Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2006
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialSymptom bother and health-related quality of life outcomes following solifenacin treatment for overactive bladder: the VESIcare Open-Label Trial (VOLT).
Most clinical trials designed to evaluate overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome treatments have focused on measuring micturition variables from bladder diaries. However, although diaries help physicians assess symptoms objectively, they lack information on patients' subjective experience of OAB symptoms and the effects of treatment. ⋯ Flexibly dosed solifenacin 5 and 10 mg QD was associated with reductions in patient-reported OAB symptom bother and improvements in patients' perception of bladder condition and HRQOL.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2006
Comparative StudyComparative cost-effectiveness of anticoagulation with bivalirudin or heparin with and without a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-receptor inhibitor in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in Sweden: a decision-analytic model.
This study modeled the comparative costs and effectiveness of anticoagulation with bivalirudin alone, heparin alone, and heparin combined with a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-receptor inhibitor (GPI) in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Sweden. ⋯ In this model, anticoagulation with bivalirudin in patients undergoing PCI was cost-effective compared with heparin alone and heparin plus a GPI. In a hypothetical Swedish hospital unit using equal proportions of heparin alone and heparin plus a GPI, a switch to bivalirudin would reduce the risk of both ischemic events and bleeding events, resulting in savings in total drug and health care costs.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2006
Comparative StudyCost-effectiveness of pregabalin for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia: a Canadian perspective.
Neuropathic pain (NeP) is a chronic condition that occurs frequently with diabetes and herpes zoster infection. In addition to potentially lasting many years, the relationship between chronic pain, anxiety/depression, and sleep, also referred to as the triad of pain, causes functional impairment in many areas of life. ⋯ Based on the results of this analysis, in the treatment of NeP associated with DPN or PHN, pregabalin was a dominant or cost-effective treatment strategy compared with gabapentin.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2006
Comparative StudyCardiovascular events associated with the use of four nonselective NSAIDs (etodolac, nabumetone, ibuprofen, or naproxen) versus a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor (celecoxib): a population-based analysis in Taiwanese adults.
Serious cardiovascular events (CVEs) have been linked to the use of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, a category of selective NSAIDs. However, few studies are available that have compared the risk for CVEs between COX-2 inhibitors and nonselective NSAIDs in adults undergoing long-term treatment. ⋯ In this cohort study of long-term (> or = 180 days) use of NSAIDs in Taiwanese adults, no significant differences in the risk for treatment-related CVEs were observed between groups prescribed 1 of 4 nonselective NSAIDs (etodolac, nabumetone, ibuprofen, or naproxen) or celecoxib. History of CVD was the most significant determinant of CVE risk. Patients with preexisting medical conditions appeared to have a significantly higher risk for CVEs associated with the use of NSAIDs and celecoxib compared with patients without these conditions.
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Clinical therapeutics · Nov 2006
Comparative Study Clinical TrialEffects of receipt of chronic statin therapy before the onset of acute myocardial infarction: a retrospective study in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
Studies have reported an association between receipt of statin therapy and a reduction in complications after elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, there are limited data on the effects of chronic statin therapy before the occurrence of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). ⋯ In this study, receipt of chronic statin therapy before the onset of AMI was associated with improvement in epicardial perfusion and a reduction in myocardial necrosis after PCI.