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Kempers EK, Visser C, Goedegebuur J, Chen Q, Søgaard M, Ording AG, van den Dries C, Abbel D, Aldridge SJ, Lifford KJ, Portielje JEA, Nierman MC, Boetes‐Draisma A, van de Leur SJCM, Klok FA, Geijteman ECT, Kruip MJHA, Cannegieter SC. Determining Drug Exposure Based on Medication Dispensing Data: A Validation Study of Vitamin K Antagonist Treatment Episodes Against INR Records. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2025; 34:e70158. [PMID: 40389391 PMCID: PMC12089007 DOI: 10.1002/pds.70158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2025] [Accepted: 04/26/2025] [Indexed: 05/21/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In pharmaco-epidemiological studies using vitamin K antagonist (VKA) exposure, constructing treatment episodes based on dispensed prescriptions is challenging, particularly due to the large variability in therapeutic dose. OBJECTIVES To validate different methods of constructing VKA treatment episodes based on dispensed prescriptions, using VKA exposure based on international normalized ratio (INR) measurements as a reference. METHODS Data from five Dutch anticoagulation clinics were linked to VKA dispensing data from Statistics Netherlands. Three random samples of 10 000 VKA users between 2013 and 2019 were used to compare the construction of VKA treatment episodes based on dispensings, applying fixed or dynamic methods, against the reference of exposure based on INR measurements. A total of 60 different methods were validated by computing the percentage of INR measurements occurring outside dispensing-based VKA treatment episodes, the ratio of VKA-exposed person-time based on dispensings vs. INR measurements, and the number of dispensing-based episodes. RESULTS Depending on the method used to construct treatment episodes, 14.8%-42.2% of the INR measurements were not covered by a dispensing-based episode. The VKA-exposed person-time ratio ranged between 0.73 and 1.13, and there was substantial variability in the number of dispensing-based episodes. Fixed methods resulted in a lower percentage of INR measurements outside the dispensing-based episodes, a VKA-exposed person-time ratio closer to 1.0, and a lower number of constructed episodes. CONCLUSION Fixed methods performed better than dynamic methods when classifying VKA exposure based on dispensing data. Our findings may guide other researchers working with VKA dispensing data, especially when the tablets dispensed or the prescribed dose are unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva K. Kempers
- Department of HematologyErasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre RotterdamRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Chantal Visser
- Department of HematologyErasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre RotterdamRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Jamilla Goedegebuur
- Department of Medicine – Thrombosis and HaemostasisLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
| | - Qingui Chen
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
| | - Mette Søgaard
- Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical MedicineAalborg University Hospital, Aalborg UniversityAalborgDenmark
- Center for General PracticeAalborg UniversityAalborgDenmark
| | - Anne Gulbech Ording
- Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical MedicineAalborg University Hospital, Aalborg UniversityAalborgDenmark
| | - Carline van den Dries
- Department of General Practice & Nursing ScienceJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Denise Abbel
- Department of Medicine – Thrombosis and HaemostasisLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
- Department of Gerontology and GeriatricsLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
- LUMC Center for Medicine for Older PeopleLUMCLeidenthe Netherlands
| | | | - Kate J. Lifford
- Wales Centre for Primary and Emergency Care Research (PRIME Centre Wales), Division of Population MedicineCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | | | - Melchior C. Nierman
- Department of Thrombosis and AnticoagulationAtalmedial Medical Diagnostic CentersAmsterdamthe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Frederikus A. Klok
- Department of Medicine – Thrombosis and HaemostasisLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
| | - Eric C. T. Geijteman
- Department of Medical OncologyErasmus MC Cancer InstituteRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Marieke J. H. A. Kruip
- Department of HematologyErasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre RotterdamRotterdamthe Netherlands
| | - Suzanne C. Cannegieter
- Department of Medicine – Thrombosis and HaemostasisLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenthe Netherlands
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Holm M, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Taipale H. The Role of Antipsychotics and Mood Stabilizers in Preventing Sickness Absence Among Employed Individuals With Bipolar Disorder: A Nationwide Register-Based Study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2025. [PMID: 40122022 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2024] [Revised: 02/14/2025] [Accepted: 03/16/2025] [Indexed: 03/25/2025]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Medication use may significantly affect work ability in bipolar disorder, but this area has been largely overlooked in research. We aimed to investigate how specific mood stabilizer and antipsychotic agents are associated with the risk of sickness absence among employed individuals with bipolar disorder. METHODS We identified a nationwide cohort of 22,408 employed individuals with bipolar disorder, including 10,000 first-episode cases, and followed them from 2005 to 2018 through the nationwide administrative registers. The risk of sickness absence was analyzed using within-individual Cox regression where each person serves as their own control to eliminate selection bias. RESULTS In the whole cohort, the monotherapies of lithium (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.66-0.84), valproate (HR = 0.77, 0.70-0.85), and lamotrigine (HR = 0.87, 0.80-0.95) were associated with a lower risk of sickness absence than nonuse of mood stabilizers. In contrast, pregabalin monotherapy was associated with an increased risk of sickness absence (HR = 1.63, 1.34-1.99). Of antipsychotics, olanzapine was associated with a lower risk of sickness absence (HR = 0.75, 0.66-0.86) than antipsychotic nonuse. In the first-episode sample, lithium (HR = 0.51, 0.41-0.64), valproate (HR = 0.63, 0.52-0.75), lamotrigine (HR = 0.79, 0.68-0.91), and olanzapine (HR = 0.69, 0.54-0.87) monotherapies were associated with a lower hazard of sickness absence than nonuse. CONCLUSIONS Mood stabilizers including lithium, valproate, and lamotrigine, as well as olanzapine, of antipsychotics may reduce the risk of sickness absence, particularly, in first-episode patients. These findings encourage the continuous use of these medications to support occupational functioning among people with bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Holm
- Mental Health Team, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Region, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Vegrim HM, Dreier JW, Igland J, Alvestad S, Gilhus NE, Gissler M, Leinonen MK, Tomson T, Zoega H, Christensen J, Bjørk M. High-dose folic acid use and cancer risk in women who have given birth: A register-based cohort study. Epilepsia 2025; 66:75-88. [PMID: 39540679 PMCID: PMC11742548 DOI: 10.1111/epi.18146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/30/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was undertaken to study whether high-dose folic acid (>1 mg daily) use is associated with an increased risk of cancer in all women who have given birth and in women with epilepsy. High-dose folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has been linked to increased cancer risk in children born to mothers with epilepsy. METHODS We identified women with their first pregnancy in Denmark (1997-2017), Norway (2005-2017), and Sweden (2006-2017) using medical birth registers, linking individual data across nationwide health registers and statistical agencies. Exposure was defined as filled prescriptions for high-dose folic acid, considered time-varyingly. The primary outcome was the first malignant cancer diagnosis. Hazard ratios (HRs) of cancer after high-dose folic acid exposure were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for confounders including antiseizure medication (ASM) use, and stratified by maternal epilepsy diagnosis. A 6-month time lag was applied, as cancer is unlikely to develop immediately. RESULTS With up to 21 years of follow-up, we identified 1 465 785 women who gave birth, including 64 485 (4.4%) exposed to high-dose folic acid. In the exposed group, 755 cancer cases were observed (208 per 100 000 person-years, 95% CI = 193.8-223.5), compared with 18 702 cases in the unexposed group (164 per 100 000 person-years, 95% CI = 161.5-166.2), yielding a 20% increased cancer risk overall (adjusted HR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.2). This risk was attenuated after the 6-month lag analysis (adjusted HR = 1.1, 95% CI = 1.04-1.2). The risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma was increased in all analyses (n = 28, adjusted HR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.3-2.9). The association between high-dose folic acid use and overall cancer risk was similar in those with epilepsy regardless of ASM use (adjusted HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.8). SIGNIFICANCE High-dose folic acid use was associated with increased overall cancer risk in women who have given birth, with a consistent association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including those with epilepsy, regardless of ASM use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Werenberg Dreier
