The Humanistic and Economic Burden Associated with Major Depressive Disorder: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating and costly condition. This analysis characterized the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), health care resource utilization (HCRU), and costs between patients with versus without MDD, and across MDD severity levels.

Methods: The 2019 National Health and Wellness Survey was used to identify adults with MDD, who were stratified by disease severity (minimal/mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe), and those without MDD.

Perceptions of prescription opioids among marginalized patients with hematologic malignancies in the context of the opioid epidemic: a qualitative study.

Purpose: Opioids are essential for treating pain in hematologic malignancies (HM), yet are heavily stigmatized in the era of the opioid epidemic. Stigma and negative attitudes towards opioids may contribute to poorly managed cancer pain. We aimed to understand patient attitudes towards opioids for HM pain management, particularly among historically marginalized populations.

Health-related Quality of Life in Hormone Receptor-Positive Early Breast Cancer: Analyses From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare Health Outcomes Survey.

This study describes health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older Medicare beneficiaries with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) early breast cancer (eBC). Women aged ≥65 years diagnosed with stage I-III HR+ eBC between 1997 and 2014 using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare Health Outcomes Survey Data Resource were included. HRQoL was measured using the Short Form Health Survey including physical/mental component summary (PCS/MCS) scores and subscales.

Physical functioning, frailty and risks of locally-advanced breast cancer among older women.

Objective: Women with multiple comorbidities have competing health needs that may delay screening for early detection of breast cancer. Our objective was to determine associations between physical functioning and frailty with risk of locally-advanced breast cancer (BC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women 65 years and older diagnosed with first primary stage I-III BC using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Medicare Health Outcome Survey Data Resource.

Impact of time to distant recurrence on breast cancer-specific mortality in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive early-stage breast cancer (BC) have five-year survival rates of > 90% but remain at serious risk for developing distant metastases beyond five years from diagnosis. This retrospective cohort study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries to examine associations between distant recurrence-free interval (DRFI) and risk of BC-specific mortality following distant relapse. The analysis includes 1,057 women with second primary stage IV BC who were initially diagnosed with AJCC stages I-III HR-positive BC between1990 and 2016.

A Remote Health Coaching, Text-Based Walking Program in Ethnic Minority Primary Care Patients With Overweight and Obesity: Feasibility and Acceptability Pilot Study.

Background: Over half of US adults have at least one chronic disease, including obesity. Although physical activity is an important component of chronic disease self-management, few reach the recommended physical activity goals. Individuals who identify as racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionally affected by chronic diseases and physical inactivity.

The association between physical health-related quality of life, physical functioning, and risk of contralateral breast cancer among older women.

Background: Physical limitations prior to cancer diagnosis may lead to suboptimal health outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the impacts of poor physical health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and physical functioning (PF) on the risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC).

Methods: We performed a nested case-control study of women with invasive unilateral breast cancer (UBC) who did not receive prophylactic contralateral mastectomy using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Medicare Health Outcomes Survey data resource.

Population-based recurrence rates among older women with HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer: Clinical risk factors, frailty status, and differences by race.

Background: Multiple independent risk factors are associated with the prognosis of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer (BC), the most common BC subtype. This study describes U.S.

Associations between frailty and cancer-specific mortality among older women with breast cancer.

Purpose: Frailty is assessed when making treatment decisions among older women with breast cancer (BC), which in turn impacts survival. We evaluated associations between pre-diagnosis frailty and risks of BC-specific and all-cause mortality in older women.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries ages ≥ 65 years with stage I-III BC using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare Health Outcome Survey Data Resource.

A comparison of medication access services at 340B and non-340B hospitals.

Background: For patients that face barriers to filling their prescriptions, the availability of medication access services at their site of care can mean the difference between receiving prescribed drug therapy, and undue interruptions in care. Hospitals often provide medication access services that are not reimbursed by payers; however, they can be challenging to sustain. The 340B Drug Pricing Program allows covered entities to generate savings through discounted pricing for certain outpatient medications, which can then be used to provide more comprehensive services, including medication access services.

Predicting Treatment Failure for Initiators of Hepatitis C Virus Treatment in the era of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the leading cause of advanced liver disease, has enormous economic burden. Identification of patients at risk of treatment failure could lead to interventions that improve cure rates. Our goal was to develop and evaluate a prediction model for HCV treatment failure.

Self-reported health and survival in older patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Patient-reported outcomes such as self-reported health (SRH) are important in understanding quality cancer care, yet little is known about links between SRH and outcomes in older patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We evaluated associations between SRH and mortality among older patients with MM.

Methods: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of patients ages ≥ 65 years diagnosed with first primary MM using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) data resource.

Clinical pharmacists in diabetes management: What do minority patients with uncontrolled diabetes have to say?

Objective: Clinical pharmacist support for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can optimize patient outcomes and medication adherence. However, there is limited understanding of what pharmacist roles patients perceive as most helpful in T2DM management interventions. This study describes experiences of minority patients with uncontrolled T2DM in terms of perceived pharmacist helpfulness and specific roles found to be most helpful within diabetes management.

Depressive symptoms, mental health-related quality of life, and survival among older patients with multiple myeloma.

Purpose: To examine the impact of pre-diagnosis depressive symptoms and mental health-related quality of life (HRQOL) on survival among older patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey data resource. Patients aged 65 years and older diagnosed with first primary MM between 1998 and 2014 were identified, and presence of depressive symptoms was determined based on responses to 3 depression screening questions prior to MM diagnosis.

Expanding Hepatitis C Virus Care and Cure: National Experience Using a Clinical Pharmacist-Driven Model.

Background: The US National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan depends on additional providers to expand hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment capacity in order to achieve elimination goals. Clinical pharmacists manage treatment and medication within interdisciplinary teams. The study's objective was to determine sustained virologic response (SVR) rates for clinical pharmacist-delivered HCV therapy in an open medical system.