Adverse drug events associated with nortriptyline compared with paroxetine and alternative medications in an older adult population: a retrospective cohort study in Southern California.

Objective: Investigate risk for falls, fractures and syncope in older adult patients treated with nortriptyline compared with paroxetine and alternative medications.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: The electronic medical record and prescription drug database of a large integrated healthcare system in Southern California.

Association between encounter frequency and time to blood pressure control among patients with newly diagnosed hypertension: a retrospective cohort study.

This retrospective cohort study of 95 957 patients from a large integrated healthcare organization was conducted to examine whether the frequency and intervals between outpatient encounters were associated with achieving blood pressure (BP) control. Patients were followed up until they were censored or achieved BP control up to 1 year. Additionally, this study examined the time to BP control.

Evaluation of the Risk of Nitrofurantoin Lung Injury and Its Efficacy in Diminished Kidney Function in Older Adults in a Large Integrated Healthcare System: A Matched Cohort Study.

Objectives: To determine the risk to older adults of lung injury associated with treatment of cystitis using nitrofurantoin and the risk of treatment failure in the presence of diminished creatinine clearance (CrCl).

Design: Retrospective, matched cohort.

Setting: Integrated healthcare system.

Identification and evaluation of risk factors in patients with continuously uncontrolled hypertension.

An aggressive strategy to manage hypertension in a large integrated healthcare organization achieved blood pressure control in 82% of hypertensive patients, as compared with 52% nationwide. It is unknown why the remaining 18% is uncontrolled. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics associated with patients whose blood pressure remains continuously uncontrolled.

A large cohort study evaluating risk factors associated with uncontrolled hypertension.

Hypertension is the most common primary diagnosis in the United States. Risks for long-term consequences such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease continue to significantly increase as long as hypertension remains uncontrolled. This retrospective cohort study of 661,075 patients identified with uncontrolled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mm Hg, from a large integrated healthcare organization was conducted to examine multiple patient characteristics to determine their association with uncontrolled hypertension.

Evaluations of hospitalizations associated with thiazide-associated hyponatremia.

The prevalence of hypertension in the United States has grown dramatically in recent years. Thiazide diuretics have played a major role in the rising rate of blood pressure (BP) control. Accompanying this has been the appearance of adverse drug events, including hospitalizations associated with thiazide-associated hyponatremia (HTAH).

Food-drug interactions: Careful drug selection and patient counseling can reduce the risk in older patients.

Older patients are at high risk for food-drug Interactions. These patients are commonly on multiple medications for chronic medical conditions. Age-related physiologic changes affecting drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, as well as drug action occur in these patients, and this variability in drug action may be further potentiated by interactions with foods.