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- National Center for Register‐Based Research, School of Business and Social SciencesAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Jannicke Igland
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of Health and Caring SciencesWestern Norway University of Applied SciencesBergenNorway
| | - Silje Alvestad
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- National Center for EpilepsyOslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - Nils Erik Gilhus
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of NeurologyHaukeland University HospitalBergenNorway
| | - Mika Gissler
- Knowledge BrokersFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and SurgeryKarolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
| | - Maarit K. Leinonen
- Knowledge BrokersFinnish Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
| | - Torbjörn Tomson
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
- Department of NeurologyKarolinska University HospitalStockholmSweden
| | - Helga Zoega
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia
- Center of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of IcelandReykjavikIceland
| | - Jakob Christensen
- Department of NeurologyAarhus University HospitalAarhusDenmark
- Department of Clinical MedicineAarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Marte‐Helene Bjørk
- Department of Clinical MedicineUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of NeurologyHaukeland University HospitalBergenNorway
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Ehrenstein V, Hellfritzsch M, Kahlert J, Langan SM, Urushihara H, Marinac-Dabic D, Lund JL, Sørensen HT, Benchimol EI. Validation of algorithms in studies based on routinely collected health data: general principles. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:1612-1624. [PMID: 38754870 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwae071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Clinicians, researchers, regulators, and other decision-makers increasingly rely on evidence from real-world data (RWD), including data routinely accumulating in health and administrative databases. RWD studies often rely on algorithms to operationalize variable definitions. An algorithm is a combination of codes or concepts used to identify persons with a specific health condition or characteristic. Establishing the validity of algorithms is a prerequisite for generating valid study findings that can ultimately inform evidence-based health care. In this paper, we aim to systematize terminology, methods, and practical considerations relevant to the conduct of validation studies of RWD-based algorithms. We discuss measures of algorithm accuracy, gold/reference standards, study size, prioritization of accuracy measures, algorithm portability, and implications for interpretation. Information bias is common in epidemiologic studies, underscoring the importance of transparency in decisions regarding choice and prioritizing measures of algorithm validity. The validity of an algorithm should be judged in the context of a data source, and one size does not fit all. Prioritizing validity measures within a given data source depends on the role of a given variable in the analysis (eligibility criterion, exposure, outcome, or covariate). Validation work should be part of routine maintenance of RWD sources. This article is part of a Special Collection on Pharmacoepidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Ehrenstein
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Maja Hellfritzsch
- Research Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy, and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
- Department of Cardiology, Gødstrup Hospital, 7400 Herning, Denmark
| | - Johnny Kahlert
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Sinéad M Langan
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Hisashi Urushihara
- Division of Drug Development and Regulatory Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Tokyo 105-8512, Japan
| | - Danica Marinac-Dabic
- Office of Clinical Evidence and Analysis, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, United States
| | - Jennifer L Lund
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Henrik Toft Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Eric I Benchimol
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
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Bonde TM, Garmo H, Stattin P, Nilsson P, Gunnlaugsson A, Swanberg D, Robinson D. Risk of prostate cancer death after radical radiotherapy with neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy with bicalutamide or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. Acta Oncol 2023; 62:1815-1821. [PMID: 37850633 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2023.2269600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oncological outcome after radical radiotherapy (RRT) combined with neoadjuvant and adjuvant androgen suppression therapy (AST) may differ according to type of AST. The aim of this nationwide register-based study was to investigate risk of prostate cancer (Pca) death after different neoadjuvant and adjuvant ASTs; (i) bicalutamide, (ii) gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH) or (iii) combined bicalutamide and GnRH (CAB), together with RRT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data for 6882 men diagnosed with high-risk Pca between 2007 and 2020 and treated with primary RRT was retrieved from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe) 5.0. Time to Pca death according to type of neoadjuvant and adjuvant AST was assessed by use of Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for putative confounders. RESULTS Data were stratified by RRT type since the effect of AST in risk of Pca death differed according to type of RRT. Compared with the reference RRT combined with neoadjuvant CAB/adjuvant GnRH, risk of Pca death for men treated with CAB/bicalutamide and conventionally fractionated external beam radiotherapy (CF-EBRT) was hazard ratio (HR) 0.73 (95% CI: 0.50-1.04), hypofractionated EBRT (HF-EBRT), HR 1.35 (95% CI: 0.65-2.81) and EBRT with high dose rate brachytherapy (EBRT-HDRBT), HR 0.85 (95% CI: 0.37-1.95). Risk of Pca death for men treated with bicalutamide/bicalutamide and: (i) CF-EBRT was HR 2.35 (95% CI: 1.42-3.90), (ii) HF-EBRT, HR 0.70 (95% CI: 0.26-1.85), (iii) HF-EBRT, HR 4.07 (95% CI: 1.88-8.77) vs the reference. CONCLUSION In this observational study, risk of Pca death between men receiving different combinations of AST varied according to RRT type. No difference was found in risk of Pca death for men treated with bicalutamide or GnRH as adjuvant therapy to RRT following neoadjuvant CAB. Risk of Pca death was increased for men with monotherapy neo-/adjuvant bicalutamide in combination with CF-EBRT or EBRT-HDRBT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago M Bonde
- Department of Urology, Ryhov Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Hans Garmo
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pär Stattin
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Adalsteinn Gunnlaugsson
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Radiation Physics, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden
