Changes in the Use of Hydrochlorothiazide and Other Antihypertensive Drugs in Switzerland in Association With the Swissmedic Safety Alert Regarding Non-melanoma Skin Cancer: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis Using Swiss Claims Data.

Purpose: Long-term use of hydrochlorothiazide increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. We aimed to evaluate potential changes in the use of hydrochlorothiazide in Switzerland after a direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC) in November 2018 by Swissmedic.

Methods: We performed interrupted time-series analyses using a large Swiss healthcare claims database (2015-2021).

Use of metamizole and other non-opioid analgesics in Switzerland between 2014 and 2019: an observational study using a large health insurance claims database.

Objective: To investigate claims patterns for metamizole and other non-opioid analgesics in Switzerland. To characterise users of these non-opioid analgesics regarding sex, age, comedications and canton of residence.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using administrative claims data of outpatient prescribed non-opioid analgesics of the Swiss health insurance company Helsana between January 2014 and December 2019.

The risk of acute infections in new users of antidepressants: An observational cohort study.

Background: Preclinical studies suggested that drugs that functionally inhibit acid sphingomyelinase (FIASMA)may enhance immune cell longevity and potentially offer protection against infections. Many antidepressants have shown FIASMA activity.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study using primary-care data from the UK-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink (2000-2021).

Antidiabetic Medication Utilisation before and during Pregnancy in Switzerland between 2012 and 2019: An Administrative Claim Database from the MAMA Cohort.

Background: The incidence of diabetes mellitus (both pregestational and gestational) is increasing worldwide, and hyperglycemia during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Evidence on the safety and efficacy of metformin during pregnancy has accumulated resulting in an increase in its prescription in many reports.

Aims: We aimed to determine the prevalence of antidiabetic drug use (insulins and blood glucose-lowering drugs) before and during pregnancy in Switzerland and the changes therein during pregnancy and over time.

Sensing the (digital) pulse. Future steps for improving the secondary use of data for research in Switzerland.

Introduction: Ensuring that the health data infrastructure and governance permits an efficient secondary use of data for research is a policy priority for many countries. Switzerland is no exception and many initiatives have been launched to improve its health data landscape. The country now stands at an important crossroad, debating the right way forward.

Recording of Chronic Diseases and Adverse Obstetric Outcomes during Hospitalizations for a Delivery in the National Swiss Hospital Medical Statistics Dataset between 2012 and 2018: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study.

The prevalence of chronic diseases during pregnancy and adverse maternal obstetric outcomes in Switzerland has been insufficiently studied. Data sources, which reliably capture these events, are scarce. We conducted a nationwide observational cross-sectional study (2012−2018) using data from the Swiss Hospital Medical Statistics (MS) dataset.

Use of Prescribed Drugs to Treat Chronic Diseases during Pregnancy in Outpatient Care in Switzerland between 2014 and 2018: Descriptive Analysis of Swiss Health Care Claims Data.

Evidence on the use of drugs during pregnancy in Switzerland is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the utilisation of drugs to treat chronic diseases during pregnancy in Switzerland. We identified all pregnancies (excluding abortions) in Swiss Helsana claims data (2014-2018).

Use of drugs to treat symptoms and acute conditions during pregnancy in outpatient care in Switzerland between 2014 and 2018: analysis of Swiss healthcare claims data.

Background: Evidence on the use of drugs during pregnancy in Switzerland is lacking.

Objectives: To evaluate utilisation of prescribed drugs during pregnancy in outpatient care in Switzerland, focusing on treatments for pain, infections, gastro-oesophageal reflux, nausea/vomiting, and constipation.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive study using the Swiss Helsana claims database (2014–2018).

A review of the evidence on the risk of congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders in association with antiseizure medications during pregnancy.

The majority of women with epilepsy require treatment with antiseizure medications (ASM) throughout pregnancy. However, in utero exposure to several ASM has been associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations and/or neurodevelopmental disorders (CM/NDD) in the child, but observational evidence is methodologically heterogeneous. We critically evaluate current evidence on the risk of CM/NDD in children of women with epilepsy after in utero exposure to different ASM.

