Recent Advances in the Pharmacological Management of Behavioral Disturbances Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neuropsychiatric condition affecting an estimated one in 36 children. Youth with ASD may have severe behavioral disturbances including irritability, aggression, and hyperactivity. Currently, there are only two medications (risperidone and aripiprazole) approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of irritability associated with ASD.

Arthritis prevalence and symptoms among US non-veterans, veterans, and veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare.

Objective: . Studies suggest arthritis and rheumatic diseases are common among military veterans, but prior research has not directly compared arthritis between veterans and the general population. This study compared arthritis prevalence and symptoms between veterans of the US Armed Forces and non-veterans, and between veterans who are US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare users and veteran nonusers.

Racial variations in self-reported osteoarthritis symptom severity among veterans.

Background And Aims: This study aimed at examining factors related to osteoarthritis (OA) symptom severity in African American and Caucasian veterans (n=202).

Methods: OA symptom severity (lower extremity pain, stiffness, and physical function) was measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). We also examined whether racial differences existed when controlling for other important demographic and clinical variables, including age, gender, income, educational level, employment status, marital status, number of years with OA symptoms, location of arthritic joints (hip, knee, back, foot/ankle), use of exercise, and current use of OA medications.

Comparison of three comorbidity measures for predicting health service use in patients with osteoarthritis.

Objective: To compare the ability of 3 database-derived comorbidity scores, the Charlson Score, Elixhauser method, and RxRisk-V, in predicting health service use among individuals with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The study population comprised 306 patients who were under care for OA in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Comorbidity scores were calculated using 1 year of data from VA inpatient and outpatient databases (Charlson Score, Elixhauser method), as well as pharmacy data (RxRisk-V).

Relationship of radiographic and clinical variables to pinch and grip strength among individuals with osteoarthritis.

Objective: Little is known about how specific radiographic features are related to hand strength in osteoarthritis (OA). This study examined associations of radiographic variables with pinch and grip strength among individuals with radiographic hand OA.

Methods: Participants (n = 700, 80% female, mean age 69 years) were part of a study on the genetics of generalized OA.

Racial and ethnic differences in osteoarthritis: prevalence, outcomes, and medical care.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition and a leading cause of disability among older adults. Studies indicate there are important racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of OA, as well as in the associated outcomes and medical care. In general, research suggests some minority groups, especially African-American and Hispanic individuals, may be at risk for poorer outcomes (such as pain and disability), and are less likely to undergo arthroplasty, compared to Caucasian Americans.

Racial differences in analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication adherence among patients with osteoarthritis.

Objectives: This study examined the prevalence of self-reported adherence to medications for osteoarthritis (OA) and racial differences in adherence.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 156 Black and White veterans who were taking medications for OA.

Results: One quarter of participants reported sometimes forgetting to take their OA medications, 16% were sometimes careless about taking medications, and 27% sometimes stopped taking their medications when they felt better.

Racial/ethnic variations in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use among patients with osteoarthritis.

Purpose: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). While there are documented racial differences in the use of opioid analgesics, little is known about racial differences in the use of NSAIDs.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study among a national sample of 6038 veterans with OA.

Racial differences in analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication use and perceptions of efficacy.

Background And Objective: Pharmacotherapy is a key component to osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. Research has shown important racial differences in pain thresholds and perceptions, but little is known about racial variations in responses to pain medications. The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of efficacy of pain medications among African-American and Caucasian veterans with OA.

Health-related quality of life and health service use among older adults with osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and health service use among older adults with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Subjects were 9,043 Medicare-enrolled survey respondents with a prior International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code for OA. Analyses examined the relationship of 5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HRQOL items (general health, mental health, pain, activity limitation, and sleep) to physician visits, prescription analgesic or antiinflammatory use, and arthroplasty during 1 year of followup.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use among patients with GI bleeding.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that recommended gastroprotective strategies such as gastroprotective agents (GPAs) and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 inhibitors may be underutilized among individuals at risk for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-related gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

Objective: To examine the use of traditional NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, and GPAs among patients recently hospitalized for GI bleeding.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of a national sample of 4338 veterans hospitalized for GI bleeding between January and June 1999.

Patterns of opioid analgesic prescription among patients with osteoarthritis.

This study describes patterns of opioid analgesic prescription during a one-year period among a sample of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). The study sample included 3,061 patients with prior ICD-9 codes indicating a diagnosis of OA who were treated at a federal Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Specific opioid variables included: any opioid prescription, number of specific opioid drugs prescribed, total number of opioid prescriptions, total number of days supply of opioids, and daily opioid doses.

Health-related quality of life among older adults with arthritis.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a key outcome in arthritis, but few population-based studies have examined the relationship of specific arthritic conditions, such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with HRQOL.

Methods: Older adults in Pennsylvania completed a mail version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) HRQOL modules. Medicare data were used to identify subjects with OA, RA, and no arthritis diagnosis.

Use of non-pharmacological therapies among patients with osteoarthritis.

Background And Aims: Non-pharmacological therapies are an important component of treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), but they may be under-used. This study examined the prevalence of self-reported use of common non-pharmacological therapies, as well as patient and physician-related predictors of use.

Methods: Subjects included 205 veterans who completed a survey regarding OA symptoms and treatments.

Gender differences in NSAID use among older adults with osteoarthritis.

Background: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Little is known about whether there are important gender differences in NSAID use among patients with OA.

Objective: To examine gender differences in patterns of NSAID use among older adults (>or=65 y) with OA.

Racial differences in health care utilization among patients with osteoarthritis.

Objective: Research has identified racial variations in certain aspects of osteoarthritis (OA) related medical care. We compared health services utilization between African American and white veteran outpatients with OA.

Methods: Subjects were 1612 white and 861 African American patients receiving medical care for OA at the Durham VAMC, Durham, NC, USA.

Relationship of health-related quality of life to health care utilization and mortality among older adults.

Background And Aims: This investigation examined the ability of a four-item Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) scale to predict short-term (30-day) and long-term (1-year) physician visits, hospitalization, and mortality among older adults.

Methods: Subjects included 84065 individuals aged 65 and older who completed a mail version of the Centers for Diseases Control's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Core HRQOL Module. HRQOL dimensions represented by the module include global self-rated general health, recent physical health, recent mental health, and recent activity limitation.

Provider characteristics and mammography recommendation among women in their 40s and 50s.

Objectives: Healthcare provider recommendation for mammography is one of the strongest predictors of women's mammography use, but few studies have examined the association of provider characteristics with mammography recommendations. We examined the relationship of provider gender, age, medical specialty, and duration of relationship with the patient to report mammography recommendation.

Methods: Participants were women ages 40-45 and 50-55 who were part of a larger intervention study of decision making about mammography.