Antipsychotics and Risk of Acute Respiratory Failure in U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Importance: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) associated with antipsychotic use has been documented through case reports and population-based studies.

Objective: To assess whether the recent use of antipsychotics is associated with an increased risk of ARF in U.S.

The Effect of Denosumab on Risk for Emergently Treated Hypocalcemia by Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease : A Target Trial Emulation.

Background: There is a paucity of data on treatment of osteoporosis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective: To assess the risk for emergently treated hypocalcemia with denosumab by stage of CKD and presence of CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD).

Design: Target trial emulation.

Trends in Medical Encounters Involving Cannabis-Related Disorders Among US Medicare Beneficiaries, 2017-2022.

To characterize cannabis-related disorder medical encounter trends in the US Medicare population during 2017 to 2022. We conducted a descriptive study, which included 56 624 432 beneficiaries aged 65 years or older and 10 247 953 aged 18 to 64 years with disability. All were continuously enrolled in Medicare (Fee-for-Service or Advantage) for 183 or more days before the first day of the calendar year.

Use of proton pump inhibitors and risk of severe COVID-19: A case-control study in United States Medicare beneficiaries.

Background: Concerns have been raised regarding proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Observational studies have yielded heterogeneous results and were subject to important methodological limitations.

Aims: To examine the association between the receipt of PPIs and risk of COVID-19 hospitalizations and severe in-hospital outcomes or death.

Using machine learning to improve anaphylaxis case identification in medical claims data.

Objectives: Anaphylaxis is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction, and its accurate identification in healthcare databases can harness the potential of "Big Data" for healthcare or public health purposes.

Materials And Methods: This study used claims data obtained between October 1, 2015 and February 28, 2019 from the CMS database to examine the utility of machine learning in identifying incident anaphylaxis cases. We created a feature selection pipeline to identify critical features between different datasets.

Assessment of potential adverse events following the 2022-2023 seasonal influenza vaccines among U.S. adults aged 65 years and older.

Background: While safety of influenza vaccines is well-established, some studies have suggested potential associations between influenza vaccines and certain adverse events (AEs). This study examined the safety of the 2022-2023 influenza vaccines among U.S.

Real-world Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Among US Nursing Home Residents Aged ≥65 Years in the Pre-Delta and High Delta Periods.

Background: Long-term care residents were among the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated vaccine effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Medicare nursing home residents aged ≥65 years during pre-Delta and high Delta periods.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 13 December 2020 to 20 November 2021 using Medicare claims data.

Comparing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) enrollment data death dates to the National Death Index (NDI).

Purpose: In the United States, the National Death Index (NDI) is the most complete source of death information, while epidemiologic studies with mortality outcomes often rely on U.S. Medicare data for outcome ascertainment.

Incidence rates of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) among adults in United States commercial and Medicare claims databases, 2017-2020.

Background: Increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following adenovirus vector-based COVID-19 vaccinations has been identified in passive surveillance systems. TTS incidence rates (IRs) in the United States (U.S.

Dispensing pharmacy chains and direct anticoagulants: Potential associations with patient outcomes.

Purpose: Pharmacy chains can differ with respect to the characteristics of their patient populations as well as their nonprescription products, services, and practices, and thus may serve as a surrogate for potential unmeasured confounding in observational studies of prescription drugs. This study evaluates whether a single-source drug can have different patient outcomes based on the dispensing pharmacy chain.

Methods: Separate analyses for two anticoagulant drugs, rivaroxaban and apixaban, were conducted using Medicare Fee-for-Service claims evaluating the association between dispensing pharmacy chain and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, all-cause mortality, and major GI bleeding.

Severe Hypocalcemia With Denosumab Among Older Female Dialysis-Dependent Patients.

Importance: Dialysis-dependent patients experience high rates of morbidity from fractures, yet little evidence is available on optimal treatment strategies. Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder is nearly universal in dialysis-dependent patients, complicating diagnosis and treatment of skeletal fragility.

Objective: To examine the incidence and comparative risk of severe hypocalcemia with denosumab compared with oral bisphosphonates among dialysis-dependent patients treated for osteoporosis.

Using machine learning to improve anaphylaxis case identification in medical claims data.

Objective: Anaphylaxis is a severe life-threatening allergic reaction, and its accurate identification in healthcare databases can harness the potential of "Big Data" for healthcare or public health purposes.

Methods: This study used claims data obtained between October 1, 2015 and February 28, 2019 from the CMS database to examine the utility of machine learning in identifying incident anaphylaxis cases. We created a feature selection pipeline to identify critical features between different datasets.

Risk of Severe COVID-19 in Prevalent Users of Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists: A National Case-Control Study of Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonists prevent cytokine storm in mouse sepsis models. This led to the hypothesis that alpha-1 blockers may prevent severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is characterized by hypercytokinemia and progressive respiratory failure.

Methods: We performed an observational case-control study in male Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older, with or without benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and treated with alpha-1 receptor blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.

Evaluation of potential adverse events following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination among adults aged 65 years and older: Two self-controlled studies in the U.S.

Background: Our near-real-time safety monitoring of 16 adverse events (AEs) following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination identified potential elevation in risk for six AEs following primary series and monovalent booster dose administration. The crude association with AEs does not imply causality. Accordingly, we conducted robust evaluation of potential associations.

Immune globulin usage trends in commercially insured and Medicare populations, 2009-2019.

Background: Longitudinal patterns of immune globulins (IG) use have not been described in large populations. Understanding IG usage is important given potential supply limitations impacting individuals for whom IG is the sole life-saving/health-preserving therapy. The study describes US IG utilization patterns from 2009 to 2019.

Surveillance of COVID-19 vaccine safety among elderly persons aged 65 years and older.

Background: Monitoring safety outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination is critical for understanding vaccine safety especially when used in key populations such as elderly persons age 65 years and older who can benefit greatly from vaccination. We present new findings from a nationally representative early warning system that may expand the safety knowledge base to further public trust and inform decision making on vaccine safety by government agencies, healthcare providers, interested stakeholders, and the public.

Methods: We evaluated 14 outcomes of interest following COVID-19 vaccination using the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data covering 30,712,101 elderly persons.

Association of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Use With Hospitalized Pneumonia in Medicare Beneficiaries 65 Years or Older With and Without Medical Conditions, 2014 to 2017.

Importance: The association of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) use with pneumonia hospitalization in older adults, especially those with underlying medical conditions, is not well described.

Objective: To evaluate the association of PCV13 use with pneumonia, non-health care-associated (non-HA) pneumonia, and lobar pneumonia (LP) hospitalization among US Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study with time-varying exposure assignment analyzed claims data from US Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older enrolled in Parts A/B with a residence in the 50 US states or the District of Columbia by September 1, 2014.

Background rates of adverse events of special interest for COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring in the United States, 2019-2020.

Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Biologics Effectiveness and Safety (BEST) Initiative conducts active surveillance of adverse events of special interest (AESI) after COVID-19 vaccination.