Current medical research and opinion
-
Ras wild-type metastatic colorectal cancers (mCRC) may be treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) agents. We aim to estimate patients' preferences for mCRC treatment and relative importance of cost, efficacy improvement, avoidance of side effects and therapy convenience, and relative uptake between profiles that resemble Bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) and Cetuximab (anti-EGFR), two commonly prescribed mCRC targeted therapies. ⋯ Patients were willing to trade off some degree of efficacy to avoid certain severity of side effects. It is therefore crucial for patients and physicians to discuss patients' preferences and circumstances to understand which attributes are more important, as well as patients' views on the trade-offs between treatment benefits and risks.
-
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based regimens have been associated with impaired kidney function and loss of bone mineral density among patients living with HIV (PLWH). We assess the association between TDF exposure and the odds of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and osteoporotic fracture in HIV patients. ⋯ In a large cohort of US veterans with HIV, current exposure to TDF was associated with a 48% higher odds of CKD and a greater than two-fold increase in the odds of osteoporotic fracture.
-
Diabetes disproportionately affects low-income individuals, many of whom are covered by Medicaid. Comorbidities and complications of diabetes can lead to chronic pain; however, little is known about opioid use patterns among Medicaid enrollees with diabetes. This study examined opioid dispensing among Medicaid enrollees by diabetes status. ⋯ Medicaid enrollees with diabetes were prescribed opioids more frequently and were more likely to have longer opioid supply than enrollees without diabetes. For practitioners who care for patients with diabetes, aligning pain management approaches with evidence-based resources, like the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, can encourage safer opioid prescribing practices.
-
There are significant differences in costs and effectiveness among the second-line treatment options for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the second-line anti-diabetic therapy in T2DM patients inadequately controlled on metformin (MET) in Taiwan from the perspective of the National Health Insurance (NHI). ⋯ The addition of either SU or SGLT-2-i to MET was found to be cost-effective, using the 2019 forecast for GDP per capita of Taiwan (NT$770,770) as the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold.
-
Observational Study
Healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with postpartum depression among commercially insured households.
To quantify the economic burden of postpartum depression (PPD) that accrues to commercially insured households in the year following childbirth. ⋯ Households affected by PPD as identified by the algorithm incurred higher mean total all-cause medical and pharmaceutical spending during the first year following childbirth than did their matched controls identified without PPD, but not all costs were attributable to maternal treatment for PPD. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential economic burden associated with PPD and demonstrated costs may extend beyond the mother to members of the household.