The Risk of Muscular Events Among New Users of Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Statins: an Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Statins are effective lipid-lowering drugs for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but muscular adverse events can limit their use. Hydrophilic statins (pravastatin, rosuvastatin) may cause less muscular events than lipophilic statins (e.g.

Risk of skin cancer in new users of thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics: a cohort study using an active comparator group.

Background: Case-control studies report a dose-dependent increased risk of skin cancer in users of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) vs. nonusers. The degree to which other thiazides and thiazide-like diuretics (TZs) are associated with skin cancer is less certain.

Use of valproate in pregnancy and in women of childbearing age between 2014 and 2018 in Switzerland: a retrospective analysis of Swiss healthcare claims data.

Aims Of The Study: The prevalence of the use of valproate during pregnancy and by women of childbearing age in Switzerland is not known. We aimed to study the use of antiseizure drugs by these women in Switzerland, with a particular focus on valproate.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study using the healthcare claims database of the Swiss health insurance Helsana (2014–18).

Using Healthcare Databases to Replicate Trial Findings for Supplemental Indications: Adalimumab in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Regulators wish to understand whether real world evidence can be used for secondary indications of biologics. Using the secondary indication of adalimumab for ulcerative colitis (UC) as an example, we aimed to replicate the ULTRA-2 randomized controlled trial finding on the effectiveness of adalimumab in patients with UC using realworld data analyses. Adalimumab, a TNF-alpha receptor inhibitor initially approved for Crohn's disease, was approved for moderate to severe UC in 2012.

Risk of hand osteoarthritis in new users of hormone replacement therapy: A nested case-control analysis.

Objective: To estimate the risk of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study using data from the UKbased Clinical Practice Research Datalink (1998-2017). In the study inception cohort comprised women at age 45.

Metamizole-associated neutropenia: Comparison of patients with neutropenia and metamizole-tolerant patients.

Reports of metamizole-induced neutropenia have increased in Switzerland and Germany over the last decades, most likely reflecting increased use of metamizole. To date, there are no effective strategies to identify patients at increased risk of metamizole-induced neutropenia. In this observational, multi-center comparative study, characteristics of patients with metamizole-associated neutropenia were compared with patients treated with metamizole without developing adverse hematological reactions.

Cardiovascular Outcomes of Calcium-Free vs Calcium-Based Phosphate Binders in Patients 65 Years or Older With End-stage Renal Disease Requiring Hemodialysis.

Importance: Guidelines restricting use of calcium-based phosphate binders in all patients with end-stage renal disease owing to their potential contribution to increased cardiovascular risk shifted prescribing from calcium acetate toward the costlier sevelamer carbonate products.

Objective: To compare cardiovascular events and mortality between patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis receiving sevelamer vs calcium acetate in real-world practice.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An observational cohort study was conducted using the United States Renal Data System linked to Medicare claims data (May 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013).

Comparative effectiveness and safety of antiplatelet drugs in patients with diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome.

Purpose: Comparative outcomes of treatment with antiplatelet drugs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and co-morbid diabetes mellitus (DM) are not well studied.

Methods: We performed a cohort study using US commercial claims data (2009-2015) and conducted the following pairwise comparisons in ACS patients with DM: prasugrel vs clopidogrel, ticagrelor vs clopidogrel, and prasugrel vs ticagrelor. Outcomes of interest included (1) a composite effectiveness endpoint including myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or inpatient mortality; (2) a composite safety endpoint including major bleeding events requiring hospitalization; and (3) pneumonia hospitalizations as a negative control endpoint.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis in Association with Commonly Prescribed Drugs in Outpatient Care Other than Anti-Epileptic Drugs and Antibiotics: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have been associated with the use of various drugs, but evidence is scarce. We studied the association between new use of outpatient drugs other than anti-epileptic drugs and antibiotics and Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Methods: We conducted a matched (1:4) case-control analysis in 480 previously validated Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis cases (1995-2013).

Association of Medicare's Bundled Payment Reform With Changes in Use of Vitamin D Among Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis.

Background & Rationale: Medicare's 2011 prospective payment system (PPS) was introduced to curb overuse of separately billable injectable drugs. After epoietin, intravenous (IV) vitamin D analogues are the biggest drug cost drivers in hemodialysis (HD) patients, but the association between PPS introduction and vitamin D therapy has been scarcely investigated.

Study Design: Interrupted time-series analyses.