Current medical research and opinion
-
Recent observational studies have suggested that statins can decrease the incidence and severity of various infections including pneumonia and bacteremia. However, the effect of statins on post-cardiac surgery infection has not been adequately evaluated. Therefore we sought to determine whether preoperative statin use resulted in a reduction in infection following cardiac surgery. ⋯ Preoperative statin use is associated with a reduction in patients' odds of developing a postoperative infection following cardiac surgery.
-
To compare real-world dosing patterns, drug costs, and hematologic outcome in anemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, not receiving dialysis, who switched from darbepoetin alfa (DARB) to epoetin alfa (EPO) in a community practice setting. ⋯ The reverse direction (EPO to DARB) was not investigated. Although treatment outcomes were not assessed in a randomized, controlled setting, the study's observational nature provided actual evidence in a real-world setting.
-
Multicenter Study
Assessing treatment satisfaction in patients treated with pramlintide as an adjunct to insulin therapy.
This study was designed to assess treatment satisfaction in patients using pramlintide who had not previously achieved glycemic targets with insulin therapy alone. Assessment included the association between treatment satisfaction and clinical outcomes (changes in post-prandial glucose [PPG], glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA(1c)], weight, and insulin requirements). ⋯ Greater satisfaction with the study regimen was reported on all treatment satisfaction factors at all three TSQ administrations, with all advantages representing large treatment effects. Treatment satisfaction was higher for patients who experienced better clinical outcomes (decreases in weight, insulin dose requirements, and PPG levels). Study limitations include the fact this was an open-label study.
-
To conduct an economic evaluation of terlipressin, octreotide and placebo in the treatment of bleeding oesophageal varices (BOV) where endotherapy could be used concomitantly. ⋯ The findings indicated that vasoactive treatment in BOV was cost-saving compared to no vasoactive treatment. Furthermore, terlipressin was the more cost-effective vasoactive treatment for BOV in cirrhotic patients.