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Koistinaho A, Poranen J, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Taipale H, Lähteenvuo M. Real-world use of pharmacological treatments for incident bipolar disorder: A Finnish nationwide cohort study. J Affect Disord 2023; 340:237-244. [PMID: 37557987 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacotherapy remains crucial for treating bipolar disorder (BD), but knowledge on the treatments actually used by newly diagnosed patients in real-world settings is sparse. METHODS Individuals newly diagnosed with BD during 1996-2018, aged 15-65 years, were identified from national Finnish registers. The patients' use of different drug classes (mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants) or combinations of these drug classes were followed from initial pharmacotherapy (first line) after BD diagnosis until the fifth line of treatment or until the two-year follow-up time ended. Clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with antidepressants-only as the first treatment line were assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS 82.6 % of all patients used BD medication during the follow-up. 33.9 % had antidepressants-only as the first, 22.9 % as the second and 19.7 % as the third treatment line. Use of combinations of mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants increased by successive treatment lines. Factors associated with antidepressants-only as the first treatment line included older age (>45 years aOR 2.20, 95% CI: 2.01-2.40, 25-45 years: 1.55, 1.42-1.68, compared with those aged <25), diabetes (1.35, 1.17-1.55) and female sex (1.29, 1.21-1.37). BD diagnosis registered in 2016-2018 (0.48, 0.42-0.55) and substance abuse (0.77, 0.71-0.83) were associated with decreased odds. LIMITATIONS Due to the register-based nature of this study, not all potentially important clinical factors influencing medication use could be controlled for. CONCLUSIONS A large proportion of patients with bipolar disorder are not treated according to treatment guidelines, as use of antidepressants alone is common. Reasons for not following evidence-based recommendations need to be further researched.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aura Koistinaho
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Juulia Poranen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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Kujanpää T, Jäppinen S, Rantanen M, Suominen K, Pohjolainen V, Luoto R. Medication and rehabilitation of persons applying for disability pension due to depression: a register-based retrospective study from Finland. Nord J Psychiatry 2023; 77:731-736. [PMID: 37435818 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2023.2232361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate how drug therapies and rehabilitation options have been utilised before applying for a disability pension due to depression. METHODS A retrospective register-based study of the 3604 persons who applied for a disability pension from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) in 2019. In Finland, disability pension is usually preceded by an incapacity for work lasting for 1 year, during which time therapeutic procedures, which were analysed here, are applied. RESULTS Approximately half (56.0%) of the applicants had reimbursed purchases of two or more antidepressants during the 12 months preceding the disability pension application. Psychotherapy was received by 13.8% and 19.2% of the applicants 1 and 5 years before application, respectively. The share of applicants receiving some form of rehabilitation 1 year before application was 24.8% and 39.0% in the 5 years preceding application. During the 4 months before application, 19.6% of the applicants had no antidepressant purchases. In total, 12.2% of the applicants had both antidepressant treatment and psychotherapy in the year preceding the application, and 9.9% had neither psychotherapy nor antidepressant treatment. CONCLUSION Before applying for disability pension, only a minority of the applicants had received effective treatment for depression in the form of psychotherapy and antidepressants. However, most of the applicants had received some form of treatment, but it appears to have been insufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tero Kujanpää
- Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sauli Jäppinen
- Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Rantanen
- Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsi Suominen
- Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
- Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Riitta Luoto
- Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
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Lähteenvuo M, Paljärvi T, Tanskanen A, Taipale H, Tiihonen J. Real-world effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder: register-based national cohort study. Br J Psychiatry 2023; 223:456-464. [PMID: 37395140 PMCID: PMC10866673 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2023.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacological treatment patterns for bipolar disorder have changed during recent years, but for better or worse? AIMS To investigate the comparative real-world effectiveness of antipsychotics and mood stabilisers in bipolar disorder. METHOD Register-based cohort study including all Finnish residents aged 16-65 with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder from in-patient care, specialised out-patient care, sickness absence and disability pensions registers between 1996 and 2018, with a mean follow-up of 9.3 years (s.d. = 6.4). Antipsychotic and mood stabiliser use was modelled using the PRE2DUP method and risk for hospital admission for psychiatric and non-psychiatric reasons when using versus not using medications was estimated using within-individual Cox models. RESULTS Among 60 045 individuals (56.4% female; mean age 41.7 years, s.d. = 15.8), the five medications associated with lowest risk of psychiatric admissions were olanzapine long-acting injection (LAI) (aHR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.37-0.80), haloperidol LAI (aHR = 0.62, 0.47-0.81), zuclopenthixol LAI (aHR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.52-0.85), lithium (aHR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.71-0.76) and clozapine (aHR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.87). Only ziprasidone (aHR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.07-1.49) was associated with a statistically higher risk. For non-psychiatric (somatic) admissions, only lithium (aHR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.74-0.81) and carbamazepine (aHR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.97) were associated with significantly reduced risk, whereas pregabalin, gabapentin and several oral antipsychotics, including quetiapine, were associated with an increased risk. Results for a subcohort of first-episode patients (26 395 individuals, 54.9% female; mean age 38.2 years, s.d. = 13.0) were in line with those of the total cohort. CONCLUSIONS Lithium and certain LAI antipsychotics were associated with lowest risks of psychiatric admission. Lithium was the only treatment associated with decreased risk of both psychiatric and somatic admissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tapio Paljärvi
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; and School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden; and Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Rantsi M, Kortelainen L, Hyttinen V, Jyrkkä J, Kankaanpää E. Trends in the use of psychotropics in older people with dementia: interrupted time series of Finnish clinical guidelines of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Age Ageing 2023; 52:afad094. [PMID: 37366328 PMCID: PMC10294559 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Up to 90% of people with dementia experience behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) as part of their illness. Psychotropics are not recommended as the first-line treatment of BPSD because older people are more prone to adverse reactions. In this study, we evaluate the impact of the Finnish clinical guidelines of BPSD (published in 2017) on psychotropic use in people with dementia. METHODS This study is based on Finnish Prescription Register data from 2009 to 2020. The data included all community-dwelling Finnish people aged ≥65 and who had anti-dementia medication purchases (n = 217,778). We used three-phased interrupted time series design to evaluate the changes in levels and trends of monthly (n = 144) psychotropic user rates compared with the predicted trends. In addition, we evaluated the changes in levels and trends of monthly new psychotropic user rates. RESULTS The level of monthly psychotropic user rate decreased non-significantly during the intervention period (β -0.057, P = 0.853), and during the post-intervention period, there was an increase in the level (β 0.443, P = 0.091) and slope (β 0.199, P = 0.198), but not statistically significant. The level of monthly new psychotropic user rate (β -0.009, P = 0.949) during the intervention period and the level (β 0.044, P = 0.714) and slope (β 0.021, P = 0.705) during the post-intervention period were almost unchanged. CONCLUSIONS Results may indicate possible challenges in deprescribing and better adherence to the guidelines at the beginning of BPSD treatment. Further research into the barriers to implement BPSD guidelines and the availability of non-pharmacological treatments is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mervi Rantsi
- Address correspondence to: Mervi Rantsi. Tel: +358 46 920 2963.
