Real-world outcomes among patients with early rapidly progressive rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To characterize treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and disease activity among patients with early rapidly progressive rheumatoid arthritis (eRPRA) in the United States when treated with a first-line biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) inhibitor or first-line abatacept.

Study Design: Observational, multicenter, retrospective, longitudinal, medical records-based, cohort study.

Methods: Patients with eRPRA were identified by anti-citrullinated protein antibody positivity, 28-joint Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein of 3.

The economic burden of switching targeted disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs among rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Aims: To estimate real world healthcare costs and resource utilization of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients associated with targeted disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (tDMARD) switching in general and switching to abatacept specifically.

Materials And Methods: RA patients initiating a tDMARD were identified in IMS PharMetrics Plus health insurance claims data (2010-2016), and outcomes measured included monthly healthcare costs per patient (all-cause, RA-related) and resource utilization (inpatient stays, outpatient visits, emergency department [ED] visits). Generalized linear models were used to assess (i) average monthly costs per patient associated with tDMARD switching, and (ii) among switchers only, costs of switching to abatacept vs tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) or other non-TNFi.

All-Cause, Stroke/Systemic Embolism-, and Major Bleeding-Related Health-Care Costs Among Elderly Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated With Oral Anticoagulants.

In this study, all-cause, stroke/systemic embolism (SE)-related, and major bleeding (MB)-related health-care costs among elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) initiating treatment with different oral anticoagulants (OACs) were compared. Patients ≥65 years of age initiating OACs, including apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and warfarin, were identified from the Humana Research Database between January 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015. Propensity score matching was used to separately match the different OAC cohorts with the apixaban cohort.

Effect of Apixaban Versus Warfarin Use on Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Among Elderly Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The clinical trial ARISTOTLE showed that apixaban was superior to warfarin in reducing the risks of stroke and bleeding among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Further study of the effect of apixaban versus warfarin use on health care resource utilization (HCRU) and associated costs in the real-world setting is warranted, especially among elderly patients who are at higher risk of stroke and bleeding.

Objective: To compare HCRU and costs among elderly NVAF patients treated with apixaban versus warfarin in the United States.

Comparison of effectiveness and safety of treatment with apixaban vs. other oral anticoagulants among elderly nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients.

Objective: To compare the risk of stroke/systemic embolism (S/SE) and major bleeding (MB) of elderly (≥65 years of age) nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients initiating apixaban vs. rivaroxaban, dabigatran, or warfarin.

Methods: NVAF patients with Medicare Advantage coverage in the US initiating oral anticoagulants (OACs, index event) were identified from the Humana database (1 January 2013-30 September 2015) and grouped into cohorts depending on OAC initiated.

Comparative treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization and costs of atomoxetine and long-acting methylphenidate among children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Germany.

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) imposes a substantial burden on patients and their families.

Objective: A retrospective, propensity score-matched cohort study compared treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among children/adolescents with ADHD aged 6-17 years at treatment initiation (index) in Germany who received atomoxetine (ATX) or long-acting methylphenidate (LA-MPH) monotherapy.

Methods: Patients received at least one prescription for their index medication (ATX/LA-MPH) during 2006-2010; the first prescription marked the index date.

The burden of restless legs syndrome: an assessment of work productivity, sleep, psychological distress, and health status among diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals in an internet-based panel.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) affects approximately 10-15% of the general population and has deleterious effects on sleep and subsequent daytime performance. The disorder may also give rise to long-term complications such as psychological distress and diminished quality of life. The condition is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed, and the magnitude of the effects of RLS on the sizeable proportion of undiagnosed (and therefore untreated) individuals has not previously been evaluated.

Development and initial validation of a self-scored COPD Population Screener Questionnaire (COPD-PS).

COPD has a profound impact on daily life, yet remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. We set out to develop a brief, reliable, self-scored questionnaire to identify individuals likely to have COPD. COPD-PS development began with a list of concepts identified for inclusion using expert opinion from a clinician working group comprised of pulmonologists (n = 5) and primary care clinicians (n = 5).

Identifying patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia through a diagnosis of, or treatment for, erectile dysfunction.

Objective: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) are highly correlated. This study examined rates of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of BPH/LUTS among men seeking care for ED.

Research Design And Methods: This was a retrospective US claims data analysis (1999-2004) evaluating men > or = 40 years old with a new diagnosis of or prescription medication for ED.

The prevalence, burden, and treatment of urinary incontinence among women in a managed care plan.

Objective: Urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms are common among women, yet only a small proportion of women with incontinence receive a diagnosis and treatment. We used survey and utilization data to determine the prevalence, burden, and treatment use for incontinence among women at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.

Methods: In 2002, we surveyed 6726 female health plan members about health issues, including incontinence.

Comparison of health care costs and co-morbidities between men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and men with CVD alone in a US commercial population.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare costs and treatment patterns between men with concomitant benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and CVD to men with CVD (but not BPH).

Study Design: A retrospective, matched cohort study was utilized to assess costs and treatment between two study populations.

Methods: The data source was administrative claims from managed care organizations between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2004.