Current medical research and opinion
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Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor has been linked to an increased risk of lower extremity amputation (LEA) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and is known to induce volume depletion through osmotic diuresis. We investigated the potential association between diuretics use and the LEA risk in insulin-treated T2D patients. ⋯ While diuretic use appeared to be associated with an increased risk of LEA among insulin-treated T2D patients, this association is marginally significant after controlling for confounding factors by cohort matching. These results suggest that volume depletion may be a factor in increasing the risk of LEA amongst high-risk T2D patients, but the strength of this association is weak when adjusted for all other risk factors. Thus, patient selection is crucial when determining the safe use of agents that induce volume depletion in high risk patients with T2D.
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Comparative Study Observational Study
Healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with first-line ibrutinib compared to chemoimmunotherapy treatment among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
This retrospective observational study aimed to compare healthcare resource utilization and costs of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who received ibrutinib versus chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) in first line (1 L). ⋯ In Medicare patients with CLL/SLL, 1 L ibrutinib single agent was associated with total monthly cost savings relative to 1 L CIT, driven by lower monthly medical costs that fully offset higher monthly pharmacy costs.
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To evaluate insulin treatment satisfaction, safety, and effectiveness of biosimilar insulin glargine (GLY) in real-world clinical practice for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who switched from originator insulin glargine (100 U/mL) or insulin degludec treatment to GLY treatment. ⋯ Not applicable.
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Multiple pharmacologic strategies are currently available to lower blood pressure (BP). Renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and diuretics are widely recommended as first line therapies. Sympathetic activation is an important contributor to BP elevation but remains unopposed or is even increased by some of these drug classes. Selective imidazoline receptor agonists (SIRAs) reduce increased central sympathetic outflow and are considered as add-on therapy in most guidelines. We conducted an international survey to evaluate contemporary hypertension management strategies in countries with high prescription rates of SIRAs to better understand the rationale and practical indications for their use in a real-world setting. ⋯ Contemporary hypertension management varies between countries and therapeutic approaches in a real-world setting are not always in line with recommendations from available guidelines. In the countries selected for this survey prescription of SIRAs was common and appeared to be guided predominantly by considerations relating to the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism of sympathetic inhibition.
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Observational Study
Treatment patterns, health resource consumption, and costs of patients with migraine in an Italian real-world setting.
This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of migraineurs prescribed ≥1 migraine prophylactic therapy, and to analyze their therapeutic pathways, healthcare resource consumption, and related costs. ⋯ This real-world study gave insights on the characterization of migraineurs and patterns of prophylaxis utilization in Italian clinical settings, showing an underuse of prophylactic agents.