Validation of serostatus of rheumatoid arthritis using ICD-10 codes in administrative claims data.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of International Classification of Diseases- Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis codes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) serostatus using a U.S. claims database (Optum Clinformatics Data Mart, Optum) and to compare the results to a previous validation study performed in IBM Marketscan Research Database (sensitivity 73%, positive predictive value, PPV, 84%).

Real-world patient characteristics and use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-national study.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with significant morbidity and economic burden. This study aimed to compare baseline characteristics and patterns of anti-inflammatory drug use and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) use among patients with RA in Southern Italy versus the United States.

Method: Using Caserta Local Health Unit (Italy) and Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart (United States) claims databases, patients with ≥ 2 diagnosis codes for RA during the study period (Caserta: 2010-2018; Optum: 2010-2019) were identified.

Predictors of Treatment Change Among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with TNF Inhibitors as First-Line Biologic Agent in the USA: A Cohort Study from Longitudinal Electronic Health Records.

Background: Previous observational studies utilizing administrative claims data have largely been unable to consider clinical factors that may be related to patterns of drug use among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: To understand predictors of treatment changes following initiation of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) using nation-wide electronic health record (EHR) data in the USA.

Methods: The Optum Immunology Condition EHR data (01/01/2011-09/30/2019) was used to identify a population of adult patients with RA initiating a TNFi as the first line biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD).

Patient characteristics associated with use of TNF vs interleukin inhibitors as first-line biologic treatment for psoriatic arthritis.

Previous studies have examined treatment patterns among patients who use tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, little data exist for a comparison between the TNF inhibitor treatment pattern and that of newly available biologics such as interleukin (IL)-12/23 or 17 inhibitors in the United States. To (a) examine patient characteristics and their association with initiation of TNF inhibitors vs IL-12/23 or 17 inhibitors among PsA patients and (2) compare treatment persistence of PsA patients who initiated TNF inhibitors vs IL-12/23 or 17 inhibitors as first-line biologic treatment in a real-world setting in the United States.

Development and Validation of a Pediatric Comorbidity Index.

Comorbidity scores are widely used to help address confounding bias in nonrandomized studies conducted within health-care databases, but existing scores were developed to predict all-cause mortality in adults and might not be appropriate for use in pediatric studies. We developed and validated a pediatric comorbidity index, using health-care utilization data from the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Within the MarketScan database of US commercial claims data, pediatric patients (aged ≤18 years) continuously enrolled between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2017, were identified.

Association of Opioid Overdose With Opioid Prescriptions to Family Members.

Importance: Prescription opioid misuse is a public health problem that leads to overdose. Although existing interventions focus on limiting prescribing to patients at high risk, individuals may still access prescription opioids dispensed to family members.

Objective: To determine whether opioid prescriptions to family members were associated with overdose for individuals who themselves did not have an opioid prescription.

Fracture Risk After Bariatric Surgery: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Versus Adjustable Gastric Banding.

The long-term consequences of bariatric surgery on fracture risk are unclear but are likely to vary by procedure type. In physiologic studies, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and adjustable gastric banding (AGB) have differential effects on rates of bone loss. Therefore, our objective was to compare fracture risk in obese adults after RYGB and AGB procedures.

Effect of Combination Therapy on Adherence Among US Patients Initiating Therapy for Hypertension: a Cohort Study.

Background: New trial evidence suggests that many patients may require more aggressive pharmacologic management to achieve lower blood pressure goals. Especially when first initiating anti-hypertensive treatment, it is unknown whether starting patients on multiple medications may be better for long-term adherence and persistence compared with starting one medication.

Objective: To examine contemporary patterns of anti-hypertensive therapy initiation and compare long-term adherence and persistence among patients initiating fixed-dose combinations and single anti-hypertensive therapies.

Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Denosumab Versus Zoledronic Acid in Patients With Osteoporosis: A Cohort Study.

Limited head-to-head comparative safety and effectiveness data exist between denosumab and zoledronic acid in real-world healthcare. We aimed to examine the safety and effectiveness of denosumab compared to zoledronic acid with regard to risk of serious infection and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporotic fracture. We conducted a cohort study using claims data (2009-2013) from a US commercial insurance plan database.

Persistent opioid use following cesarean delivery: patterns and predictors among opioid-naïve women.

Background: The incidence of opioid-related death in women has increased 5-fold over the past decade. For many women, their initial opioid exposure will occur in the setting of routine medical care. Approximately 1 in 3 deliveries in the United States is by cesarean, and opioids are commonly prescribed for postsurgical pain management.

Patterns of health care utilization related to initiation of amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin in fibromyalgia.

Introduction: Several pharmacologic treatments are available for fibromyalgia, but little is known about the comparative effectiveness of these treatments on health care utilization.

Methods: Using US commercial insurance claims data (covering 2007 to 2009), we conducted a cohort study to examine the comparative effectiveness of amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, and pregabalin on health care utilization in patients with fibromyalgia. We measured patients' medication adherence using the proportion of days covered (PDC) and estimated multivariable rate ratios (RRs) for outpatient visits, prescriptions, hospitalization, and emergency department (ED) visits in propensity score (PS)-matched cohorts.

Clinical characteristics and medication uses among fibromyalgia patients newly prescribed amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin.

Objective: Fibromyalgia is a common chronic pain disorder with unclear etiology. No definitive treatment is available for fibromyalgia, and treatment with antidepressants or antiepileptics is often used for symptom management.

Methods: Using US health care utilization data, a large population-based cohort study was conducted to describe clinical characteristics and medication use patterns in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia who newly started amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, or pregabalin.