Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities and Self-reported Work Productivity in Urinary Incontinence Females Using the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Data.

Objective: To explore the relationship between racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities and self-reported work productivity in urinary incontinence females.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational and secondary analysis of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases database trials. We included females with stress urinary incontinence and ≥21 years old.

A risk stratification analysis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events post-statin discontinuation in patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass bariatric/metabolic surgeries.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality globally, and its prevalence is notably elevated in individuals with obesity. Bariatric surgery is an effective intervention to reduce obesity-related health risks. However, the implications of discontinuing statin therapy, particularly post-bariatric surgery, among those with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have yet to be clarified.

Factors Associated with Statin Discontinuation Following Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis of 2012-2021 Electronic Medical Records Network Data.

Background: Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve hyperlipidemia, decreasing the need for statin medications. Although maintaining statin therapy post-surgery for those with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is advised, it is uncertain if discontinuation risks differ between those with and without ASCVD history.

Aim: The study aims to analyze the rate and reasons for statin cessation post-bariatric surgery in the US using real-world data.

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Utilization Trends in the United States: Evidence From 2012 to 2021 National Electronic Medical Records Network.

Background: Bariatric surgery has evolved over the past 2 decades yet assessing trends of bariatric surgery utilization in the growing eligible population is lacking.

Aim: This study aimed to update the trends in bariatric surgery utilization, changes in types of procedures performed, and the characteristics of patients who underwent bariatric surgery in the United States, using real-world data.

Method: This retrospective descriptive observational study was conducted using the TriNetX, a federated electronic medical records network from 2012 to 2021, for adult patients 18 years old or older who had bariatric surgery.

Safety reporting of Essure medical device: a qualitative and quantitative assessment on the FDA manufacturer and user facility device experience database in 2018.

Background: There have been numerous cases of adverse events since the introduction of Essure medical devices for sterilization in 2002. This study analyzed the safety event reports of the Essure reported in the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE).

Methods: A retrospective analysis examined the MAUDE reports between Jan-1, 2018, and Oct-31, 2018 and focused on safety reports related to the Essure device.

The Utilization, Expenditure, and Price of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in the US Medicaid Programs: Trends Over a 31 Year Period.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are used for several indications including hypertension. Our aim is to evaluate the utilization, expenditure, and drug price of ACEIs and ARBs in the US Medicaid population.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive trend analysis was conducted using Medicaid State Drug Utilization outpatient pharmacy summary files managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services from 1991 to 2021.

The effect of polypharmacy on quality of life in adult patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant epidemiological problem with rising prevalence. Due to limited literature, the objective of this study is to examine the association between polypharmacy and health-related quality of life (QoL) in NAFLD adult patients.

Methods: A retrospective observational study design was conducted to analyze health data collected by Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN).

Off-label medication use in rare pediatric diseases in the United States.

Many pediatric patients with rare diseases use drugs off-label due to limited data in pediatric patients. Off-label treatment remains an important public health issue for neonates, infants, children, and adolescents, especially for pediatric patients with rare diseases. For patients with rare diseases, the majority of medications have no or limited information in labelling for pediatric use.

Correlation of the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment and Selected Pre-pharmacy and Pharmacy Performance Variables.

To identify the correlation between the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) and pre-pharmacy and pharmacy performance variables. Four years of PCOA data (2012-2015) were analyzed for students taking the assessment in the third professional year (P3). Using the Pearson correlation coefficient, data was correlated to a series of performance variables: pre-pharmacy grade point average (GPA), pre-pharmacy science GPA (pre-pharmacy science courses only), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) composite score, P3 pre-advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) GPA and the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX).

Trends in Utilization, Spending, and Prices of Smoking-Cessation Medications in Medicaid Programs: 25 Years Empirical Data Analysis, 1991-2015.

Background: Smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease. Smoking-cessation medications provide patients a multitude of benefits and can prevent certain diseases, including some cancers. Because of the limited amount of studies on smoking-cessation medications, we wanted to find general trends about the use of these medications.

Utilization, Spending, and Price Trends for Quinolones in the US Medicaid Programs: 25 Years' Experience 1991-2015.