| | - Lauri Kortelainen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Virva Hyttinen
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Johanna Jyrkkä
- Information and Development Services Unit, Finnish Medicines Agency, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eila Kankaanpää
- Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Cousins HC, Altman RB. Association between spironolactone use and COVID-19 outcomes in population-scale claims data: a retrospective cohort study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.02.28.23286515. [PMID: 36909470 PMCID: PMC10002773 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.28.23286515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Spironolactone has been proposed as a potential modulator of SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry. We aimed to measure the effect of spironolactone use on the risk of adverse outcomes following COVID-19 hospitalization. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 outcomes for patients with or without exposure to spironolactone, using population-scale claims data from the Komodo Healthcare Map. We identified all patients with a hospital admission for COVID-19 in the study window, defining treatment status based on spironolactone prescription orders. The primary outcomes were progression to respiratory ventilation or mortality during the hospitalization. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated following either 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) or multivariable regression. Subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant. Findings Among 898,303 eligible patients with a COVID-19-related hospitalization, 16,324 patients (1.8%) had a spironolactone prescription prior to hospitalization. 59,937 patients (6.7%) met the ventilation endpoint, and 26,515 patients (3.0%) met the mortality endpoint. Spironolactone use was associated with a significant reduction in odds of both ventilation (OR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75-0.88; p < 0.001) and mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78-0.99; p = 0.033) in the PSM analysis, supported by the regression analysis. Spironolactone use was associated with significantly reduced odds of ventilation for all age groups, men, women, and non-obese patients, with the greatest protective effects in younger patients, men, and non-obese patients. Interpretation Spironolactone use was associated with a protective effect against ventilation and mortality following COVID-19 infection, amounting to up to 64% of the protective effect of vaccination against ventilation and consistent with an androgen-dependent mechanism. The findings warrant initiation of large-scale randomized controlled trials to establish a potential therapeutic role for spironolactone in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry C. Cousins
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Russ B. Altman
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Holm M, Tanskanen A, Lähteenvuo M, Tiihonen J, Taipale H. Comparative effectiveness of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics in the prevention of hospitalization after lithium discontinuation in bipolar disorder. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 61:36-42. [PMID: 35763976 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the real-world effectiveness of mood stabilizers and antipsychotics in the prevention of psychiatric hospitalizations and treatment failure after lithium discontinuation in a nationwide bipolar cohort. Using health-care registers, we identified everyone in Finland diagnosed with bipolar disorder during 1987-2018 who discontinued lithium after using it for at least one year (n = 4 052, median period of lithium use before discontinuation 2.7 years). The risk of psychiatric hospitalization and treatment failure (psychiatric hospitalization, death or change in medication) were investigated with within-individual Cox regression. Of mood stabilizer monotherapies, the periods of valproate use (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.71 - 0.97) had lower risk of hospitalization than nonuse of mood stabilizers. Of antipsychotic monotherapies, the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics (HR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.26 - 0.88) and chlorprothixene (HR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44 - 0.88) were associated with lower risk and the use of quetiapine (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.07 - 1.48) and oral olanzapine (HR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.49) with higher risk of psychiatric hospitalizations than nonuse of antipsychotics. Of mood stabilizer monotherapies, lithium use was associated with lower risk of treatment failure (HR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.76 - 0.88) than valproate use. The results suggest that antipsychotic LAIs are especially effective in the prevention of psychiatric hospitalizations after lithium discontinuation. The need to alter used medications may be the lowest when lithium is restarted.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Holm
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mental Health Unit, Helsinki, Finland; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Tanskanen
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Karolinska Institutet, Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Tiihonen
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Karolinska Institutet, Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - H Taipale
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; Karolinska Institutet, Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden; University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, Kuopio, Finland
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12
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Ali Babar B, Vu M, Koponen M, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Kettunen R, Tiihonen M, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Prevalence of oral anticoagulant use among people with and without Alzheimer’s disease. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:464. [PMID: 35643439 PMCID: PMC9148467 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03144-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases are common among people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is unknown how the prevalence of oral anticoagulant (OAC) use changes in relation to AD diagnosis. We investigated the prevalence of OAC use in relation to AD diagnosis in comparison to a matched cohort without AD. Methods Register-based Medication use and Alzheimer’s disease (MEDALZ) cohort includes 70 718 Finnish people with AD diagnosed between 2005–2011. Point prevalence of OAC use (prescription register) was calculated every three months with three-month evaluation periods, from five years before to five years after clinically verified diagnosis and compared to matched cohort without AD. Longitudinal association between AD and OAC use was evaluated by generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results OAC use was more common among people with AD until AD diagnosis, (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.13–1.22), and less common after AD diagnosis (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.85–0.89), compared to people without AD. At the time of AD diagnosis, prevalence was 23% and 20% among people with and without AD, respectively. OAC use among people with AD began to decline gradually two years after AD diagnosis while continuous increase was observed in the comparison cohort. Warfarin was the most common OAC, and atrial fibrillation was the most common comorbidity in OAC users. Conclusion Decline in OAC use among people with AD after diagnosis may be attributed to high risk of falling and problems in monitoring. However, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) that are nowadays more commonly used require less monitoring and may also be safer for vulnerable people with AD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03144-x.
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Salmasi S, Högg T, Safari A, De Vera MA, Lynd LD, Koehoorn M, Barry AR, Andrade JG, Loewen P. The Random Effects Warfarin Days' Supply (REWarDS) Model: Development and Validation of a Novel Method for Estimating Exposure to Warfarin Using Administrative Data. Am J Epidemiol 2022; 191:1116-1124. [PMID: 35015808 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwab295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Warfarin's complex dosing is a significant barrier to measurement of its exposure in observational studies using population databases. Using population-based administrative data (1996-2019) from British Columbia, Canada, we developed a method based on statistical modeling (Random Effects Warfarin Days' Supply (REWarDS)) that involves fitting a random-effects linear regression model to patients' cumulative dosage over time for estimation of warfarin exposure. Model parameters included a minimal universally available set of variables from prescription records for estimation of patients' individualized average daily doses of warfarin. REWarDS estimates were validated against a reference standard (manual calculation of the daily dose using the free-text administration instructions entered by the dispensing pharmacist) and compared with alternative methods (fixed window, fixed tablet, defined daily dose, and reverse wait time distribution) using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), the intraclass correlation coefficient, and the root mean squared error. REWarDS-estimated days' supply showed strong correlation and agreement with the reference standard (r = 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90, 0.90); intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95 (95% CI: 0.94, 0.95); root mean squared error = 8.24 days) and performed better than all of the alternative methods. REWarDS-estimated days' supply was valid and more accurate than estimates from all other available methods. REWarDS is expected to confer optimal precision in studies measuring warfarin exposure using administrative data.
