Work-exacerbated asthma and occupational asthma: do they really differ?

Background: Although work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) is a prevalent condition likely to have an important societal burden, there are limited data on this condition.

Objectives: The aims of this study were (1) to compare the clinical, functional, and inflammatory characteristics of workers with WEA and occupational asthma (OA) and (2) compare health care use and related costs between workers with WEA and OA, as well as between workers with work-related asthma (WRA; ie, WEA plus OA) and those with non-work-related asthma (NWRA) in a prospective study.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study of workers with and without WRA with a 2-year follow-up.

Economic impact of same-day home discharge after uncomplicated transradial percutaneous coronary intervention and bolus-only abciximab regimen.

Objectives: This study sought to estimate the economic impact of same-day home discharge compared with overnight hospitalization after transradial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: Same-day home discharge after transradial PCI and a bolus-only abciximab regimen was found to be clinically noninferior to the abciximab standard therapy and overnight hospitalization in patients with various forms of acute coronary syndromes.

Methods: In the EASY (Early Discharge After Transradial Stenting of Coronary Arteries) trial, 1,005 patients were randomized after a bolus of abciximab and uncomplicated transradial coronary stenting, either to same-day home discharge and no infusion (outpatient group) or to overnight hospitalization and 12-h abciximab infusion (overnight-stay group).

A one-year economic evaluation of six alternative strategies in the management of uninvestigated upper gastrointestinal symptoms in Canadian primary care.

Background: The cost-effectiveness of initial strategies in managing Canadian patients with uninvestigated upper gastrointestinalsymptoms remains controversial.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of six management approaches to uninvestigated upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the Canadian setting.

Methods: The present study analyzed data from four randomized trials assessing homogeneous and complementary populations of Canadian patients with uninvestigated upper gastrointestinal symptoms with comparable outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness of various diagnostic approaches for occupational asthma.

Background: Diagnosis of occupational asthma (OA) by specific inhalation challenge (SIC) can be costly and is not always available. The use of sputum testing to avoid this in some patients may be a more cost-effective alternative.

Objectives: To compare the cost-effectiveness of SIC with serial measurements of sputum cell counts (sputum testing) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) monitoring.

Does clinical trial subject selection restrict the ability to generalize use and cost of health services to "real life" subjects?

Objectives: To explore one aspect of the external validity of the randomized controlled trial (RCT), specifically how being selected for inclusion in a trial and having participated has influenced the use and cost of asthma-related health services.

Methods: Services used by asthmatic users of inhaled corticosteroids (iCSTs) having previously participated in an RCT (TS, n = 46) were compared with individuals who had never participated (NS, n = 51).

Results: TS were more likely to use higher (> or = 400 microg) daily doses of iCSTs than NS (OR, 3.

Health survey data on potentially inappropriate geriatric drug use.

Background: Studies have suggested that elderly patients do not always use medications appropriately. Investigations that have relied on prescription claim databases or clinical records focus on acquisition or prescription, and hypotheses must be made to assess actual consumption. Population survey data constitute an altemative way to study inappropriate use.