Opportunities to improve outcomes in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease represents a spectrum of inherited hemoglobin disorders. The pathophysiology involves abnormalities not just in red blood cells but also vascular endothelium, white blood cell function, coagulation, and inflammatory response. Known sequelae of sickle cell disease include invasive infections, painful episodes, acute chest syndrome, strokes, and chronic pulmonary hypertension.

Inappropriate drug use and risk of transition to nursing homes among community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Adverse events from inappropriate medications are preventable risk factors for nursing home admissions.

Objective: We sought to investigate the relationship between inappropriate medications in older adults and transitions to nursing home.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with employer-sponsored supplemental health insurance was analyzed using a longitudinal data set of Medicare supplemental insurance claims.

Direct cost analyses of palivizumab treatment in a cohort of at-risk children: evidence from the North Carolina Medicaid Program.

Objective: Use of palivizumab prophylactic therapy reduces the occurrence of hospitalizations for serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infections in at-risk infants. The direct cost-benefit of palivizumab prophylaxis for infants who are born at 32 to 35 weeks' estimated gestational age (EGA) during their first year of life has not been systematically examined. The objective of this study was to compare the direct costs of palivizumab prophylaxis and RSV treatment in infants who were born at 32 to 35 weeks EGA and received and did not receive palivizumab.