Advances in therapy
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Advances in therapy · Feb 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialAbility of Serum IgE Concentration to Predict Exacerbation Risk and Benralizumab Efficacy for Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma.
For patients with eosinophilic asthma with allergic characteristics, understanding the key drivers of exacerbations is important to identify optimal treatment strategies. Benralizumab is an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody that significantly reduces exacerbation frequency for patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma. We evaluated the predictive value of baseline blood eosinophil counts vs. serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations on exacerbation risk and the association of these variables with benralizumab treatment effect. ⋯ ClinicalTrials.gov: SIROCCO, NCT01928771; CALIMA, NCT01914757.
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Advances in therapy · Feb 2020
A Longitudinal Study of the Association of Opioid Use with Change in Pain Interference and Functional Limitations in a Nationally Representative Cohort of Adults with Osteoarthritis in the United States.
Real-world data are sparse on longitudinal associations of opioid use with pain interference with activities (PIA) and daily function with osteoarthritis (OA) in the USA. ⋯ Persistent opioid use for pain in patients with OA appeared to be associated with poorer PIA and functional outcomes, regardless of baseline functional status. These findings highlight the importance of patient-reported outcomes for opioid benefit-risk assessment and suggest the need for alternative analgesic approaches.
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Advances in therapy · Feb 2020
Evaluation of the Clinical and Economic Burden of Poor Glycemic Control Associated with Therapeutic Inertia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in the United States.
Therapeutic inertia refers to the failure to initiate or intensify treatment in a timely manner and is widespread in type 2 diabetes (T2D) despite the well-established importance of maintaining good glycemic control. The aim of this analysis was to quantify the clinical and economic burden associated with poor glycemic control due to therapeutic inertia in patients with T2D in the USA. ⋯ Therapeutic inertia is common in routine clinical practice and makes a substantial contribution to the burden associated with type 2 diabetes in the USA. Initiatives and interventions aimed at preventing therapeutic inertia are needed to improve clinical outcomes and avoid excess costs.
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Advances in therapy · Feb 2020
Decreasing the Peril of Antimicrobial Resistance Through Enhanced Health Literacy in Outpatient Settings: An Underrecognized Approach to Advance Antimicrobial Stewardship.
Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious problem causing 700,000 deaths annually. By 2050, AMR is expected to cause approximately 10 million deaths globally each year if allowed to increase at the present rate. Many individuals have limited knowledge regarding appropriate antibiotic use and AMR. ⋯ Enhancing the public's and patients' AMS health literacy is an underrecognized approach to help address AMR. We describe Four Core Elements of Enhancing AMS Health Literacy in the Outpatient Setting, utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's framework: (1) leadership commitment, (2) intervention/action, (3) tracking/reporting, and (4) education/expertise. We call upon leaders in outpatient settings to embrace this approach to curb inappropriate antimicrobial use.
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Advances in therapy · Feb 2020
Observational StudyObservational Study of Treatment Patterns in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutation-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After First-Line EGFR-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are observed in approximately 15% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the USA. Little is known about treatment patterns in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC following progression on or after first-line (1L) treatment with first- or second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, is a treatment option for patients with EGFR T790M-positive NSCLC following progression on 1L EGFR-TKIs. This study analyzed real-world treatment sequencing of EGFR-TKIs, EGFR T790M testing rates, and disposition of patients with EGFR mutations after 1L EGFR-TKI post-FDA approval of osimertinib in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC. ⋯ Following 1L EGFR-TKI treatment, 19% of patients were tested for EGFR T790M, and most (69%) had no record of receiving any subsequent therapy.