Background: Given that the quinolones is one of the antibacterial classes most frequently used to treat patients with bacterial infections in the United States, any change in prescribing patterns of quinolones will impact Medicaid medical expenditures.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to examine trends in utilization, reimbursement, and prices of quinolone antibacterials for the US Medicaid population.

Methods: The publicly available Medicaid State Drug Utilization outpatient pharmacy files were used for this study.

Antithrombotic Therapy and Direct Medical Costs in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome in Shanghai, China.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Objectives: To describe patient profile, treatment patterns, and disease burden for patients with ACS.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted.

Current Practices in Global/International Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences: Preceptor and Student Considerations.

The objective of this article is to describe the key areas of consideration for global/international advanced pharmacy practice experience (G/I APPE) preceptors, students and learning objectives. At the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the GPE SIG prepared and presented an initial report on the G/IAPPE initiatives. Round table discussions were conducted at the 2014 AACP Annual Meeting to document GPE SIG member input on key areas in the report.

Twenty years of triptans in the United States Medicaid programs: Utilization and reimbursement trends from 1993 to 2013.

Objective: After sumatriptan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1992, triptans became first-line anti-migraine therapies. Rapidly rising triptan expenditures, however, led payers, including Medicaid, to implement cost-containment policies. We describe triptan utilization and reimbursement trends in Medicaid.

Safety of long-acting beta agonists and inhaled corticosteroids in children and adolescents with asthma.

The introduction of long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) was considered a major advance in bronchodilator therapy for adult, as well as pediatric, patients with asthma. However, the use of LABAs has raised safety concerns, especially the potential for severe asthma exacerbations (SAEs) resulting in hospitalizations or even death. Meanwhile, the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), a cornerstone in the treatment of mild-to-severe persistent asthma, has been associated with growth suppression in children.

Roles of the pharmacist in the use of safe and highly effective long-acting reversible contraception: an opinion of the women's health practice and research network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

The U.S. population continues to experience an alarmingly high rate of unintended pregnancies that have an impact on individual families and society alike.

National burden of pediatric hospitalizations for inflammatory bowel disease: results from the 2006 Kids' Inpatient Database.

Objectives: : The objective of the present study was to quantify the national pediatric inpatient inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) burden in terms of the number of IBD-related hospitalizations, the number of days spent in the hospital, and hospitalization costs.

Methods: : Hospitalizations for children and adolescents 20 years and younger with a primary diagnosis of either Crohn disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) were selected from the 2006 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Length of the hospital stay in days (LOS) and charges for the hospitalization were found directly in the Kids' Inpatient Database, and cost was calculated using the hospital's cost-to-charge ratio.

Utilization, spending, and price trends for short- and long-acting Beta-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids in the medicaid program, 1991-2010.

Background: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that afflicts millions of people and accounts for substantial utilization of healthcare resources in most industrialized countries, including in the United States. However, the exact cost and utilization of anti-asthma medications in Medicaid in the past 2 decades have not been well studied. Considering the safety issues surrounding the long-acting beta-agonists, guideline updates, and the increase in asthma prevalence, understanding anti-asthma medication prescribing trends is important to payers and patients.

Risk of serious asthma exacerbations associated with long-acting beta agonists among patients with asthma: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: After the Serevent Nationwide Surveillance clinical trial, controversy has surrounded the safety of long-acting beta agonists (LABAs).

Objective: Examine the association between LABAs and severe asthma exacerbations (SAEs).

Methods: From a multistate Medicaid database, for the years 2002-2007, a total of 940,449 patients (age <40) with asthma were selected and divided into a cohort with newly-diagnosed asthma and one with pre-existing asthma.

Evaluation of online consumer medication information.

Background: Millions of Americans search the Internet for health-related information; however, the readability and comprehensiveness of consumer medication information (CMI) on the Internet has not been widely studied.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the readability and comprehensiveness of online CMI.

Methods: The readability and comprehensiveness of consumer drug information found on 3 well-known Web sites (Medline Plus, Yahoo Health, and WebMD) was evaluated; in particular, information related to 10 commonly prescribed medications.