Elisabetta Malangone-Monaco

Prescribing Patterns of Oral Antineoplastic Therapies Observed in the Treatment of Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer Between 2012 and 2014: Results of an Oncology EMR Analysis

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine, using a US electronic medical records (EMR) database, the clinical characteristics and real-world treatment sequences in men with advanced prostate cancer who initiated treatment with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide. METHODS This retrospective, observational study evaluated adult male patients with a diagnosis of prostate cancer (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 185) in the EMR database between July 1, 2011, and March 31, 2014, who had initiated first-line treatment with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide between September 1, 2012, and March 31, 2014. The first record for a patient initiating abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide was the index date. Patients had 6 months of pre-index medical record history and a variable length follow-up period, extending from the index date to the end of medical record data availability or date of the end of the study (March 31, 2014). The sequence of first- and second-line therapies for advanced prostate cancer therapy was reported. FINDINGS A total of 809 patients met study inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study found that the majority of patients who initiated treatment with either abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide between September 1, 2012, and March 31, 2014, received a single line of therapy (72%); abiraterone acetate was the most common first-line treatment (74% of first-line patients). A subset of patients treated first-line with either abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide were transitioned to an oral second-line agent (17% of first-line abiraterone acetate-treated patients transitioned to second-line enzalutamide, and 16% of first-line enzalutamide-treated patients transitioned to second-line abiraterone acetate). Chemotherapy with docetaxel was also a commonly observed second-line treatment selection, occurring in 8% of first-line abiraterone acetate-treated patients and in 7% of first-line enzalutamide-treated patients. IMPLICATIONS This EMR study is among the first to present evidence of US physician practice prescribing patterns regarding initiation of oral antineoplastic agents and use of subsequent therapies in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

LDL cholesterol levels after switch from atorvastatin to rosuvastatin

Abstract Objective: Initial statin therapy may not always adequately reduce elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Although alternative therapies are available, switching to another statin may be beneficial, especially for those at highest risk of cardiovascular disease and events. This study examined changes in LDL-C levels following a switch from 40/80 mg of atorvastatin (ATV) to 20/40 mg of rosuvastatin (RSV). Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the MarketScan administrative claims databases linked to laboratory values. Patients with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who switched from ATV 40/80 mg to RSV 20/40 mg and had LDL-C values measured within 90 days before and 30–180 days after the switch were included. The change in LDL-C was quantified for each patient and summarized across all patients and within each switch pattern (e.g. ATV40 to RSV20). Results: There was a significant mean (SD) decrease in LDL-C of 21% (30%) across the whole sample (N = 136) after switching from ATV to RSV. The greatest decrease occurred in patients who switched from ATV40 to RSV40 (N = 20; −29% [19%]; p < .001). Similar changes were observed overall and within each switch pattern when the analysis was limited to patients who were persistent on RSV in the post-switch period (N = 112; −24% [24%]; p < .001). Conclusions: Switching from ATV to RSV was associated with a significant decrease in LDL-C among high-risk patients. Switching between these two high-intensity statins may offer a viable alternative to other treatment modifications aimed at lowering LDL-C in this population.

Real-world Direct Health Care Costs for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Cetuximab or Bevacizumab-containing Regimens in First-line or First-line Through Second-line Therapy

Micro‐Abstract Cost considerations could factor into the choice of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment. The present real‐world observational study of 2352 mCRC patients in the United States found that the per‐patient monthly health care costs for first‐line (1L) or 1L through second‐line therapy were substantially greater for patients treated with 1L cetuximab‐containing versus bevacizumab‐containing regimens. Such cost implications could be meaningful in real‐world clinical practice. Background The present study examined real‐world direct health care costs for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients initiating first‐line (1L) bevacizumab (BEV)‐ or cetuximab (CET)‐containing regimen in 1L or 1L‐through‐second‐line (1L‐2L) therapy. Patients and Methods Using a large US insurance claims database, patients with mCRC initiating 1L BEV‐ or 1L CET‐containing regimen from January 1, 2008 to September 30, 2014 were identified. The per‐patient per‐month (PPPM) all‐cause health care costs (2014 US dollars) were measured during 1L therapy and, for patients continuing to a 2L biologic‐containing regimen, 1L‐2L therapy. Multivariable regression analyses were used to compare PPPM total health care costs between patients initiating a 1L BEV‐ versus 1L CET‐containing regimen. Results A total of 6095 patients initiating a 1L BEV‐ and 453 initiating a 1L CET‐containing regimen were evaluated for 1L costs; 2218 patients initiating a 1L BEV‐ and 134 initiating a 1L CET‐containing regimen were evaluated for 1L‐2L costs. In 1L therapy, 1L CET had adjusted PPPM costs that were

Costs and Work Loss Burden of Diagnosed Opioid Abuse Among Employees on Workers Compensation or Short-term Disability

3135 (95% confidence interval [CI],

Age-appropriate compliance and completion of up to five doses of pertussis vaccine in US children

1174‐

Treatment patterns of new metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) therapies: Real-world evidence from three datasets.

5040; P < .001) greater on average than 1L BEV. In 1L‐2L therapy, 1L BEV‐2L CET had adjusted PPPM costs that were

Statin Utilization Patterns and Outcomes for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome During and Following Inpatient Admissions

1402 (95% CI,

Title: A real-world study of chemotherapy treatment and costs in metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) patients in the United States.

1365‐

Statin Utilization Patterns Following An Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Event

1442; P = .010) greater than those for 1L BEV‐2L BEV, and 1L CET‐2L BEV had adjusted PPPM costs that were

Treatment Patterns and Healthcare Costs among U.S. Patients with Advanced Melanoma Initiating Subsequent Systemic Therapy Following Use of Ipilimumab (IPI)

4279 (95% CI,