Prevalence of thyrotoxicosis, antithyroid medication use, and complications among pregnant women in the United States.

Background: Population-based estimates of the prevalence of thyrotoxicosis (TTX), the frequency of antithyroid drug (ATD) use, and risk of adverse events in pregnant women and their infants are lacking. Therefore, our objective was to obtain epidemiologic estimates of these parameters within a large population-based sample of pregnant women with TTX.

Methods: A retrospective claims analysis was performed from the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters health insurance database for the period 2005-2009.

Asthma-related medication use among children in the United States.

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in children and has a major impact on health care use and quality of life. The Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act mandates the federal government to sponsor pediatric studies of drugs approved for use in the United States but lacking evaluation in the pediatric population and lacking interest of commercial sponsors. As input into the drug selection and prioritization process, information is needed on the percentage of children who receive asthma-related medications.