Satish Valluri

A three-country comparison of psychotropic medication prevalence in youth

BackgroundThe study aims to compare cross-national prevalence of psychotropic medication use in youth.MethodsA population-based analysis of psychotropic medication use based on administrative claims data for the year 2000 was undertaken for insured enrollees from 3 countries in relation to age group (0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–19), gender, drug subclass pattern and concomitant use. The data include insured youth aged 0–19 in the year 2000 from the Netherlands (n = 110,944), Germany (n = 356,520) and the United States (n = 127,157).ResultsThe annual prevalence of any psychotropic medication in youth was significantly greater in the US (6.7%) than in the Netherlands (2.9%) and in Germany (2.0%). Antidepressant and stimulant prevalence were 3 or more times greater in the US than in the Netherlands and Germany, while antipsychotic prevalence was 1.5–2.2 times greater. The atypical antipsychotic subclass represented only 5% of antipsychotic use in Germany, but 48% in the Netherlands and 66% in the US. The less commonly used drugs e.g. alpha agonists, lithium and antiparkinsonian agents generally followed the ranking of US>Dutch>German youth with very rare (less than 0.05%) use in Dutch and German youth. Though rarely used, anxiolytics were twice as common in Dutch as in US and German youth. Prescription hypnotics were half as common as anxiolytics in Dutch and US youth and were very uncommon in German youth. Concomitant drug use applied to 19.2% of US youth which was more than double the Dutch use and three times that of German youth.ConclusionProminent differences in psychotropic medication treatment patterns exist between youth in the US and Western Europe and within Western Europe. Differences in policies regarding direct to consumer drug advertising, government regulatory restrictions, reimbursement policies, diagnostic classification systems, and cultural beliefs regarding the role of medication for emotional and behavioral treatment are likely to account for these differences.

Impact of the 2004 Food and Drug Administration pediatric suicidality warning on antidepressant and psychotherapy treatment for new-onset depression.

Objective:To assess the national impact of the March 2004 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) antidepressant suicidality warning on the outpatient treatment of new-onset depression in youth. Method:A repeated measures, longitudinal design in a cohort of youth diagnosed with new-onset depression was used to assess pre- and post-FDA warning effects. US commercial insurance enrollees in the i3 INNOVUS database from January 2003 through December 2006 were examined. The study population included youth 2- to 17-years old with a new-onset depression diagnosis from July 2003 through June 2006 (N = 40,309). The main independent variables were the warning period (post- vs. pre-FDA warning) and age group (children vs. adolescents). The main outcome measures were youth with antidepressant dispensings and psychotherapy visits measured in 30-day intervals across 36 months following a new-onset diagnosis of any depressive disorder (N = 40,309) and specifically major depressive disorder (MDD) (N = 11,532). Results:Compared to youth with a new-onset diagnosis of depression in the pre-FDA warning period, youth with new-onset diagnosis of depression during the postwarning period had (1) A significantly lower likelihood of antidepressant use: (odds ratio [OR] = 0.85 [0.81–0.89]); When youth with the diagnosis of depression were separated into those with MDD and those with less severe depression diagnoses, only the latter had a significant postwarning antidepressant decline. (2) A significant increase in the odds of a psychotherapy visit (children, OR = 1.31 [1.23–1.40]; adolescents OR = 1.19 [1.15–1.24]). Conclusions:The FDA suicidality warning was associated with an overall decrease in antidepressant treatment for youth with a clinician-reported diagnosis of depression, but not for those with MDD. Also, following the warning, psychotherapy without medication increased.

Impact of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Stage and Number of Treatment Courses on Patient Health Care Costs and Utilization

Abstract Background: Advances in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment and improved survival rates have led to higher costs associated with treating CRC. Objective: To examine health care costs and utilization by initial CRC stage at diagnosis and the number of lines of treatment received by patients with metastatic CRC. Methods: Adult patients with a diagnosis of CRC made from January 1, 2005 to May 31, 2010 were identified from the Oncology Management registry. Patients with stage IV CRC at initial diagnosis or who had advanced to stage IV CRC at the time of the study were included. Registry data included initial CRC stage and the date of diagnosis. Linked health care claims from a large US health insurance database affiliated with Optum were used to identify health care costs and patient characteristics. Multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate total 4-year health care costs stratified by stage and adjusted for patient characteristics. Follow-up ended at patient death, disenrollment from the health care plan, or study end (November 30, 2010). Results: A total of 598 patients, followed for an average of 653 days after first evidence of metastasis, were included. At initial diagnosis, 91 patients had stages 0 to III CRC, 310 patients had stage IV CRC, and 197 patients had an unknown stage of CRC. The mean unadjusted total cost per patient (medical + pharmaceutical costs) was

Differences in survival for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer by lines of treatment received and stage at original diagnosis.

252 200; outpatient hospital visits (excluding radiation and surgery) contributed most to the total cost, at a mean cost of

Antidepressant treatment of Medicaid‐insured youth with a cancer diagnosis

71 334. Hospitalization costs, with or without surgery (mean,

Impact of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Paediatric Antidepressant Warnings on Stock Prices of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

56 862), accounted for 33% of the

Psychotherapeutic Medication Prevalence in Medicaid-Insured Preschoolers

176135 unadjusted mean cost for medical services (ambulatory visits [office and outpatient], emergency department visits, laboratory/radiology services, and inpatient admission). Chemotherapy and biologics were also costly (mean,

Medical Costs Associated with Use of Systemic Therapy in Adults with Colorectal Cancer

31 112 and

46. The Efficacy and Safety of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for the Treatment of Depression in Children and Adolescents

38 276, respectively). A general linear model analysis of estimated 4-year total costs showed that both CRC stage at diagnosis and the number of lines of treatment after metastasis had a statistically significant association with cost (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Variables that had a statistically significant association with cost (P < 0.05) were sex, age group, and follow-up Charlson Comorbidity Index score after metastases. After adjusting for the number of lines of treatment received, total 4-year costs were highest among patients who presented with stage IV CRC and lowest among patients who presented with stage III CRC and developed metastatic disease.

Survival patterns by line of treatment of stage IV colorectal (CRC) patients from local U.S. oncology practice.

Few published studies have examined survival rates for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) by number of lines of treatment received or stage at diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate survival and numbers of lines of treatment in USA mCRC managed care patients.