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14
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Taipale H, Niederkrotenthaler T, Tanskanen A, Cullen AE, Helgesson M, Berg L, Sijbrandij M, Klimek P, Mittendorfer-Rutz E. Persistence of antidepressant use among refugee youth with common mental disorder. J Affect Disord 2021; 294:831-837. [PMID: 34375210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to investigate whether persistence of antidepressant use differs between refugee youth and Swedish-born youth after a diagnosis of a common mental disorder (CMD), and if clinical and sociodemographic factors are associated with antidepressant discontinuation. METHODS Youth aged 16-25 years, with an incident diagnosis of CMD (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders) accessing specialized healthcare in Sweden 2006-2016 were included. New users were identified with a one-year washout period. Refugees (N=1575) were compared with Swedish-born youth (N=2319). Cox regression models [reported as adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)] were used to investigate factors associated with discontinuation of antidepressant use. RESULTS Among youth (mean age 20.9 years, SD 2.7, 50% females), the median duration of antidepressant use differed considerably between refugee (101 days, IQR 31-243) and Swedish-born youth (252 days, IQR 101-558). Refugees were more likely to discontinue treatment (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.47-1.77). Factors associated with an increased risk for discontinuation in refugees included ≤5 years duration of formal residency (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.12-1.45), antidepressant type, and dispensing lag (time from prescription to dispensing) of >7 days (1.43, 1.25-1.64), whereas PTSD (0.78, 0.64-0.97) and anxiolytic use (0.79, 0.64-0.96) were associated with a lower discontinuation risk. LIMITATIONS Only persons treated in specialized healthcare could be included. CONCLUSION The relatively short treatment durations among refugee youth suggest that antidepressant treatment may not be optimal in CMD, and better monitoring of treatment as well as transcultural education of healthcare personnel are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Taipale
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Thomas Niederkrotenthaler
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Unit Suicide Research & Mental Health Promotion, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Alexis E Cullen
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Magnus Helgesson
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa Berg
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Klimek
- Section for Science of Complex Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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15
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Sinyavskaya L, Renoux C, Durand M. Defining the duration of the dispensation of oral anticoagulants in administrative healthcare databases. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2021; 31:105-109. [PMID: 34714965 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In clinical practice, warfarin therapy requires frequent dose adjustments. In pharmacy claims, the days supplied value may not reflect the true duration of warfarin dispensation. This may affect the measures of association comparing the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus warfarin. METHODS Using Quebec healthcare administrative databases, we formed a cohort of 55 230 patients newly treated with oral anticoagulants between 2010 and 2016. The duration of dispensations was defined using two approaches: the recorded days supplied value, and the longitudinal coverage approximation (data-driven) that may account for individual variation in drug usage patterns. Propensity scores adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of major bleeding with dabigatran or rivaroxaban versus warfarin. RESULTS Using the days supplied, the mean (and standard deviation) dispensation durations for dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and warfarin were 19 (15), 19 (14), and 13 (12) days, respectively. Using the data-driven approach, the durations were 20 (16), 19 (15), and 15 (16) days, respectively. The choice of the approach had no impact on the HR estimates. CONCLUSIONS In our settings, the data-driven approach closely approximated the recorded days supplied value for the standard dose therapies such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban. For warfarin, the data-driven approach captured more variability in the duration of dispensations compared to the days supplied value, which may better reflect the true drug-taking behavior of warfarin. Both approaches may provide valid estimates when comparing the safety of DOACs versus warfarin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliya Sinyavskaya
- Research Center, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Christel Renoux
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Madeleine Durand
- Research Center, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, Québec, Canada
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16
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Varimo E, Aronen ET, Mogk H, Rättö H, Saastamoinen LK. Antipsychotic Treatment Duration in Children and Adolescents: A Register-Based Nationwide Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2021; 31:421-429. [PMID: 33739863 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2020.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Despite the increasing use of antipsychotic drugs in children and adolescents in many countries, little is known about the treatment duration in this vulnerable population. The present nationwide study investigated the duration of antipsychotic treatment and factors associated with treatment discontinuation in Finnish children and adolescents. Methods: All subjects aged 1-17 years who had started a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) drug (risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, or olanzapine) between January 2008 and December 2016 (n = 20,932) were extracted from the Finnish Prescription Registry and followed up until December 31, 2017. Treatment duration was calculated as the time between the initial purchase of medication and treatment discontinuation. Treatment was considered discontinued if the treatment-free gap was more than 270 days. The associations between explanatory factors and treatment discontinuation were analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The mean and median treatment durations were 509 days (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 500-517 days) and 317 days (95% CI: 306-325 days), respectively. The duration was shorter in girls than in boys (p < 0.001). Of all SGA users, 35.1% used antipsychotics less than 50 days and 16.0% used more than 600 days. Shorter treatment duration was associated with age groups of 7-12 and 13-15 years compared with 1-6 years (hazard ratio [HR]:1.23 [95% CI: 1.11-1.36]; HR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.21-1.51], respectively) and initiating treatment with quetiapine or olanzapine compared with risperidone (HR: 1.18 [95% CI: 1.12-1.25]; HR: 1.66 [95% CI 1.46-1.88], respectively). Switching of SGA drug during treatment was associated with longer treatment duration (HR: 0.40 [95% CI: 0.38-0.43]). Conclusions: In children and adolescents, the mean treatment duration of SGAs was relatively long given that the majority of SGA use was off-label. Older age and initiating treatment with quetiapine were associated with earlier treatment discontinuation, whereas switching of antipsychotic drug during therapy increased the possibility of longer SGA use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveliina Varimo
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eeva T Aronen
- Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, Laboratory of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Mogk
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Rättö
- Research Unit, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
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Taipale H, Tiihonen J. Registry-based studies: What they can tell us, and what they cannot. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 45:35-37. [PMID: 33774390 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Taipale
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Norra Stationsgatan 69, Plan 7, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Norra Stationsgatan 69, Plan 7, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
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18
