Drug-Drug Interactions and Their Association with Adverse Health Outcomes in the Older Community-Dwelling Population: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Evidence on associations between drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and health outcomes in the older community-dwelling population is limited.

Objective: We estimate potentially clinically important DDI prevalence and examine the association between DDIs and (1) adverse drug events (ADEs), (2) emergency hospital attendance and (3) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in an older community-dwelling population in Ireland.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of community-dwelling older adults (N = 904) aged ≥ 70 years from 15 general practices in Ireland recruited in 2010 (wave-1) and followed-up over 2 years (wave-2; 2012-2013), with linked national pharmacy claims data.

Optimizing Patient Selection for Physiological Pacing in Bradyarrhythmia: Factors Associated With High Ventricular Pacing Burden.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) pacing is established as the most common ventricular pacing (VP) strategy for patients with symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. Some patients with high VP burden suffer deterioration of left ventricular (LV) function, termed pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM). Patients who pace > 20% of the time from the RV apex are at increased risk of PICM, but independent predictors of increased RV pacing burden have not been elucidated in those who have a permanent pacemaker (PPM) inserted for bradyarrhythmia.

Examining the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on population-based breast cancer screening in Ireland.

Objective: Many population-based breast screening programmes temporarily suspended routine screening following the COVID-19 pandemic onset. This study aimed to describe screening mammography utilisation and the pattern of screen-detected breast cancer diagnoses following COVID-19-related screening disruptions in Ireland.

Methods: Using anonymous aggregate data from women invited for routine screening, three time periods were examined: (1) January-December 2019, (2) January-December 2020, and (3) January-December 2021.

Feasibility Randomised Control Trial of OptiMal: A Self-Management Intervention for Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: Cancer survivors can experience symptoms such as fatigue, pain and distress that persist for many months following treatment. These enduring symptoms often impact on participation in self-care activities, returning to school and/or work, and leisure and social activities. Self-management support is increasingly recognised as a core aspect of cancer survivorship care to reduce the impact of persistent symptoms.

Gabapentinoids in Ireland 2010 to 2020: An observational study of trends in gabapentinoid prescribing, law enforcement drug seizures and postmortem toxicology.

Aims: We explored trends in gabapentinoid prescribing, drug seizures and postmortem toxicology using a national pharmacy claims database, law enforcement drug seizures data and a population-based postmortem toxicology database.

Methods: Gabapentinoid prescribing rates per 100 000 eligible population (2010-2020), annual number of drug seizures involving gabapentinoids (2012-2020) and gabapentinoid detection (positive) rates per 100 postmortem toxicology case (2013-2020) were calculated. Negative binomial regression models were used to evaluate longitudinal trends for gabapentin and pregabalin separately.

Drug-drug interactions and the risk of adverse drug reaction-related hospital admissions in the older population.

Aims: The aims of this study were to estimate potentially clinically important drug-drug interaction (DDI) prevalence, and the average causal effect of DDI exposure on adverse drug reaction (ADR)-related hospital admission, and to examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and length of stay (LOS) per DDI exposure in an older (≥65 years) population acutely hospitalized.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 798 older individuals acutely admitted to hospital in Ireland between 2016 and 2017. Medication (current/recently discontinued/over-the-counter) and clinical data (e.

Testing the effectiveness of a Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) intervention for individuals with inflammatory arthritis: Study protocol for a randomized control trial.

Background: A work-focused fatigue management intervention, Fatigue and Activity Management Education for Work (FAME-W) programme was developed for individuals with inflammatory arthritis (IA) to manage fatigue in order to maintain demands of their work activities and tasks. This paper presents the protocol for a randomized control trial that will test the effectiveness and acceptability of FAME-W in improving work performance.

Methods: This protocol presents a multisite randomized control trial and mixed methods process evaluation.

Global Incidence and Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Elective Inguinal Hernia Repair: The Retention of Urine After Inguinal Hernia Elective Repair (RETAINER I) Study.

Importance: Postoperative urinary retention (POUR) is a well-recognized complication of inguinal hernia repair (IHR). A variable incidence of POUR has previously been reported in this context, and contradictory evidence surrounds potential risk factors.

Objective: To ascertain the incidence of, explore risk factors for, and determine the health service outcomes of POUR following elective IHR.

Prescription drugs with potential for misuse: protocol for a multi-indicator analysis of supply, detection and the associated health burden in Ireland between 2010 and 2020.

Introduction: There is an increasing concern about the misuse of prescription drugs. Misuse refers to the intentional repurposing of prescribed drugs and/or the use of illicitly sourced prescription drugs, which may be counterfeit or contaminated. Drugs with the greatest potential for misuse are prescription opioids, gabapentinoids, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs and stimulants.

Prevalence of Drug-Drug Interactions in Older Community-Dwelling Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can lead to medication-related harm, and the older population is at greatest risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate DDI prevalence and identify common DDIs in older community-dwelling adults.

Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were searched for observational studies published between 01/01/2010 and 10/05/2021 reporting DDI prevalence in community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years.

Cross-sectional questionnaire study of the experiences of community pharmacists in Northern Ireland during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: preparation, experience and response.

Objectives: To examine the views and experiences of community pharmacists in Northern Ireland (NI) regarding changes in community pharmacy practice/processes in preparation for, and response to, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Cross-sectional telephone-administered questionnaire.

Setting And Participants: Geographically stratified representative sample of 130 community pharmacists in NI between March and May 2021.

Evaluating awareness, knowledge and practice of healthcare professionals following implementation of a revised pregnancy prevention programme for isotretinoin in Ireland: A multi-stakeholder cross-sectional study.

Purpose: In 2018, following an EU-wide safety review, a revised pregnancy prevention programme (PPP) was introduced for isotretinoin (Roaccutane®). This study aimed to examine awareness, knowledge, and experience implementing the revised isotretinoin PPP in clinical practice across three healthcare professional (HCP) groups in Ireland.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using anonymous online surveys among general practitioners (GPs), community pharmacists, and specialist consultants was undertaken.

Trends in drug poisoning deaths, by sex, in Ireland: a repeated cross-sectional study from 2004 to 2017.

Objective: To examine sex differences in age-standardised rates (ASR) of overall and drug-specific drug poisoning deaths in Ireland between 2004 and 2017.

Design: Repeated cross-sectional study.

Setting: Drug poisoning deaths in Ireland.

Systematic Comparison of Biomaterials-Based Strategies for Osteochondral and Chondral Repair in Large Animal Models.

Joint repair remains a major challenge in orthopaedics. Recent progress in biomaterial design has led to the fabrication of a plethora of promising devices. Pre-clinical testing of any joint repair strategy typically requires the use of large animal models (e.

Awareness, knowledge and practice of healthcare professionals following implementation of a Pregnancy Prevention Program for sodium valproate in Ireland: a multi-stakeholder cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To establish awareness, knowledge, use and experience in practice of a sodium valproate pregnancy prevention program (PPP) in Ireland ("prevent") among three healthcare professional (HCP) groups.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using anonymous online surveys was conducted among general practitioners (GPs), pharmacists, and specialist consultants. Descriptive analyses are presented.

Underlying conditions and risk of hospitalisation, ICU admission and mortality among those with COVID-19 in Ireland: A national surveillance study.

Background: To date, over 2 million people worldwide have died with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. To describe the experience in Ireland, this study examined associations between underlying conditions and the following outcomes: mortality, admission to hospital or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) among those infected with COVID-19.

Methods: This study used data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in Ireland and included confirmed cases of COVID-19 from the first wave of the pandemic between March and July 2020.

Trends in national pharmaceutical expenditure on diabetes in Ireland 2011-2015: a repeated cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To explore trends in pharmaceutical expenditure on diabetes between 2011 and 2015, describing trends in expenditure on blood glucose-lowering medications and estimating the effect of cost-containment measures implemented during this time.

Design: Repeated cross-sectional study of national pharmacy claims data in Ireland.

Participants: Patients' dispensed items used in the treatment or management of diabetes.

The Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment on Admission to Nursing Home among Residents with and without Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Nursing Homes in Ireland.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common consequence of stroke. Epidemiological evidence indicates that, with an ageing population, stroke and PSCI are likely to increase in the coming decades. This may have considerable implications for the demand for nursing home placement.

The StrokeCog study: development and description of a cognition-focused psychological intervention to address cognitive impairment following stroke.

To describe the process of developing a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and to describe the intervention prior to evaluation in a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). The Medical Research Council framework, 'Developing and evaluating complex interventions', was used to develop the cognitive rehabilitation intervention. We conducted a combined analysis of the existing evidence base for PSCI rehabilitation alongside qualitative exploration of the perspectives of stroke survivors, their families, and healthcare professionals providing stroke care, on the necessary components for a cognitive rehabilitation intervention for PSCI.

Identifying Adherence Patterns Across Multiple Medications and Their Association With Health Outcomes in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Multimorbidity.

Objectives: To classify older people with multimorbidity according to their adherence patterns and to examine the association between medication adherence and health outcomes.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a cohort study. Community-dwelling adults aged ≥70 years were recruited from 15 general practices in Ireland in 2010 (wave 1) and followed up 2 years later (wave 2).

Mapping the use of Group-Based Trajectory Modelling in medication adherence research: A scoping review protocol.

The use of group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) within the medication adherence literature is rapidly growing. Researchers are adopting enhanced methods to analyse and visualise dynamic behaviours, such as medication adherence, within 'real-world' populations. Application of GBTM based on longitudinal adherence behaviour allows for the identification of adherence trajectories or groups.