Current medical research and opinion
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Seven prospective real-world studies conducted in general practices in Belgium of antihypertensive treatment with valsartan-centric regimens were pooled to examine similarities and differences in determinants of blood pressure (BP) values (mmHg) and BP control rates between female and male patients. ⋯ Valsartan-centric treatment regimens are associated with significant reductions in BP level and improvement in BP control in both women and men. The determinants revealed in modeling provide guidance to clinicians in the common and differential management of hypertension in female and male patients.
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Repository corticotropin injection (RCI; Acthar Gel) is indicated to induce a diuresis or a remission of proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome (NS) without uremia of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus. This study compares patient characteristics and measurable healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) between NS patients who received a prescription for RCI and then were either approved or denied treatment by their insurers. ⋯ Patients denied access to RCI treatment had directionally higher HCRU compared to matched, approved counterparts. Thus, the results of this study may aid providers and payers in evaluating scenarios where RCI may be beneficial and improve quality of care for NS patients.
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Content validation is essential in the development of patient-reported instruments to ensure relevancy and understandability. The aim was to evaluate patient understanding of the Prescription Opioid Misuse and Abuse Questionnaire (POMAQ) using cognitive interviewing among adults with chronic moderate to severe pain. ⋯ The POMAQ demonstrated content validity among patients with moderate to severe chronic pain and is undergoing psychometric evaluation among a larger cohort of patients.
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To characterize burden of migraine in prevention-eligible patients compared with prevention non-eligible patients in the United States (US). Receipt of preventive therapy was also examined among prevention-eligible patients. ⋯ Prevention-eligible patients experience greater burden due to migraine, including more headache days, worse health-related quality-of-life, and greater work and activity impairment than prevention non-eligible patients.
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Observational Study
Treatment sequencing for the care of patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in the United States.
Therapeutic advances for the treatment of patients with advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have led to additional options for care. This observational study was designed to describe emerging treatment patterns and survival outcomes. ⋯ There is heterogeneity in sequencing strategies that limit the ability to conduct robust comparative effectiveness research of treatment sequences. Since few patients follow a similar treatment trajectory, comparative effectiveness research will be challenged to identify treatment sequences with sufficient sample size.