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Lähteenvuo M, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Tiihonen J. Effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for delusional disorder in a Swedish national cohort of 9076 patients. Schizophr Res 2021; 228:367-372. [PMID: 33548837 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known on the effective pharmacological treatment of delusional disorder. AIMS Study the comparative effectiveness of pharmacotherapies in the prevention of hospitalization due to psychosis and work disability in delusional disorder. METHODS Observational registry based cohort study including everyone in Sweden diagnosed with delusional disorder (N = 9076;mean follow-up time 4.9 years). The primary analysis was Cox Proportional Hazards within-individual analysis. Results are reported as adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS Among the cohort (4835 males/4241 females;mean [SD] age 44.1 [12.5] years), 2074 persons had at least one hospitalization due to psychosis. Risk for hospitalization due to psychosis was 46% lower when any antipsychotic was used (HR 0.54, 95%CI 0.38-0.77, p < 0.001). Use of clozapine (HR 0.24, 95%CI 0.07-0.77, p = 0.016), any long-acting injectable (LAI; HR 0.28, 95%CI 0.16-0.49, p < 0.0001) and oral olanzapine (HR 0.36, 95%CI 0.20-0.67, p = 0.001) were associated with lowest risk. Among those not on disability pension at start of follow-up (n = 5025), in comparison to no use of antipsychotics, use of clozapine (HR 0.08, 95%CI 0.01-0.52, p = 0.008), any LAI (HR 0.44, 95%CI 0.25-0.79, p = 0.006) and oral aripiprazole (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.31-0.85, p = 0.009) were associated with lowest risk of work disability. CONCLUSIONS Use of antipsychotics was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization due to psychosis and work disability in delusional disorder, with use of clozapine and long-acting injectables being associated with the lowest risk for these very relevant end-points for both individual suffering and costs to society. Clinical trials with these treatments are urgently needed to make informed clinical treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Niuvanniemi Hospital, Niuvankuja 65, 70240 Kuopio, Finland; Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Niuvanniemi Hospital, Niuvankuja 65, 70240 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Berzelius väg 3, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Niuvanniemi Hospital, Niuvankuja 65, 70240 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Norra Stationsgatan 69, 11364 Stockholm, Sweden
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Antolín-Concha D, Lähteenvuo M, Vattulainen P, Tanskanen A, Taipale H, Vieta E, Tiihonen J. Suicide mortality and use of psychotropic drugs in patients hospitalized due to bipolar disorder: A Finnish nationwide cohort study. J Affect Disord 2020; 277:885-892. [PMID: 33065830 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge on the comparative effectiveness of pharmacological treatments to prevent suicide mortality in bipolar disorder is still lacking. METHODS We studied the risk of suicide mortality during 1996-2012 among all patients who had been hospitalized due to bipolar disorder in Finland (n = 18,018; mean follow-up time 7.2 years) using nation-wide databases. We used a Cox proportional hazards model. Analyses were adjusted for the effects of time since diagnosis, order of treatments, current use of other treatments, polypharmacy, number of suicidal hospitalizations within 2 year (indicator of inherent risk of relapse), age at index date, sex, and calendar year of index date. In secondary analysis, the first 30 days were omitted from analysis after initiation of a psychopharmacological treatment to control for protopathic bias. RESULTS In comparison between use and no use among specific agents, only lithium (HR 0.33, 95%CI 0.24-0.47, p<0.0001) and valproic acid (HR 0.61, 95%CI 0.48-0.79, p=0.0002) were associated with a significantly decreased risk of suicide in bipolar disorder. Lithium showed a 42% lower risk for suicide mortality compared to valproic acid (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.86, p = 0.007). Hypnotics were associated with a significantly (HR 1.52, 95%CI 1.22-1.90, p=0.0002) higher risk of suicide. LIMITATIONS Only hospitalized patients were included. CONCLUSIONS Lithium should be considered as treatment of choice for patients with bipolar disorder who are at high risk for suicide. Hypnotic use among suicidal patients indicates need for close monitoring of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Antolín-Concha
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland (Antolín-Concha, Lähteenvuo, Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen)
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland (Antolín-Concha, Lähteenvuo, Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen).
| | | | - Antti Tanskanen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland (Antolín-Concha, Lähteenvuo, Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen); Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen); National Institute for Health and Welfare, Impact Assessment Unit, Helsinki, Finland (Tanskanen)
| | - Heidi Taipale
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland (Antolín-Concha, Lähteenvuo, Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen); Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen); School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland (Taipale)
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Institute of Neurosience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (Vieta)
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland (Antolín-Concha, Lähteenvuo, Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen); Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (Tanskanen, Taipale, Tiihonen); Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden (Tiihonen)
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Taipale H, Lähteenvuo M, Tanskanen A, Mittendorfer-Rutz E, Tiihonen J. Comparative Effectiveness of Antipsychotics for Risk of Attempted or Completed Suicide Among Persons With Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2020; 47:23-30. [PMID: 33428766 PMCID: PMC7824993 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to investigate the comparative effectiveness of antipsychotics for the risk of attempted or completed suicide among all patients with schizophrenia in Finland and Sweden. METHODS Two nationwide register-based cohort studies were conducted, including all individuals with schizophrenia in Finland (n = 61 889) and Sweden (n=29 823). The main exposure was 10 most commonly used antipsychotic monotherapies; also, adjunctive pharmacotherapies were investigated. The main outcome measure was attempted or completed suicide, which was analyzed with within-individual models by comparing use and nonuse periods in the same individual to minimize selection bias. Sensitivity analyses included attempted suicide (hospitalization only) as an outcome. RESULTS Compared with no use of antipsychotics, clozapine use was the only antipsychotic consistently associated with a decreased risk of suicidal outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for attempted or completed suicide were 0.64 (0.49-0.84) in the Finnish cohort and 0.66 (0.43-0.99) in the Swedish cohort. No other antipsychotic was associated with a reduced risk of attempted and/or completed suicide. Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs were associated with an increased risk of attempted or completed suicide (HRs: 1.29-1.30 for benzodiazepines and 1.33-1.62 for Z-drugs). CONCLUSION Clozapine was the only antipsychotic associated with decreased risk of attempted or completed suicide among patients with schizophrenia, and it should be considered as first-line treatment for high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Taipale
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: 358 50 3418363, fax: 358 17 368 2419, e-mail:
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
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Braithwaite B, Paananen J, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Detection of medications associated with Alzheimer's disease using ensemble methods and cooperative game theory. Int J Med Inform 2020; 141:104142. [PMID: 32531724 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the feasibility of evaluating feature importance with Shapley Values and ensemble methods in the context of pharmacoepidemiology and medication safety. METHODS We detected medications associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) by examining the additive feature attribution with combined approach of Gradient Boosting and Shapley Values in the Medication use and Alzheimer's disease (MEDALZ) study, a nested case-control study of 70,719 verified AD cases in Finland. Our methodological approach is to do binary classification using Gradient boosting (an ensemble of weak classifiers) in a supervised learning manner. Then we apply Shapley Values (from cooperative game theory) to analyze how feature combinations affect the classification result. Medication use with a five to one year time-window before AD diagnosis was ascertained from Prescription register. RESULTS Antipsychotics with low or medium dose, antidepressants with medium to high dose, and cardiovascular medications with medium to high dose were identified as the contributing features for separating cases with AD from controls. Medium to high amount of irregularity in the purchase pattern were an indicating feature for separating AD cases from controls. The similarity of medication purchases between AD cases and controls made the feature evaluation challenging. CONCLUSIONS The combined approach of Gradient Boosting and feature evaluation with Shapley Values identified features that were consistent with findings from previous hypothesis-driven studies. Additionally, the results from the additive feature attribution identified new candidates for future studies on AD risk factors. Our approach also shows promise for studies based on observational studies, where feature identification and interactions in populations are of interest; and the applicability of using Shapley Values for evaluating feature relevance in pattern recognition tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Braithwaite
