Natural History and Disease Burden of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 with Plexiform Neurofibromas: A Systematic Literature Review.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an incurable genetic condition that frequently includes the development of plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) in patients. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify data on the natural history, disease burden, and treatment patterns among patients diagnosed with NF1 and PN, as well as to identify evidence gaps in these areas. MEDLINE and MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, and Cochrane Library Searches were searched using predefined terms.

Treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and costs of patients diagnosed with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma in the United States.

Aims: With the advent of ICD-10-CM codes for PMBCL on 10/01/2015, assessment of treatment patterns and healthcare burden among US patients is possible. This study sought to describe the real-world treatment patterns and economic outcomes of patients with PMBCL.

Methods: Data from the Optum Clinformatics DataMart database was used (January 2013-March 2018).

Real-World Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, Health Care Resource Use, and Costs of Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the U.S.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the U.S., but current real-world data are limited.

Real-World Healthcare Resource Utilization in Patients with Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated with Pembrolizumab and Nivolumab in the USA.

Background: Patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease who relapse after or are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation have a poor prognosis. Recently, the anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; May 2016 and March 2017, respectively) as treatment options for R/R cHL patients.

Objective: In the absence of comparative clinical trials between these agents, this observational study was conducted to evaluate the healthcare resource utilization (HRU) of patients with cHL initiated on pembrolizumab compared to nivolumab in the USA.

Impact of high- versus low-dose neuromuscular blocking agent administration on unplanned 30-day readmission rates in retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery.

Recent data shows that a neuromuscular block (NMB) induced by administration of high doses of rocuronium improves surgical conditions in certain procedures. However, there are limited data on the effect such practices on postoperative outcomes. We performed a retrospective analysis to compare unplanned 30-day readmissions in patients that received high-dose versus low-dose rocuronium administration during general anesthesia for laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery.

Cost-effectiveness of ceftolozane/tazobactam plus metronidazole versus piperacillin/tazobactam as initial empiric therapy for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections based on pathogen distributions drawn from national surveillance data in the United States.

Background: The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative pathogens in complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) has increased. In the absence of timely information on the infecting pathogens and their susceptibilities, local or regional epidemiology may guide initial empirical therapy and reduce treatment failure, length of stay and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of ceftolozane/tazobactam + metronidazole compared with piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of hospitalized US patients with cIAI at risk of infection with resistant pathogens.

Cost-effectiveness of ceftolozane/tazobactam compared with piperacillin/tazobactam as empiric therapy based on the in-vitro surveillance of bacterial isolates in the United States for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections.

Background: A challenge in the empiric treatment of complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI) is identifying the initial appropriate antibiotic therapy (IAAT), which is associated with reduced length of stay and mortality compared with initial inappropriate antibiotic therapy (IIAT). We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of ceftolozane/tazobactam compared with piperacillin/tazobactam (one of the standard of care antibiotics), for the treatment of hospitalized patients with cUTI.

Methods: A decision-analytic Monte Carlo simulation model was developed to compare the costs and effectiveness of empiric treatment with either ceftolozane/tazobactam or piperacillin/tazobactam in hospitalized adult patients with cUTI infected with Gram-negative pathogens in the US.

Gastrointestinal events and association with initiation of treatment for osteoporosis.

Background: Preexisting gastrointestinal (GI) events may deter the use of pharmacologic treatment in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis (OP). The objective of this study was to examine the association between preexisting GI events and OP pharmacotherapy initiation among women diagnosed with OP.

Methods: The study utilized claims data from a large US managed care database to identify women aged ≥55 years with a diagnosis code for OP (index date) during 2002-2009.

Association between gastrointestinal events and compliance with osteoporosis therapy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of gastrointestinal (GI) events, and association between GI events and compliance with osteoporosis therapy among osteoporotic women.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study using a large administrative claims database in the United States from 2001 through 2010 was conducted. We studied women ≥ 55 years old who were continuously enrolled in a health plan for at least 2 years, a baseline year before and a follow-up year after the date of the first prescription of oral bisphosphonate as the first oral osteoporosis treatment.

Persistence with weekly and monthly bisphosphonates among postmenopausal women: analysis of a US pharmacy claims administrative database.

Background: Bisphosphonates are available in daily, weekly, and monthly dosing formulations to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. Some researchers suggested that adherence to monthly bisphosphonate might be different from that with weekly or daily bisphosphonate because of different dosing regimens. However, the actual persistency rates in regular practice settings are unknown.

Calcium and vitamin D intake by postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Spain: an observational calcium and vitamin D intake (CaVIT) study.

Background: Osteoporotic fractures are important causes of morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. However, the risk of osteoporotic fractures can be decreased, with clinical studies supporting the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements to promote bone health. Vitamin D insufficiency is widespread, particularly among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, and this indicates that dietary intake is suboptimal, even though vitamin D supplements are widely available.

Epidemiology of falls and osteoporotic fractures: a systematic review.

Background And Methods: Fractures in elderly populations result from the combination of falls and osteoporosis. We report a systematic review of studies indexed in PubMed reporting annual rates of low-trauma falls and associated osteoporotic fractures among older community-dwelling people (age ≥ 50 years). An osteoporotic fracture was defined as either a fracture resulting from a low-impact fall in subjects with clinical osteoporosis, a fall resulting in an investigator-defined osteoporotic fracture, or a fall resulting in a low-trauma fracture.

How do physicians weigh benefits and risks associated with treatments in patients with osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom?

