Prescription Drug Prices and the 50+ Population: Putting Health and Quality of Life on the Line

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl L. Lampkin
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Drug Prices

An assessment of the total cost of pancreatic cancer using real-world evidence.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 773-773
Author(s):  
Vincent J. Picozzi ◽  
Victoria G. Manax ◽  
Kelly Feehan ◽  
Zachary Wintrob ◽  
Michele Korfin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Drug Costs ◽  
Medical Expenditure ◽  
Total Cost ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Second Year

773 Background: The aggregate health economic implications of pancreatic cancer are poorly understood, especially from the patient perspective. As a preliminary effort, we sought to better understand changes in type and quantity of medical expenditures over time, along with quality of life related costs, from this perspective. This preliminary research is part of a larger effort to understand how the introduction of new treatments affect both the outcome and costs of pancreatic cancer associated with care, patients, survivors, their families, and their communities. Methods: We analyzed patient-level data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS, 1996- 2017). All analyses were performed using R version 3.6.1 on Ubuntu 19.04. Averages were computed for the total health care costs, including prescription drug costs. Average individual annual cost estimates for the second year excluded individuals that were identified as having died prior to the first round of data collection in the second year. The individual patient level ratios of prescription drug cost to other medical expenses was also computed. All expenditures are adjusted for inflation using 2017 US dollars. Included subjects, N= 80 had a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and available prescription data. Individual age and employment status were accounted for as covariates. Results: Between 1997 and 2017 inflation adjusted first and second year non-medication spending on pancreatic cancer care averaged $66,999.96 and $105,308.60 respectively. However, inflation-adjusted first and second year charges for hospitalizations and emergency visits fell between 2007-2017. Prescription drug as a proportion of total spending prescription drugs increased during the same time period. Lost work/school days declined between 2007 and 2017. Conclusions: Total inflation adjusted pancreatic cancer care expenses declined over the past decade even as drug costs increased. Quality of life costs declined as well. Further analysis is needed to evaluate the relationship between drug spending, total cost of care and quality of life.

scholarly journals The Effect of Drug Pricing on Outpatient Payments and Treatment for Three Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in the United States, 2010–2017

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heesoo Joo ◽  
Junsoo Lee ◽  
Brian A. Maskery ◽  
Chanhyun Park ◽  
Jonathan D. Alpern ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Treatment Pathways ◽  
Drug Prices ◽  
The Impact

The price of certain antiparasitic drugs (e.g., albendazole and mebendazole) has dramatically increased since 2010. The effect of these rising prices on treatment costs and use of standard of care (SOC) drugs is unknown. To measure the impact of drug prices on overall outpatient cost and quality of care, we identified outpatient visits associated with ascariasis, hookworm, and trichuriasis infections from the 2010 to 2017 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters and Multi-state Medicaid databases using Truven Health MarketScan Treatment Pathways. Evaluation was limited to members with continuous enrollment in non-capitated plans 30 days prior, and 90 days following, the first diagnosis. The utilization of SOC prescriptions was considered a marker for quality of care. The impact of drug price on the outpatient expenses was measured by comparing the changes in drug and nondrug outpatient payments per patient through Welch’s two sample t-tests. The total outpatient payments per patient (drug and nondrug), for the three parasitic infections, increased between 2010 and 2017. The increase was driven primarily by prescription drug payments, which increased 20.6–137.0 times, as compared with nondrug outpatient payments, which increased 0.3–2.2 times. As prices of mebendazole and albendazole increased, a shift to alternative SOC and non-SOC drug utilization was observed. Using parasitic infection treatment as a model, increases in prescription drug prices can act as the primary driver of increasing outpatient care costs. Simultaneously, there was a shift to alternative SOC, but also to non-SOC drug treatment, suggesting a decrease in quality of care.

scholarly journals Effects of Prescription Drug Reduction on Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Patients with Dementia

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikio Sakakibara ◽  
Ataru Igarashi ◽  
Yoshimasa Takase ◽  
Hiroyuki Kamei ◽  
Toshitaka Nabeshima
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Benzodiazepine Use ◽  
Multiple Drugs

Purpose: Due to the use of multiple drugs and prevalence of diminished cognitive function, community-dwelling elderly individuals are more likely to have drug-related issues. We examined changes in quality of life (QOL) and activities of daily living (ADL) 3 months and 6 months after reducing drug use of dementia patients who had newly begun community-dwelling care.  Methods: Prescription drug use was reduced in the intervention group, whereas the non-intervention group continued their regimen or began using additional drugs. QOL and ADL were assessed with the Japanese version of the EQ-5D and the Barthel Index, respectively.  Results: Subjects were 32 individuals aged ≥65 years who had begun community-dwelling between March and July 2014 and had received approval for long-term care insurance. On average, the intervention group (n = 19) stopped using 2.6 prescription drugs. After 6 months, the differences in the QOL and ADL scores in the intervention group were -0.03 ± 0.29 and 6.32 ± 18.6, respectively, while the differences in the QOL and ADL scores in the non-intervention group (n = 13) were -0.13 ± 0.29 and -2.69 ± 23.7, respectively. In the intervention group, ADL scores were significantly increased by 14.0 ± 11.1 6 months after reduced benzodiazepine use.  Conclusions: QOL was maintained with reduced drug use, while ADL score was slightly increased. In addition, the reduction of benzodiazepine use significantly increased ADL. In order to reduce polypharmacy among community-dwelling elderly patients, it is necessary to create an opportunity for pharmacists to re-examine their prescriptions This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see “For Readers”) may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue’s contents page.

Health–related quality–of–life claims in prescription drug advertisements

1996 ◽  
Vol 53 (13) ◽  
pp. 1565-1569
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Rothermich ◽  
Dev S. Pathak ◽  
David A. Smeenk
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Cannabis Significantly Reduces the Use of Prescription Opioids and Improves Quality of Life in Authorized Patients: Results of a Large Prospective Study

Pain Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Lucas ◽  
Susan Boyd ◽  
M -J Milloy ◽  
Zach Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
World Health ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
World Health Organization Quality

Abstract Objectives This article presents findings from a large prospective examination of Canadian medical cannabis patients, with a focus on the impacts of cannabis on prescription opioid use and quality of life over a 6-month period. Methods The Tilray Observational Patient Study took place at 21 medical clinics throughout Canada. This analysis includes 1,145 patients who had at least one postbaseline visit, with follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months. Instruments included a comprehensive cannabis use inventory, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and a detailed prescription drug questionnaire. Results Participants were 57.6% female, with a median age of 52 years. Baseline opioid use was reported by 28% of participants, dropping to 11% at 6 months. Daily opioid use went from 152 mg morphine milligram equivalent (MME) at baseline to 32.2 mg MME at 6 months, a 78% reduction in mean opioid dosage. Similar reductions were also seen in the other four primary prescription drug classes identified by participants, and statistically significant improvements were reported in all four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Conclusions This study provides an individual-level perspective of cannabis substitution for opioids and other prescription drugs, as well as associated improvement in quality of life over 6 months. The high rate of cannabis use for chronic pain and the subsequent reductions in opioid use suggest that cannabis may play a harm reduction role in the opioid overdose crisis, potentially improving the quality of life of patients and overall public health.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

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