A real-world study on the impact of infection load on mortality in multiple myeloma patients in Finland.

Infections are a clinically significant cause of mortality in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The high number of infections in MM patients is due to the immunosuppressive effects of the disease itself as well as treatment-related immunosuppression. In this real-world evidence (RWE) study, we used several nationwide healthcare registries of Finland to investigate the effect of infection load on mortality in MM patients during 1997-2021.

Healthcare Resource Utilisation of Severe Uncontrolled T2low and Non-T2low Asthma in Finland During 2018-2021.

Purpose: Patients with asthma and low levels of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers (T2 low) have limited effective treatment options. Such biomarkers include eg blood eosinophils (b-eos) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). The healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) of severe uncontrolled T2 low asthma remains unexplored.

Comorbidities and survival of multiple myeloma patients diagnosed in Finland between 2000 and 2021.

Advances in treatment have improved the survival of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, but the disease remains incurable. Here, in this nationwide retrospective real-world evidence (RWE) study, we report the patient characteristics, incidence, overall survival outcomes, comorbidities, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) of all adult MM patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2021 in Finland. A total of 7070 MM patients and their 21,210 age-, sex- and region-matched controls were included in the analysis.

Trends in clinical characteristics, medication use, and glycemic control in insulin-treated patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Finland in 2012-2019: Nationwide real-world evidence study.

Aims: To describe the clinical characteristics and medication purchases of insulin-treated adults in Finland at index (January 1, 2012 or first insulin purchase) and December 31, 2019. Additionally, to describe basal insulin (BI) treatment patterns and associated changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values.

Materials And Methods: In this descriptive study using nationwide registries, we included adults with at least two reimbursed insulin purchases within 12 months of the first purchase between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2019.

Expenditure and survival of adult patients with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome: real-world evidence from Southern Finland.

Objectives: Comprehensive follow-up data from the largest hospital district in Finland was used to assess hospital-based healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and expenses, incidence and prevalence, survival, and effect of comorbidities/complications on survival of adult patients with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome (SBS-IF).

Methods: This study utilized electronic healthcare data covering all ≥18-year-old patients with SBS-IF at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa in Finland between 2010 and 2019. Patients were followed from SBS-IF onset until the end of 2020 or death and compared to birth year and sex-matched control patients without SBS-IF.

Use of Linked Nordic Registries for Population Studies in Hematologic Cancers: The Case of Multiple Myeloma.

Purpose: Linked health-care registries and high coverage in Nordic countries lend themselves well to epidemiologic research. Given its relatively high incidence in Western Europe, complexity in diagnosis, and challenges in registration, multiple myeloma (MM) was selected to compare registries in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.

Patients And Methods: Data were obtained from four archetypal registries in each country (spanning January 2005-October 2018): National Patient Registry (NPR), Prescribed Drug Registry (PDR), Cancer Registry (CR), and Cause of Death Registry.

Type 2 Low Biomarker Stability and Exacerbations in Severe Uncontrolled Asthma.

We investigated the stability of T2 low status, based on low levels of T2 biomarkers, and exacerbation rates in T2 low and non-T2 low asthma from clinical retrospective data of severe uncontrolled asthma patients. Knowledge of the T2 low biomarker profile is sparse and biomarker stability is uncharted. Secondary care patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and at least two blood eosinophil counts (BEC) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measured for determination of type 2 inflammation status were evaluated from a follow-up period of 4 years.

Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome: Real-World Evidence on Incidence and Hospital Resource Use From a Finnish Data Lake.

Objectives: Little is known about the epidemiology and healthcare burden of pediatric intestinal failure (IF). We aimed to assess the incidence, prevalence, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and related costs of pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS) using follow-up data from the largest hospital district in Finland.

Methods: This retrospective registry study utilized electronic healthcare data covering all pediatric patients with SBS-IF born between 2010 and 2019 at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa in Finland.

Burden of idiopathic inflammatory rheumatic diseases in occupational healthcare: increased absenteeism and healthcare resource utilization.

Objectives: Patients with idiopathic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IIRD) often have decreased working capacity resulting in indirect costs. However, data on patients' short-term sick leave has been limited. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the number and length of sick leave, including short-term leave, and occupational healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) of the working-aged patients with IIRD compared to controls.

Effect of Disease Severity on Comorbid Conditions in Atopic Dermatitis: Nationwide Registry-Based Investigation in Finnish Adults.

The majority of registry studies on atopic dermatitis include only patients and diagnoses from specialized healthcare. The aim of this retrospective, real-world cohort study was to evaluate the effect of atopic dermatitis severity on comorbidities and total morbidity, with comprehensive data from both primary and specialty healthcare registries covering the entire Finnish adult population. In total, 124,038 patients were identified (median age 46 years; 68% female) and stratified by disease severity.

Comorbidity characteristics of multiple myeloma patients diagnosed in Finland 2005-2016.

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients are predominantly elderly with comorbidities that have an impact on patient mortality and treatment decisions. We previously reported the patient characteristics and overall survival outcomes of the Finnish MM cohort diagnosed between 2005 and 2016 in a nationwide retrospective registry study comprising 3,851 adults. Here, we report detailed comorbidity characteristics for this real-world Finnish MM population at cohort entry and during follow-up.

Screening for potential undiagnosed Gaucher disease patients: Utilisation of the Gaucher earlier diagnosis consensus point-scoring system (GED-C PSS) in conjunction with electronic health record data, tissue specimens, and small nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data available in Finnish biobanks.