Objective: To quantify the relative importance that UK physicians attach to the benefits and risks of current drugs when making treatment decisions for patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Physicians treating at least 10 patients with OA per month completed an online discrete-choice experiment survey and answered 12 treatment-choice questions comparing medication profiles. Medication profiles were defined by 4 benefits (reduction in ambulatory pain, resting pain, stiffness, and difficulty doing daily activities) and 3 treatment-related risks [bleeding ulcer, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI)].

An Asian viewpoint on the use of vitamin D and calcium in osteoporosis treatment: physician and patient attitudes and beliefs.

Background: Osteoporosis treatment guidelines recommend calcium and vitamin D supplementation for both prevention as well as treatment, however, compliance with these guidelines is often unsatisfactory. This study investigated the opinion of Asian physicians and Asian patients regarding vitamin D and calcium and patients' use of both.

Methods: Physicians selected from Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and Singapore were asked to grade the significance of vitamin D and calcium in the treatment of osteoporosis and their patients' use of these supplements.

Calcium and vitamin D intake by postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in France.

Objective: To assess dietary calcium and vitamin D intake and their relationship with prescription medication and nutritional supplement use among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in France.

Research Design And Methods: Telephone interviews were conducted with 207 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis referred by a random sample of physicians from a French national list. Based on a French food frequency questionnaire, patients reported their daily food intake and frequency as well as their use of prescription medications and nutritional supplements.

Efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation in preventing fractures in elderly women: a meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of vitamin D(3) in preventing fractures and falls has been explored in a number of clinical trials. However, recent evidence revealed new questions about the adequate doses of vitamin D(3) supplementation and its efficacy in fracture prevention independent of calcium supplements for various types of fractures.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of 800 IU daily vitamin D(3) supplementation for increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and preventing fractures in postmenopausal women.

COX-2 inhibitors: complex association with lower risk of hospitalization for gastrointestinal events compared to traditional NSAIDs plus proton pump inhibitors.

Purpose: To compare hospitalization rates for serious upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) events between chronic and acute users of a traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAID) + proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and users of a COX-2 selective inhibitor (Coxib).

Methods: The PHARMO Record Linkage System, including linked drug-dispensing and hospital records of approximately 3 million individuals in the Netherlands was used. We selected new Coxib or tNSAID users (01/01/2000-31/12/2004) with > or =1 year history before the first NSAID dispensing and > or =1 year follow-up ending at the first hospitalization for GI event (the outcome), last dispensing, or end of the study period.

Cost-effectiveness of a fixed dose combination of alendronate and cholecalciferol in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a fixed dose combination of alendronate 70 mg and cholecalciferol 2800 IU (alendronate/vitamin D3; Fosavance) versus no treatment, alendronate with dietary vitamin D supplements and ibandronate in the treatment of osteoporosis in the UK and Netherlands.

Methods: A patient simulation model was developed. One-year cycles included health states related to hip, vertebral, wrist and proximal humerus fractures, as well as death due to hip fractures and other causes.

Estimation of resource utilization associated with osteoporotic hip fracture and level of post-acute care in China.

Objective: Research suggests that the incidence and cost of treating osteoporotic hip fracture (OHF) in China is rising. The purpose of this study was to estimate resource utilization associated with OHF, including hospital length of stay (LOS) and inpatient costs, and to examine the level of post-acute care for osteoporosis among patients hospitalized for OHF in Shanghai, China.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 2855 patients aged 50 years and older who were hospitalized for bone fragility hip fractures in 13 districts of Shanghai in the 2000.

Consequences of inappropriate initial empiric parenteral antibiotic therapy among patients with community-acquired intra-abdominal infections in Spain.

To assess the association between inappropriate antibiotic therapy and clinical outcomes for complicated community-acquired intra-abdominal infections in Spain, patient records from October 1998 to August 2002 in 24 hospitals were reviewed. Initial empiric therapy was classified appropriate if all isolates were sensitive to at least 1 of the antibiotics administered. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess associations between appropriateness of therapy and patient outcomes.

An evaluation of patients' preferences for osteoporosis medications and their attributes: the PREFER-International study.

Background: Patients' preferences for medications may be important in determining their compliance with therapy, particularly in the case of an asymptomatic chronic disease such as osteoporosis. Although preferences for certain attributes of osteoporosis medications, including dosing frequency and tolerability, can be evaluated in short-term clinical trials, years of use may be necessary for differences in effectiveness in reducing fracture risk to emerge.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of various attributes in determining patients' preferences for osteoporosis medications.

Prescriptions for vitamin D among patients taking antiresorptive agents in Canada.

Background: Data on the rate of concomitant vitamin D use with antiresorptive medications are limited. Such information is important because vitamin D is indicated in patients with osteoporosis, including those receiving bisphosphonates, and there is evidence of inadequate use by these patients.

Objective: To examine prescription vitamin D utilization patterns.

A one-year comparison of cost and outcomes of angioplasty in stent and nonstent patients.

Most studies on costs and outcomes of stent use in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) have been limited to less than 1 year of follow-up, in-hospital costs, or regional samples. The objective of this study was to compare restenosis rates and all direct medical care costs during the 1-year period following stent PTCA and nonstent PTCA. A nationwide claims database covering 1.

A risk assessment tool (OsteoRisk) for identifying Latin American women with osteoporosis.

Objective: To develop a simple and easy-to-use tool for identifying osteoporotic women (femoral neck bone mineral density [BMD] T-scores
Design: Retrospective study involving review of medical records.

Cost effectiveness of alendronate for the treatment of male osteoporosis in Sweden.

Background: One third of all the hip fractures occur in men. The risk for mortality following hip fracture is higher for men compared to women. The Fracture Intervention Trial (FIT) showed that the bisphosphonate alendronate reduces the risk of fractures and increases bone mineral density (BMD) in osteoporotic women.