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Paananen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Finland
| | - H Taipale
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - S Hartikainen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A-M Tolppanen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Court T, Lavikainen P, Taipale H, Tiihonen J, Tanskanen A, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Antiepileptic drug use and mortality among community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer disease. Neurology 2020; 94:e2099-e2108. [PMID: 32327491 PMCID: PMC7526675 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000009435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the risk of death in relation to incident antiepileptic drug (AED) use compared with nonuse in people with Alzheimer disease (AD) through the assessment in terms of duration of use, specific drugs, and main causes of death. METHODS The MEDALZ (Medication Use and Alzheimer Disease) cohort study includes all Finnish persons who received a clinically verified AD diagnosis (n = 70,718) in 2005-2011. Incident AED users were identified with 1-year washout period. For each incident AED user (n = 5,638), 1 nonuser was matched according to sex, age, and time since AD diagnosis. Analyses were conducted with Cox proportional regression models and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). RESULTS Nearly 50% discontinued AEDs within 6 months. Compared with nonusers, AED users had an increased relative risk of death (IPTW hazard ratio [HR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.36). This was mainly due to deaths from dementia (IPTW HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.42-1.86). There was no difference in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular deaths (IPTW HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.67-1.44). The overall mortality was highest during the first 90 days of AED use (IPTW HR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.91-3.03). Among users of older AEDs, relative risk of death was greater compared to users of newer AEDs (IPTW HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.52-2.16). CONCLUSION In older vulnerable patients with a cognitive disorder, careful consideration of AED initiation and close adverse events monitoring are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Court
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden.
| | - Piia Lavikainen
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
| | - Anna-Maija Tolppanen
- From the School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences (T.S., P.L., H.T., S.H., A.-M.T.), Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care (T.S., H.T., S.H.), and Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital (H.T., J.T., A.T.), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; Department of Clinical Neuroscience (H.T., J.T., A.T.), Karolinska Institutet; and Centre for Psychiatry Research (J.T.), Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Sweden
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Using clinical registries, administrative data and electronic medical records to improve medication safety and effectiveness in dementia. Curr Opin Psychiatry 2020; 33:163-169. [PMID: 31972590 DOI: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Clinical registries, routinely collected administrative data and electronic medical records (EMRs) provide new opportunities to investigate medication safety and effectiveness. This review outlines the strengths and limitations of these data, and highlights recent research related to safe and effective medication use in dementia. RECENT FINDINGS Clinical registries, administrative data and EMRs facilitate observational research among people often excluded from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Larger sample sizes and longer follow-up times permit research into less common adverse events not apparent in RCTs. The validity of diagnoses recorded in administrative data and EMRs remains variable, although positive predictive values are typically high and sensitivity is low. Dispensing records are a rich source of data for estimating medication exposure. Recent research has investigated medications and prescribing patterns as risk factors for incident dementia, strategies to alleviate behavioural symptoms and the management of comorbidity. Common study protocols and common data models are examples of distributed network approaches increasingly used to conduct large and generalizable multi-database studies across different countries. SUMMARY Greater availability of electronic health data provides important opportunities to address evidence-practice gaps in relation to medication use and safety in people with dementia.
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Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Mehtälä J, Vattulainen P, Correll CU, Tiihonen J. 20-year follow-up study of physical morbidity and mortality in relationship to antipsychotic treatment in a nationwide cohort of 62,250 patients with schizophrenia (FIN20). World Psychiatry 2020; 19:61-68. [PMID: 31922669 PMCID: PMC6953552 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Antipsychotics are effective in preventing relapses of schizophrenia, but it is generally believed that their long-term use is harmful for patients' physical well-being. However, there are no long-term studies which have verified this view. This nationwide, register-based cohort study aimed to assess the risk of hospitalization due to physical health problems, as a marker for severe physical morbidity, and the risk of all-cause mortality, as well as of cardiovascular and suicidal death, associated with antipsychotic use in all patients treated for schizophrenia in inpatient care between 1972 and 2014 in Finland (N=62,250), with up to 20 years of follow-up (median: 14.1 years). The use of antipsychotic drugs (i.e., use of any antipsychotic compared with non-use) and the use of specific antipsychotics were investigated, and outcomes were somatic and cardiovascular hospitalization, and all-cause, cardiovascular and suicide death. Hospitalization-based outcomes were analyzed by a within-individual design to eliminate selection bias, comparing use and non-use periods in the same individual by stratified Cox model. Mortality outcomes were assessed by traditional between-individual Cox multivariate models. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for any somatic hospitalization and cardiovascular hospitalization were 1.00 (95% CI: 0.98-1.03) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.92-1.07) during use of any antipsychotic compared to non-exposure periods within the same individual. The aHRs were 0.48 (95% CI: 0.46-0.51) for all-cause mortality, 0.62 (95% CI: 0.57-0.67) for cardiovascular mortality, and 0.52 (95% CI: 0.43-0.62) for suicide mortality during use vs. non-use of any antipsychotic. The most beneficial mortality outcome was associated with use of clozapine in terms of all-cause (aHR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.36-0.43), cardiovascular (aHR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.47-0.64) and suicide mortality (aHR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.15-0.29). The cumulative mortality rates during maximum follow-up of 20 years were 46.2% for no antipsychotic use, 25.7% for any antipsychotic use, and 15.6% for clozapine use. These data suggest that long-term antipsychotic use does not increase severe physical morbidity leading to hospitalization, and is associated with substantially decreased mortality, especially among patients treated with clozapine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Taipale
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden,Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, KuopioFinland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden,Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland,Public Health Evaluation and Projection Unit, National Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinkiFinland
| | | | | | - Christoph U. Correll
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside HospitalNorthwell HealthGlen OaksNYUSA,Department of Psychiatry and Molecular MedicineZucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/NorthwellHempsteadNYUSA,Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute for Medical ResearchManhassetNYUSA,Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryCharité UniversitätsmedizinBerlinGermany
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical NeuroscienceKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden,Department of Forensic PsychiatryUniversity of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi HospitalKuopioFinland,Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City CouncilStockholmSweden
