L.A. Palmer

Incidence of genitourinary conditions in women with a diagnosis of vulvar/vaginal atrophy

Abstract Objectives: Vulvar/vaginal atrophy (VVA) is one genitourinary condition associated with a decline in estrogen. This may be bothersome for women following menopause. Although the clinical features of VVA and other conditions after menopause have been documented, few studies have quantified the magnitude of association between VVA and other genitourinary conditions. Methods: A VVA cohort was identified from two United States administrative claims databases. A matched cohort of an equal number of controls was randomly selected from a pool of women 40–79 years of age without VVA. Baseline characteristics and medical history were tabulated for the VVA cohort and matched controls. Six genitourinary conditions (‘urinary tract infections’, ‘other/unspecified genitourinary symptoms’, ‘other inflammatory diseases of female pelvic organs’, ‘menopausal disorders’, ‘female genital pain and other symptoms’, and ‘other/unspecified female genital disorders’) were hypothesized a priori to be associated with VVA. Adjusted incidence rate ratios measured the strength of association of VVA with each condition. Results: A total of 9080 women aged 40–79 years with newly diagnosed VVA during 2000–2010 were identified. The mean age of VVA patients and matched controls was 60.2 years. At baseline, a significantly (p < 0.001) higher proportion of women in the VVA cohort had a diagnosis of angina, osteoporosis, migraines, insomnia, or anxiety, or received estrogen supplementation or selective estrogen receptor modulators. VVA patients had a significantly (p < 0.001) higher incidence of each of the genitourinary conditions compared to controls. The condition most strongly associated with VVA with a relative risk of 6.2 was ‘other inflammatory diseases of female pelvic organs’. Conclusions: Women with VVA have a greater risk of genitourinary conditions compared to those without. The overall prevalence of VVA and other genitourinary conditions may be underreported as claims data only captures information for patients under medical care and many women do not seek consultation for VVA symptoms.

Healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with herpes zoster in the US

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the economic burden of herpes zoster (HZ) on the US healthcare system among an immunocompetent population. Methods: Claims data from the MarketScan Research databases for 2008–2011 were extracted to determine the incremental healthcare resource utilization (RU) and direct medical costs associated with HZ. Immunocompetent HZ-patients were identified and directly matched 1:1 with immunocompetent non-HZ controls using demographic and clinical variables. Analysis was limited to claims 21 days prior to through the first year following HZ diagnosis. Cases with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) were analyzed separately. Results: A total of 98,916 HZ-patients were matched to controls. HZ-patients had a mean age of 50.4 (SD = 18.8) years and 56.6% were females. HZ-cases had significantly higher RU (0.016 inpatient visits, 0.153 ER visits, 2.116 outpatient office visits, and 3.730 other outpatient services) compared to controls (p < 0.001). Differences increased substantially in the presence of PHN. Total mean incremental healthcare costs for HZ-cases were

Anti-tumor necrosis factor agents reduce corticosteroid use compared with azathioprine in patients with Crohn’s disease

1308 and quadrupled to

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

5463 in those with PHN (both p < 0.001). Overall, primary cost drivers were outpatient prescriptions and other outpatient services. For those with PHN, inpatient services also played a significant role. Limitations: This study was limited to only those individuals with US commercial health coverage or private Medicare supplemental coverage; therefore, results of this analysis may not be generalizable to HZ patients outside of the US, with other health insurance or without coverage. Conclusions: HZ presents a significant economic and resource burden on the US healthcare system among immunocompetent patients of nearly all ages, particularly when complicated by PHN.

Compliance to Hemoglobin A1c Testing Recommendations Following Initial Diabetes Diagnosis

Abstract Background: Corticosteroids are effective for inducing remission of Crohn’s disease, but should not be used long term due to risk of adverse events. Benefits of immunosuppressants (e.g., azathioprine) and anti tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents include reduced reliance on corticosteroid-based therapies and avoidance of corticosteroid-associated adverse events. Our aim was to evaluate corticosteroid-sparing effects in patients with Crohn’s disease upon being newly initiated on an anti-TNFα agent or azathioprine. Methods: An analysis of US patient claims data from January 2008 to October 2011 was conducted using Truven Health MarketScan Research databases. Corticosteroid-sparing within 12 and 24 months after initiation of an anti-TNF agent (adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, or infliximab) or azathioprine was evaluated. Results: In total, 2900 patients received a prescription for corticosteroids within the 6 month period before the initiation of an anti-TNF agent (63%) or azathioprine (37%). When certolizumab pegol, infliximab, or adalimumab were collectively compared with azathioprine, patients initiated on an anti-TNF agent avoided further prescriptions for corticosteroids at a greater rate than patients receiving azathioprine at 12 (43% vs. 27%, respectively; P < 0.0001) and 24 months (33% vs. 23%, respectively; P = 0.028). Individually, all anti-TNF agents showed higher rates of corticosteroid-sparing compared with azathioprine at 12 (P < 0.0001–0.011), but not 24 months (P = 0.0086–0.24). Key limitations of this study include lack of data regarding disease severity, response and assumptions of improvement, and compliance. Conclusions: Patients with Crohn’s disease were able to avoid new prescriptions for corticosteroids at a statistically higher rate when treated with an anti-TNF agent. These results demonstrate that the anti-TNF agents are superior to azathioprine for minimizing exposure to corticosteroids.

Annual incidence rates of herpes zoster among an immunocompetent population in the United States

ABSTRACT Background: In the United States (US), diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccination is recommended at 2, 4, and 6 months (doses 1–3), 15–18 months (dose 4), and 4–6 years (dose 5). The objective of this study (GSK study identifier: HO-14–14383) was to examine DTaP completion and compliance rates among commercially insured and Medicaid-enrolled children. Secondarily, the study aimed at identifying predictors of compliance/completion. Methods: Truven Health MarketScan Commercial and Multi-State Medicaid databases (2005–2013) were analyzed separately. Children born during 2005–2011 with ≥ 2 years continuous enrollment from birth provided data for doses 1–4; those with continuous enrollment from birth to their seventh birthday provided dose 5 data. Series compliance (each recommended dose by 3, 5, and 7 months; 19 months; seventh birthday) and completion (3 doses by 8 months; 4 by 24 months; 5 by seventh birthday) were calculated. Predictors of compliance/completion were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 367,493 commercially insured and 766,153 Medicaid-enrolled children were followed for ≥ 2 years; and 23,574 and 41,284, respectively, for ≥ 7 years. Series compliance to doses 1–3, 1–4, and 1–5 were 67.2%, 55.3%, 47.5% (commercial) and 37.4%, 27.3%, 14.4% (Medicaid), respectively. Predictors of better compliance/completion included: later birth year (commercial/Medicaid) and higher household income (commercial); predictors of worse compliance/completion included: Northeast residence (commercial), birth hospitalization ≥ 14 days (commercial/Medicaid), and Black race/ethnicity (Medicaid). Conclusions: DTaP series compliance/completion improved over time, but appear to be suboptimal. As this could increase pertussis risk, greater awareness of the importance of timely vaccination completion is needed. GSK study identifier: HO-14–14383

Comparisons of Treatment Patterns for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DMm) in Japan and in the United States

• The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test is a marker for average blood glucose levels in the months prior to testing and is the favored measure of glycemic control for patients with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends HbA1c testing every 3-4 months for Type II diabetes patients who use insulin or with results outside the HbA1c recommended range. • Individuals with HbA1c values in excess of 7.0% are at greater risk for the microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes. • Previous work suggests that patients with poor glycemic control tend to receive HbA1c testing outside the recommended intervals. INTRODUCTION