scholarly journals How Have Intravitreal Anti-VEGF and Dexamethasone Implant Been Used in Italy? A Multiregional, Population-Based Study in the Years 2010–2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Giulia Scondotto ◽  
Janet Sultana ◽  
Valentina Ientile ◽  
Ylenia Ingrasciotta ◽  
Andrea Fontana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Study Drug ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Drug Benefits ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Pharmacy Claims ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Intravitreal Dexamethasone ◽  
Dosing Intervals ◽  
Bilateral Treatment

Purpose. To describe intravitreal anti-VEGF drug and dexamethasone use in four Italian regions. Methods. Four regional claims databases were used to measure drug prevalence, compare dosing intervals to those recommended in the summary of product characteristics (SPC), and identify switchers. Bilateral treatment and diabetic macular edema (DME) coding algorithms were validated, linking claims with a sample of prospectively collected ophthalmological data. Results. Overall, 41,836 patients received ≥1 study drug in 2010–2016 (4.8 per 10,000 persons). In 2016, anti-VEGF drug use ranged from 0.8 (Basilicata) to 5.7 (Lombardy) per 10,000 persons while intravitreal dexamethasone use ranged from 0.2 (Basilicata) to 1.4 (Lombardy) per 10,000 persons. Overall, 40,815 persons were incident users of study drugs. Among incident users with ≥1 year of follow-up (N = 30,745), 16.0% (N = 4,890) had only one pharmacy claim, especially for ranibizumab (60.9%). Switching occurred in 8.0% of users with ≥2 pharmacy claims (N = 33,637). The algorithms had an accuracy of 83.8 (95% CI: 79.7–87.3) concerning bilateral treatment and 72.3% (95% CI: 67.5–76.8) for DME. Conclusion. Study drug use increased over time in Lombardy, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily, despite a large heterogeneity in prevalence of use across regions. Drug treatment appeared to be partly in line with SPC, suggesting that improvement in clinical practice may be needed to maximize drug benefits.

Inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use in children insured by Kentucky Medicaid

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Bethany A. Wattles ◽  
Kahir S. Jawad ◽  
Yana Feygin ◽  
Maiying Kong ◽  
Navjyot K. Vidwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Claims Data ◽  
Inappropriate Prescribing ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Antibiotic Prescribing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Pharmacy Claims ◽  
Medicaid Children

Abstract Objective: To describe risk factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic prescribing to children. Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of antibiotic prescribing to children, using Kentucky Medicaid medical and pharmacy claims data, 2017. Participants: Population-based sample of pediatric Medicaid patients and providers. Methods: Antibiotic prescriptions were identified from pharmacy claims and used to describe patient and provider characteristics. Associated medical claims were identified and linked to assign diagnoses. An existing classification scheme was applied to determine appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions. Results: Overall, 10,787 providers wrote 779,813 antibiotic prescriptions for 328,515 children insured by Kentucky Medicaid in 2017. Moreover, 154,546 (19.8%) of these antibiotic prescriptions were appropriate, 358,026 (45.9%) were potentially appropriate, 163,654 (21.0%) were inappropriate, and 103,587 (13.3%) were not associated with a diagnosis. Half of all providers wrote 12 prescriptions or less to Medicaid children. The following child characteristics were associated with inappropriate antibiotic prescribing: residence in a rural area (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–1.1), having a visit with an inappropriate prescriber (OR, 4.15; 95% CI, 4.1–4.2), age 0–2 years (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.37–1.41), and presence of a chronic condition (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.28–1.33). Conclusions: Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing to Kentucky Medicaid children is common. Provider and patient characteristics associated with inappropriate prescribing differ from those associated with higher volume. Claims data are useful to describe inappropriate use and could be a valuable metric for provider feedback reports. Policies are needed to support analysis and dissemination of antibiotic prescribing reports and should include all provider types and geographic areas.

Adolescent religiousness and its influence on substance use: preliminary findings from the Mid-Atlantic School Age Twin Study

Twin Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M D'Onofrio ◽  
Lenn Murrelle ◽  
Lindon J Eaves ◽  
Michael E McCullough ◽  
Jessica L Landis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Problem Behavior ◽  
Twin Study ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Spiritual Practices ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
School Age ◽  
Attitudes And Practices

AbstractResearch has consistently shown that religiousness is associated with lower levels of alcohol and drug use, but little is known about the nature of adolescent religiousness or the mechanisms through which it influences problem behavior in this age group. This paper presents preliminary results from the Mid-Atlantic School Age Twin Study, a prospective, population-based study of 6–18-year-old twins and their mothers. Factor analysis of a scale developed to characterize adolescent religiousness, the Religious Attitudes and Practices Inventory (RAPI), revealed three factors: theism, religious/spiritual practices, and peer religiousness. Twin correlations and univariate behavior-genetic models for these factors and a measure of belief that drug use is sinful reveal in 357 twin pairs that common environmental factors significantly influence these traits, but a minor influence of genetic factors could not be discounted. Correlations between the multiple factors of adolescent religiousness and substance use, comorbid problem behavior, mood disorders, and selected risk factors for substance involvement are also presented. Structural equation modeling illustrates that specific religious beliefs about the sinfulness of drugs and level of peer religiousness mediate the relationship between theistic beliefs and religious/spiritual practices on substance use. Limitations and future analyses are discussed.

Recommendations for the management of diabetic macular oedema with intravitreal dexamethasone implant: A national Delphi consensus study

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110528
Author(s):  
Laurent Kodjikian ◽  
Stephanie Baillif ◽  
Aude Couturier ◽  
Catherine Creuzot-Garcher ◽  
Marie-Noelle Delyfer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Oedema ◽  
Diabetic Macular Oedema ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Dexamethasone Implant ◽  
Consensus Approach ◽  
Delphi Consensus ◽  
First Line ◽  
Anti Vegf ◽  
Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant ◽  
Intravitreal Dexamethasone

Purpose The intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX-I) is an alternative to anti-VEGF for the first-line treatment of diabetic macular oedema (DME). However, several questions remain regarding its routine use and its place in certain situations not always specified in current recommendations. A national consensus approach was, therefore, initiated by French retinal experts. Methods An iterative Delphi consensus approach was used. A steering committee (SC) of seven experts analysed data from the literature to formulate statements divided into five key areas of treatment. These statements were submitted to the independent and anonymous electronic vote of 87 French retina experts among whom 39 expressed their opinion and therefore constituted the voting panel. Results After two rounds of voting, 22 and 7 of 38 statements received a strong consensus and a good consensus, respectively. The consensus level was higher for statements regarding first-line indications and safety of DEX-I compared to those regarding efficacy assessment, reprocessing time or pathophysiological biomarkers. The panellists recommended the preferential use of DEX-I for patients with limited availability for multiple injections, those who needed to undergo cataract surgery or who had a recent cardiovascular history, and as a therapeutic alternative to anti-VEGF in patients with a history of vitrectomy, retinal serous detachment, hyper-reflective points or dry exudates in optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, some statements proposed by SC experts were not validated. Conclusion This study provides some key recommendations to clinicians treating diabetic macular oedema, which may be useful when using intravitreal dexamethasone implants in daily practice.

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