontinuation associated with commonly prescribed antihypertensive drug monotherapies.

Objective: To assess 1-year persistence and adherence with monotherapy using the most commonly dispensed individual agent in 4 antihypertensive drug classes: hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), amlodipine, lisinopril, or valsartan.

Design: Retrospective, longitudinal analysis of initial prescriptions during 2001 to 2002 from a nationwide administrative claims database representing 11 million covered lives in the United States.

Measurements: Drug utilization following initiation.