Background: Autosomal recessive Gaucher disease (GD) is likely underdiagnosed in many countries. Because the number of diagnosed GD patients in Finland is relatively low, and the true prevalence is currently not known, it was hypothesized that undiagnosed GD patients may exist in Finland. Our previous study demonstrated the applicability of Gaucher Earlier Diagnosis Consensus point-scoring system (GED-C PSS; Mehta et al.

Retrospective, Registry-based, Cohort Investigation of Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma in Finland.

Most cases of keratinocyte cancer can be treated effectively with surgery. However, survival is reduced in patients with advanced disease. This retrospective cohort study evaluated overall survival of patients with invasive keratinocyte cancers, and high-risk features for progression of the disease and mortality in Finnish patients in a real-world setting.

Erenumab Decreases Headache-Related Sick Leave Days and Health Care Visits: A Retrospective Real-World Study in Working Patients with Migraine.

Introduction: The prevalence of migraine is highest among working age individuals, and this disease is associated with an increased number of sick leaves and health care visits, as well as lost productivity. Erenumab, the first monoclonal antibody targeting the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway, is effective in decreasing the monthly number of migraine days, but evidence of its impact on the number of sick leave days and health care visits in patients with migraine is limited.

Methods: This retrospective registry study focused on occupationally active patients with migraine treated with erenumab at a Finnish private health care provider, Terveystalo.

Genetic Profile of Endotoxemia Reveals an Association With Thromboembolism and Stroke.

Background Translocation of lipopolysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria into the systemic circulation results in endotoxemia. In addition to acute infections, endotoxemia is detected in cardiometabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity. Methods and Results We performed a genome-wide association study of serum lipopolysaccharide activity in 11 296 individuals from 6 different Finnish study cohorts.

Characteristics and survival trends in Finnish multiple myeloma patients-a nationwide real-world evidence study.

Current understanding of the epidemiology and outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma in Finland is scarce due to lack of comprehensive real-world evidence in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to gain understanding of epidemiological characteristics and treatment and survival outcomes by utilizing multiple real-world data sources with information of adults treated for active multiple myeloma (MM) during years 2005-2016 in Finland. A total of 3851 adult MM patients with C90.

The Gaucher earlier diagnosis consensus point-scoring system (GED-C PSS): Evaluation of a prototype in Finnish Gaucher disease patients and feasibility of screening retrospective electronic health record data for the recognition of potential undiagnosed patients in Finland.

Background: Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare inherited multiorgan disorder, yet a diagnosis can be significantly delayed due to a broad spectrum of symptoms and lack of disease awareness. Recently, the prototype of a GD point-scoring system (PSS) was established by the Gaucher Earlier Diagnosis Consensus (GED-C) initiative, and more recently, validated in Gaucher patients in UK. In our study, the original GED-C PSS was tested in Finnish GD patients.

Recurrent hospitalizations are associated with increased mortality across the ejection fraction range in heart failure.

Aims: The proportion of patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is rising, but no approved treatment exists, in part owing to incomplete characterization of this particular HF phenotype. In order to better define the characteristics of HF phenotypes in Finland, a large cohort with 12 years' follow-up time was analysed.

Methods And Results: Patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2017 at the Hospital District of Southwest Finland were stratified according to LVEF measure and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.

Real-world clinical diagnostics of heart failure patients with reduced or preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: The study aimed at investigating the use of guideline-recommended diagnostic tools and medication in patients with heart failure (HF) in specialty care in Southwest Finland. We also compared the characteristics of the diagnosed and undiagnosed patients as well as laboratory tests, procedures, and treatments in everyday clinical practice.

Methods And Results: Patients diagnosed with HF, cardiomyopathy, or hypertension-induced heart disease (n = 20 878, primary cohort) or not diagnosed with HF but having a record of elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (>125 ng/L, n = 24 321, secondary cohort) were included in the study from the specialty care patient register of the Hospital District of Southwest Finland during the years 2005-2017.

Cardiovascular event rates increase after each recurrence and associate with poor statin adherence.

Aims: The study evaluated the quality of cardiovascular prevention in real-world clinical practice. The recurrence of up to five cardiovascular events was assessed, as data on recurrence beyond the first event and interindividual variations in event rates past the second event have been sparse. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and lipid-lowering therapy use were investigated.

Burden of migraine in Finland: multimorbidity and phenotypic disease networks in occupational healthcare.

Background: Migraine is a complex neurological disorder with high co-existing morbidity burden. The aim of our study was to examine the overall morbidity and phenotypic diseasome for migraine among people of working age using real world data collected as a part of routine clinical practice.

Methods: Electronic medical records (EMR) of patients with migraine (n = 17,623) and age- and gender matched controls (n = 17,623) were included in this retrospective analysis.

Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) decline, mortality and healthcare resource utilization in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

: Potential care implications of antifibrotic reimbursement restrictions were studied by forced vital capacity (FVC) decline, mortality and specialty care related healthcare resource utilization in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). : IPF patients were identified from the electronic medical records of the Hospital District of Southwest Finland between 2005 and 2017. Text-mining was used for patient identification to exclude other interstitial lung diseases (ILD) from the cohort.

The Burden Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) In Finland: Impact Of Disease Severity And Eosinophil Count On Healthcare Resource Utilization.

Purpose: The burden associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is substantial. The objectives of this study were to describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and HCRU-associated costs in patients with COPD in Finland, according to disease severity and blood eosinophil count (BEC).

Patients And Methods: This non-interventional, retrospective registry study (GSK ID: HO-17-17558) utilized data from the specialist care hospital register.