The American journal of geriatric pharmacotherapy
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Am J Geriatr Pharmacother · Dec 2003
Medication-related predictors of health-related quality of life in glaucoma patients enrolled in a medicare health maintenance organization.
Glaucoma is an important public health concern in the United States, particularly among older adults (aged >or=65 years). Pharmacologic therapy for glaucoma consists mainly of topical eye drops containing beta-blockers or prostaglandin analogs. ⋯ Based on our findings, patients aged >or=65 years with glaucoma were likely to have significant comorbidity, which affected both visual and general health and well-being perception. Additionally, a significant proportion of these patients reported difficulty with use of topical medication, which was independently associated with a significant decrease in HRQOL. Care of older patients with glaucoma should incorporate strategies to minimize the difficulty associated with medication use.
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Am J Geriatr Pharmacother · Dec 2003
Use of resources and cost implications of stroke prophylaxis with warfarin for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) have often been excluded from long-term anticoagulant trials, and therefore patients in clinical practice may have different risk, compliance, and safety considerations from those usually included in such trials. ⋯ In clinical practice in the United Kingdom, anticoagulation with warfarin for prevention of ischemic stroke appeared to be cost-saving relative to the costs of stroke.