Simone Crespi

Relative strength of relationships of nasal congestion and ocular symptoms with sleep, mood and productivity.

ABSTRACT Background: Nasal congestion associated with allergic rhinitis has been shown to be the most bothersome symptom. Ocular symptoms may be troublesome to patients as well. Objective: To estimate the relative strength of relationships of nasal congestion and ocular symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis with patient-reported outcomes of sleep quality; practical problems; somnolence; impairment at work, class, activities; and mood. Methods: Patients (n = 404) presenting with symptoms of allergic rhinitis completed five patient-reported outcomes that assessed the effect of morning allergic rhinitis symptoms on patients’ reports of sleep, work and activity impairment, and mood. Multiple regression analyses were used to compare the relative strength of relationships of congestion and ocular symptoms with the patient-reported outcomes. Results: The majority of patients had both nasal congestion and ocular symptoms at baseline. A single nasal congestion item and a 3-item ocular symptom score were significantly related to the patient-reported outcomes: those with more severe congestion or ocular symptoms reported more negative scores on the patient-reported outcomes. Nasal congestion had the stronger relationship with patient-reported outcomes total scores or subscales in 14 of 20 regressions. Conclusion: Although nasal congestion is generally more strongly related to the patient-reported outcomes, ocular symptoms have a significant negative effect on patients’ lives. Study limitations include: (1) only baseline data were used because of greater severity and variability of symptoms scores; we are unable to establish causal relationships or discuss change, only correlation/covariation; (2) recruitment took place from September through November, thus different patients might have been recruited if sampling took place during the spring; (3) patients were screened for nasal congestion not for ocular symptoms, though there was high co-occurrence of each. These limitations aside, congestion and ocular symptoms are troublesome to patients and typically co-occur. Evaluating and treating these symptoms are key to managing allergic rhinitis and improving patient-reported outcomes.

Retrospective claims study of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol fixed-dose combination use as initial asthma controller therapy in children despite guideline recommendations

BACKGROUND According to current asthma treatment guidelines, single-entity inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) should be used as initial controller therapy in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. Long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABAs) can be added to therapy for those patients whose asthma is not well controlled with a single-entity ICS. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to examine whether the claims history for children in a US insured population indicate proper fluticasone propionate/ salmeterol (FPS) fixed-dose combination use in accordance with recommended asthma guidelines and a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory and black box warning regarding LABA use. A comparison of study-drug charges was also conducted. METHODS Data from a US commercial insurance database were used in this retrospective study to evaluate pharmacy and medical claims for children between October 2004 and September 2006 (ie, the index period). An index date corresponding to the date of the first FPS claim was assigned to each patient. Eligible patients were aged 4 to 11 years and had >/=1 pharmacy claim for FPS during the index period. Those patients receiving 1 FPS prescription dose strength on the index date who were continuously enrolled for benefits during the preindex period (ie, the 365 days before the index date) were included in the study. Disease severity was assigned based on asthma-related pharmacy (frequency and/or incidence of oral corticosteroid, LABA, montelukast, and >365 doses of a short-acting beta(2)-agonist) and medical (asthma-related urgent care clinic or emergency department visits or hospitalizations) claim histories during the preindex period. RESULTS A total of 13,306 patients between the ages of 4 and 11 years on the index date were included in the study; their mean (SD) age was 8.9 (1.9) years. The majority of the patients were male (60.7%). Of the total FPS claims, 55.2% were for patients with no evidence of pharmacy or medical claims in the 365 days before the first FPS claim that would warrant ICS/LABA combination therapy according to asthma treatment guidelines. There were no large changes in preindex ICS claims over the course of the study in response to an FDA-issued advisory and black box warning regarding the use of LABAs. Median drug charges for single-entity ICS use were

Comparative Analysis of Length of Stay, Total Costs, and Treatment Success between Intravenous Moxifloxacin 400 mg and Levofloxacin 750 mg among Hospitalized Patients with Community‐Acquired Pneumonia

98 compared with

A retrospective study of the use of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination as initial asthma controller therapy in a commercially insured population

168 for FPS therapy. CONCLUSIONS ICS/LABA combination treatment was used as initial therapy in 55.2% of children with mild to moderate asthma in this claims database population, contrary to the recommendations of current asthma treatment guidelines. The FDA advisory and black box warning for LABA use had little observed impact on the number of single-entity ICS claims.

Using the congestion quantifier seven-item test to assess change in patient symptoms and their impact.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the length of stay (LOS), costs, and treatment consistency among patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) initially treated with intravenous (IV) moxifloxacin 400 mg or IV levofloxacin 750 mg. METHODS Adults with CAP receiving IV moxifloxacin or IV levofloxacin for > or =3 days were identified in the Premier Perspective comparative database. Primary outcomes were LOS and costs. Secondary outcomes included treatment consistency, which was defined as 1) no additional IV moxifloxacin or levofloxacin after > or =1 day off study drug; 2) no switch to another IV antibiotic; and 3) no addition of another IV antibiotic. RESULTS A total of 7720 patients met inclusion criteria (6040 receiving moxifloxacin; 1680 receiving levofloxacin). Propensity matching created two cohorts (1300 patients each) well matched for demographic, clinical, hospital, and payor characteristics. Before the patients were matched, mean LOS (5.87 vs. 5.46 days; P = 0.0004) and total costs per patient (

Prescribing of Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol Combinations as Initial Therapy for Patients With Asthma in a Commercially-Insured Population

7302 vs.

The Burden of Ocular Symptoms Associated with Allergic Rhinitis

6362; P < 0.0001) were significantly greater with moxifloxacin. After the patients were matched, mean LOS (5.63 vs. 5.51 days; P = 0.462) and total costs (

Use of Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol Fixed Combination as Initial Asthma Controller Therapy in Children in a Commercially Insured Population

6624 vs.

Comparison of the Congestion Quantifier 5- & 7-item Scales to Monitor Nasal Congestion

6473; P = 0.476) were comparable in both cohorts. Treatment consistency was higher for moxifloxacin before (81.0% vs. 78.9%; P = 0.048) and after matching (82.8% vs. 78.0%; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS In-hospital treatment of CAP with IV moxifloxacin 400 mg or IV levofloxacin 750 mg was associated with similar hospital LOS and costs in propensity-matched cohorts.