Current medical research and opinion
-
Objective: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with significant risk for long-term morbidity and healthcare expenditure. We investigated healthcare utilization and direct costs throughout 10 years following AMI. Methods: A retrospective study included AMI patients hospitalized in a tertiary medical center throughout 2002-2012. ⋯ Analysis of the relative costs showed that ambulatory services make up most of the expenditure. Conclusions: Healthcare utilization and economic expenditure peak throughout the first year and decline afterwards. For several services it remains higher for up to 10 years compared with the year preceding the AMI.
-
Objective: To investigate the frequency and risk factors for mental disorders following pancreatitis. Methods: Patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) were identified (n = 18,074) from a nationwide database in New Zealand (1998-2015). They were followed from their first hospital admissions for AP or CP to incident mental disorders. ⋯ Pre-existing diabetes (adjusted HR = 8.99 [95% CI = 6.23-12.96] for AP and adjusted HR = 3.42 [95% CI = 2.37-4.96] for CP) and post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus (adjusted HR = 7.10 [95% CI = 4.14-12.19] for AP and adjusted HR = 2.97 [95% CI = 1.83-4.82] for CP) were risk factors for mental disorders in individuals following pancreatitis. Severe (adjusted HR = 2.07 [95% CI = 1.39-3.06] vs mild) and recurrent (adjusted HR = 1.62 [95% CI = 1.07-2.45] vs single episode) attacks were associated with significantly higher risks of mental disorders following AP. Conclusions: Patients following CP, recurrent AP, severe AP, and those with diabetes are at high risk for developing mental disorders.
-
Objective: Early initiation of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia is associated with improved outcomes. This study aimed to determine if initiation of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic treatment early in a new schizophrenia episode is associated with lower hospitalization rates and healthcare costs in a real-world setting. Methods: This retrospective (January 1, 2007-June 30, 2016) cohort analysis used claims from Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Supplemental databases. ⋯ Of early initiators, 14.1% (95% CI = 12.3-16.1%) had a psychiatric hospitalization vs 19.2% (95% CI = 17.7-20.8%) of late initiators (p < .001). Adjusted psychiatric healthcare costs were significantly lower in early initiators compared with late initiators [mean (95% CI) = $21,545 (20,355-22,734) vs $24,132 (23,330-24,933)] (p < .001). Conclusions: LAI initiation within 1 year of a new schizophrenia episode led to lower hospitalization rates and healthcare costs compared with LAI initiation more than 1 year after a new episode.
-
Objective: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the world's most common causative agent in sexually transmitted viral infections; thus requiring clinical guidance, before and after treatment, to promote better quality of life in women diagnosed with HPV. The HPV Impact Profile (HIP) is a comprehensive instrument used to assess the psychosocial impact of HPV and related interventions in a wide range of domains. The main purpose of this study was to validate the HIP in Portuguese women, so that it can be used in this population, both in research and in clinical settings. ⋯ As in the original HIP questionnaire, the exception was sexual impact, with a lower, but acceptable, Cronbach's alpha. Convergent and discriminant validities of the instrument were also assessed. Conclusions: The Portuguese version of the HIP presents good psychometric properties, allowing its use in clinical trials as well as in clinical practice in order to evaluate quality of life in women with HPV.
-
Objectives: Asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) is a recently described phenomenon defined as the coexistence of both asthma and COPD. Both asthma and COPD are known to result in increased emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, but it is unclear how the ACO population utilizes these same healthcare resources. The objective of this study was to compare healthcare utilization in the ACO population versus the general population, the asthma population and the COPD population. ⋯ In addition, adults with ACO were 61% and 130% more likely to have asthma exacerbations and asthma-related ED visits than the asthma group. Conclusions: ACO is a considerable risk factor for healthcare utilization versus the general population, the asthma population and the COPD population. Future focus should be placed on the ACO population to identify ways to reduce their healthcare utilization.