Interventions to Improve Adherence in Patients with Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background: In patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, poor adherence to medication is associated with increased healthcare costs, decreased patient satisfaction, reduced quality of life and unfavorable treatment outcomes.

Objective: To determine the impact of different interventions on medication adherence in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders.

Design: Systematic review.

Concordance between prescriber- and patient-reported previous medical history and NSAID indication in the CADEUS cohort.

Purpose: Various data sources may be used in pharmacoepidemiological studies. When they cannot be obtained from valid databases, medical data must be obtained from physicians or patients. In the CADEUS study, both patients and their prescribers reported medical data allowing investigation of the concordance between these sources.

Hospitalizations for gastrointestinal and cardiovascular events in the CADEUS cohort of traditional or Coxib NSAID users.

Aims: To assess hospital admission rates for gastrointestinal (GI) or cardiovascular (CV) events in real-life use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Methods: CADEUS is a real-life population-based cohort study of 23 535 coxib (celecoxib or rofecoxib) and 22 919 traditional NSAID (tNSAID) users. Each hospitalization reported between index day (NSAID delivery) and questionnaire submission (median = 75 days) was explored using hospital discharge summaries.

Medical and non-medical direct costs of chronic low back pain in patients consulting primary care physicians in France.

A retrospective, observational, cohort study in primary care. To determine the total direct medical and non-medical cost of chronic low back pain (LBP) in France and its associated factors. Chronic LBP affects 5-10% of the population its burden in France is unknown.

The CADEUS study: burden of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) utilization for musculoskeletal disorders in blue collar workers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare patterns of utilization of NSAIDs for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) by occupation in a general employed population.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the CADEUS cohort study on 5651 actively employed patients, who submitted at least one claim for the reimbursement of a NSAID dispensation for a MSD between August 2003 and July 2004, in the French National Healthcare Insurance database. Questionnaires were sent to prescribing physicians to obtain diagnoses and the medical history, and to patients for their occupation, height and weight and smoking status.

Impact of prescriber nonresponse on patient representativeness.

Background: In pharmacoepidemiology studies where patients are selected by prescribers, there is concern that the patients of responding prescribers are not necessarily an unbiased sample of all patients. However, this usually cannot be explored. In the CADEUS study, patients and prescribers were independently contacted so that data are available for patients irrespective of whether their prescriber responded or not.

Drug-drug interactions with systemic antifungals in clinical practice.

Purpose: We describe drug-drug interactions (DDIs) encountered with antifungals in clinical practice.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of hospitalized adults receiving systemic antifungal treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the infectious diseases unit (IDU) of the University Hospital of Bordeaux, France between 1996 and 2001. All treatment episodes with antifungal agent were examined and all prescribed concomitant medication identified for potential drug-drug interactions (PDDI)-serious events occurring during treatment were adjudicated for clinical DDI.

[Assessment of the handling of inhaler devices: an observational study of children in primary care].

Unlabelled: The correct use of inhaler devices is important for the efficacy of the treatment of childhood asthma. Few studies have compared the use of inhaler devices in real life, in particular in children.

Aim: To determine whether such devices were correctly used in asthmatic children within a primary care setting.

Channelling of COX-2 inhibitors to patients at higher gastrointestinal risk but not at lower cardiovascular risk: the Cox2 inhibitors and tNSAIDs description of users (CADEUS) study.

Purpose: To describe the characteristics of users of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors and traditional nonselective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs) in France.

Methods: Between 1 August 2003 and 31 July 2004, patients who received at least one dispensing of celecoxib, rofecoxib or tNSAIDs were randomly sampled with a 1:1:2 target ratio within the French National Healthcare Insurance database. Patients and prescribers were asked to fill a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, NSAID indication and use and previous medical history.

Less use of NSAIDs in long-term than in recent chondroitin sulphate users in osteoarthritis: a pharmacy-based observational study in France.

In clinical trials, long-term use of a specific chondroitin sulphate, Chondrosult 400 (CS400) has demonstrated symptomatic efficacy in osteoarthritis comparable to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with significantly fewer side-effects. CS400 could therefore reduce the use of and risks associated with NSAIDs. A cross-sectional observational study was therefore devised in 199 randomly selected pharmacies in France to verify the concomitant use of analgesic and NSAIDs medication in patients prescribed CS400.

The CADEUS study: methods and logistics.

Purpose: At the request of the French Health authorities, a study called CADEUS (COX-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs: description of users) aimed to describe the users of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors and traditional non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs). We report here the methodology, logistics and study design performances.

Methods: CADEUS is a cohort study designed to include 40,000 patients randomly sampled monthly in the French National Healthcare Insurance database, who received at least one dispensation of celecoxib, rofecoxib or tNSAIDs (1:1:2), from September 2003 to August 2004.

Antidepressants: general practitioners' opinions and clinical practice.

Objective: To describe and compare general practitioners' (GPs) opinions on antidepressant drugs and their prescriptions to depressed patients.

Method: Between November 2000 and July 2001 a representative sample of French GPs was asked their opinion of the 15 most prescribed antidepressants, and then to describe the treatments of the current depressive episode of four depressive patients each, their changes and the reasons thereof.

Results: One hundred and eighty-one GPs and 778 patients participated.

Effects of armagnac or vodka on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Cardiovascular mortality is especially low in southwest France (the French Paradox). In previous experimental studies, we found that alcohol-free extracts of armagnac could inhibit human platelet function in vitro and experimental thrombosis in vivo. To test the possible relevance of these findings, we tested the effects of daily use of small quantities of armagnac against same alcohol strength, polyphenol-free vodka in healthy volunteers.

Patterns and correlates of benzodiazepine use in the French general population.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of current use of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and related drugs in the French general population and factors associated with this use.

Methods: National cross-sectional telephone survey conducted between 25 April 2001 and 8 May 2001 in a representative sample of non-institutionalized adults of BZD use and duration, prescriber specialty, socio-demographic data and mood and anxiety disorders, using a structured diagnostic interview.

Results: The prevalence of current use of BZD was 7.

[Real-life use of inhaler devices for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care].

The correct use of inhalation devices is an inclusion criterion in many comparative studies. However, patients can make errors, thus compromising the effectiveness of their own inhaler. The aim of the study is to evaluate inhaler use by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [n = 984].

Randomised double masked trial comparing the efficacy and tolerance of 0.05% mequitazine eye drops versus 0.05% levocabastine and placebo in allergic conjunctivitis induced by a conjunctival provocation test with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Aim: A double masked randomised trial comparing 0.05% mequitazine eye drops with 0.05% levocabastine and placebo was carried out in otherwise healthy volunteers allergic to house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus).

Assessment of handling of inhaler devices in real life: an observational study in 3811 patients in primary care.

The correct use of inhalation devices is an inclusion criterion for all studies comparing inhaled treatments. In real life, however, patients may make many errors with their usual inhalation device, which may negate the benefits observed in clinical trials. Our study was undertaken to compare inhalation device handling in real life.

Antidepressants: psychiatrists' opinions and clinical practice.

Objective: To describe and compare psychiatrists' opinion on antidepressant drugs and their prescriptions to depressed patients.

Method: Between January and September 1999 a representative sample of French psychiatrists was asked their opinion of the 15 most prescribed antidepressants, and then to describe the treatments of the current depressive episode of four depressive patients each, their changes and the reason thereof.

Results: A total of 232 psychiatrists and 935 patients participated.