Euni Lee

Trends in the prescription of inappropriate drugs for the elderly between 1995 and 1999

BACKGROUND Using criteria developed by Beers et al between 1991 and 1997, previous studies have reported high levels of inappropriate drug prescribing for community-dwelling elderly patients (age>or=65 years). However, it is not known whether the Beers criteria have had a beneficial effect on prescribing practices. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to compare the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug use (based on the Beers list) among older Americans between 1995 and 1999; to determine whether any decreases in such use were more likely to be the result of improved adherence to guidelines or of replacement of older medications by newer drugs; and to examine individual characteristics that place elderly patients at increased risk for inappropriate drug use. METHODS This was a panel study involving nationally representative samples of community-dwelling elderly persons from the 1995 and 1999 Medicare Current Beneficiary Surveys (MCBS). For comparison, data were analyzed from samples of disabled Medicare beneficiaries aged <65 years for the same periods. The samples were assessed for the use of 36 individual drugs, drug classes, and combinations carrying a risk for adverse out comes in the elderly based on the 1997 Beers criteria for drugs to be avoided in this population. RESULTS The study samples contained 7628 community-dwelling elderly persons from the 1995 MCBS and 8902 from the 1999 MCBS, and 1863 and 1851 disabled Medicare beneficiaries aged <65 years for the respective survey years. The proportion of elderly patients taking >or=1 drug on the Beers list declined from 24.8% in 1995 to 21.3% in 1999 (P<0.05). There was a nonsignificant increase in the proportion of disabled Medicare beneficiaries taking >or=1 drug on the Beers list from 31.1% in 1995 to 31.5% in 1999. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant decline in the use of potentially inappropriate drugs by elderly patients between 1995 and 1999, particularly in the use of those drugs linked to the most severe outcomes. However, approximately 7 million elderly patients still received potentially inappropriate drugs in 1999, underscoring the continued need for effective interventions to improve prescribing for this vulnerable population.

Off-label prescribing patterns of antidepressants in children and adolescents.

To understand the extent of off‐label prescribing among pediatrics, the study assesses the prescribing patterns of antidepressants in ambulatory settings.

Association between Lifestyle Factors and Metabolic Syndrome among African Americans in the United States

Background. Although there is a reported association between lifestyle factors and metabolic syndrome, very few studies have used national level data restricted to the African Americans (AAs) in the United States (US). Methods. A cross-sectional evaluation was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2006 including men and nonpregnant women of 20 years or older. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to evaluate the association between lifestyle factors and metabolic syndrome. Results. AA women had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (39.43%) than AA men (26.77%). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, no significant association was found between metabolic syndrome and lifestyle factors including alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking, and physical activity. Age and marital status were significant predictors for metabolic syndrome. With increase in age, both AA men and AA women were more likely to have metabolic syndrome (AA men: ORadj = 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06, AA women: ORadj = 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.07). Single AA women were less likely to have metabolic syndrome than married women (ORadj = 0.66, 95% CI 0.43–0.99). Conclusion. Lifestyle factors had no significant association with metabolic syndrome but age and marital status were strong predictors for metabolic syndrome in AAs in the US.

Long-Term Effect of the Women's Health Initiative Study on Antiosteoporosis Medication Prescribing

AIM To describe long-term prescribing patterns of osteoporosis therapy before and after the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) publication. METHODS We conducted a time-series analysis from 1997 to 2005 using nationally representative data based on office-based physician and hospital ambulatory clinic visits. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted using chi-square tests and logistic regression, respectively, and trends in the prevalence of osteoporosis therapies were evaluated per 6-month (semiannual) intervals. Linear regression and graphic techniques were used to determine statistical differences in the prevalence trends between the two periods. RESULTS Overall prevalence of therapeutic or preventive osteoporosis therapy was similar between the WHI periods. However, a significant decrease in estrogen therapy and increases in bisphosphonates, calcium/vitamin D were observed in the period after the WHI publication (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed older age and white race were associated with a higher likelihood of antiosteoporosis medication (AOM) prescription, and Medicaid insurance type was associated with a lower likelihood of an AOM prescription. Excluding calcium/vitamin D, nonestrogen therapy was more likely to be prescribed in the after-WHI period (office-based physician clinic: [adjusted OR, aOR] 2.49 [2.04-4.04]; hospital-based clinic: aOR 2.42 [1.67-7.50]) Nonestrogen therapy was more prevalent in visits made by older women, women of white race, women with contraindicated conditions for estrogen therapy, and women from the Northeast region. CONCLUSIONS After the WHI publication, the overall prevalence of osteoporosis therapy did not change; however, a shift from estrogen to nonestrogen therapy was observed after the WHI publication. Black women were less likely to receive nonestrogen antiosteoporosis therapy in hospital-based clinics.

Osteoporosis pharmacotherapy and counseling services in US ambulatory care clinics: Opportunities for multidisciplinary interventions

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to assess rates and predictors of osteoporosis management with medication or nonmedication therapy, and to compare rates of medication and nonmedication therapy in office-based and hospital-based ambulatory care settings in the United States. METHODS This cross-sectional study included data on all ambulatory office visits made by patients aged >or=60 years in 2000-2005 in 2 national survey databases representing US ambulatory clinics. Visits with and without a record of anti-osteoporosis medication were identified, and bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine predictive factors for receipt of medication or nonmedication therapy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. RESULTS During 2000-2005, visits by patients with a diagnosis of osteoporosis or fragility fracture represented <2% of all visits in office- and hospital-based ambulatory care settings. Medication therapy for osteoporosis was documented in 53.2% of these visits, and nonmedication therapy was documented in 31.5%. The most frequently prescribed drug class was bisphosphonates (36.0%), followed by calcium and vitamin D supplementation (23.9%). The most commonly used nonmedication therapies were exercise (16.7%) and diet/nutrition counseling (19.4%). Rates of medication therapy did not differ significantly by ambulatory care setting. However, visits to hospital-based clinics were significantly less likely than visits to office-based clinics to involve nonmedication therapy (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9; P = 0.004). Compared with visits by women, visits by men were significantly less likely to involve medication therapy (adjusted OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9; P = 0.013), nonmedication therapy (adjusted OR = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.6; P < 0.001), or any therapy (adjusted OR = 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6; P<0.001). Patients aged >or=80 years were significantly less likely to receive nonmedication therapy than were those aged 60 to 69 years (adjusted OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9; P = 0.023). Visits by patients with public insurance were significantly less likely to involve medication therapy than visits by patients with other sources of payment (adjusted OR = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0; P = 0.040). No difference in the prevalence of any type of therapy was observed in relation to race. CONCLUSIONS Based on the prevalence of medication and nonmedication therapies, levels of osteoporosis care did not differ by ambulatory care setting. However, patterns of care varied by certain visit characteristics, including insurance type, age, and sex.