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Vu M, Koponen M, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Kettunen R, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Prevalence of cardiovascular drug use before and after diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Int J Cardiol 2020; 300:221-225. [PMID: 31810814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are common in aging populations. We investigated the prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) drug use in relation to AD diagnosis, and compared the prevalence to a matched cohort without AD. METHODS Point prevalence of CV drugs was counted every six months, from five years before to five years after AD diagnosis in the register-based Medication Use and Alzheimer's disease (MEDALZ) study, including community dwellers who received a clinically verified AD diagnosis during 2005-2011 in Finland, and compared to a matched cohort without AD. Data on drugs purchases was extracted from the Prescription Register by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical-classification system codes C* (excluding C04 and C05) and modelled to use periods with PRE2DUP method. RESULTS Before AD diagnosis, the prevalence of CV drug use was higher in persons with AD (RR 1.04; confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.06). At the index date (AD diagnosis date), the prevalence of CV drug use was similarly among persons with AD (75.8%), in comparison to matched cohort without AD (73.4%). However, after that, the prevalence of CV drug use started decline in persons with AD. CONCLUSIONS The decline in use of CV drugs after AD diagnosis likely reflects discontinued need for treatment due to weight loss, frailty, decline in blood pressure and serum lipid levels. It may also reflect the change in prescribing due to adverse events and priorities of care to improve the quality of end-of-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Vu
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Marjaana Koponen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Raimo Kettunen
- School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anna-Maija Tolppanen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Koponen M, Lavikainen P, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Accumulation of Hospital Days Among Antipsychotic Initiators With Alzheimer's Disease. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019; 20:1488-1494.e3. [PMID: 31466934 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the accumulation of hospital days, a proposed proxy for overall drug safety, between antipsychotic initiators and noninitiators with Alzheimer's disease (AD). DESIGN Nationwide exposure-matched cohort. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Finnish community dwellers who received an incident AD diagnosis in 2005‒2011 (n = 70,718). For each antipsychotic initiator, 1 noninitiator was matched on age, sex, and time since AD diagnosis (n = 19,909 matched pairs). MEASURES Accumulation of hospital days was measured during a 2-year follow-up from the national hospital discharge register. Antipsychotic use was ascertained from the National Prescription Register. Association between antipsychotic initiation and accumulation of hospital days was analyzed using negative binomial model. RESULTS During the 2-year follow-up, antipsychotic initiators were hospitalized on average for 52.5 (standard deviation 97.7) days and matched noninitiators for 34.7 (standard deviation 72.4) days. Of antipsychotic initiators 23.8% and of noninitiators, 34.1% did not have any hospital days. Antipsychotic initiators had 53% more hospital days (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.53; 95% confidence interval 1.47‒1.59) than noninitiators. Strongest associations were observed during the first 6 months. Antipsychotic initiators had more hospital days with primary diagnosis codes of dementia; mental and behavioral disorders; factors influencing health status; diseases of the respiratory, genitourinary, and circulatory system; certain infectious and parasitic diseases; and symptoms not elsewhere classified, than noninitiators. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Antipsychotic initiators accumulated more hospital days than noninitiators, especially within the first 6 months after initiation. This may indicate adverse events or difficulties in treating the most severe behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and health problems triggering them. After initiating antipsychotics, careful and regular monitoring is needed to assess response and decrease the risk of adverse effects and events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjaana Koponen
- Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Piia Lavikainen
- Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Impact Assessment Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Anna-Maija Tolppanen
- Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Taipale H, Rysä J, Hukkanen J, Koponen M, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Kröger H, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Long-term thiazide use and risk of low-energy fractures among persons with Alzheimer's disease-nested case-control study. Osteoporos Int 2019; 30:1481-1489. [PMID: 30993395 PMCID: PMC6614156 DOI: 10.1007/s00198-019-04957-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We investigated the association between thiazide use and the risk of low-energy fractures among community dwellers with Alzheimer's disease. Longer use was associated with a decreased risk of low-energy fractures. This study extends the previous knowledge of reduced fracture risk of thiazides to persons with Alzheimer's disease. INTRODUCTION To investigate the association between thiazide use and the risk of low-energy fractures (LEF), and hip fracture among community dwellers with Alzheimer's disease (AD). No prior study has evaluated the effect of thiazides on LEF risk of AD patients. METHODS LEF cases were identified from the MEDALZ study, including all community-dwelling persons diagnosed with AD in Finland 2005-2011. During the follow-up from AD diagnoses until the end of 2015, cases with LEF (N = 10,416) and hip fracture (N = 5578) were identified. LEF cases were matched with up to three controls without LEF, according to time since AD diagnosis, age and gender. Thiazide use identified from the Prescription register data was modeled with PRE2DUP method. Current use was defined in 0-30 days' time window before the fracture/matching date, and duration of current use was assessed. The association between thiazide exposure and LEFs was assessed with conditional logistic regression. RESULTS Current thiazide use was observed in 10.5% of LEF cases and 12.5% of controls. Current thiazide use was associated with a decreased risk of LEF (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.83, 95% CI 0.77-0.88). In terms of the duration of use, no association was observed with short-term use (< 1 year or 1-3 years), while longer use (> 3 years) was associated with a reduced risk of LEF (aOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.71-0.83) and hip fracture (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.60-0.78). CONCLUSIONS Our study extends the previous knowledge of reduced fracture risk of thiazides to persons with AD, a population with significantly increased background risk of fractures.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Taipale
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - J Rysä
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Hukkanen
- Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - M Koponen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - A Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - J Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - H Kröger
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Kuopio Musculoskeletal Research Unit (KMRU), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - S Hartikainen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A-M Tolppanen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Hamina A, Taipale H, Karttunen N, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Tolppanen AM, Hartikainen S. Hospital-Treated Pneumonia Associated with Opioid Use Among Community Dwellers with Alzheimer’s Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 69:807-816. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-181295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksi Hamina
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Niina Karttunen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Public Health Solutions, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
- Center for Psychiatric Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Maija Tolppanen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Research Centre for Comparative Effectiveness and Patient Safety (RECEPS), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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29
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Karttunen N, Taipale H, Hamina A, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Tolppanen AM, Hartikainen S. Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids in community-dwelling older people with or without Alzheimer's disease-A nationwide register-based study in Finland. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019; 34:280-288. [PMID: 30370943 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The study aims to determine the prevalence of concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids among community-dwelling older people with or without Alzheimer's disease (AD). An additional aim was to describe the factors associated with prolonged concomitant use, and the most commonly used combinations of these drugs. METHODS This study utilized data from the register-based Medication Use and Alzheimer's disease (MEDALZ) study, including all community-dwelling residents of Finland who received a clinically verified AD diagnosis between 2005 and 2011 (n = 70 718) and their matched comparison persons without AD. After exclusion of individuals who were hospitalized throughout the follow-up, 69 353 persons with and 69 353 without AD were included in this study. RESULTS Benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDRs) were used by 28 475 (41.1%) of those with and 24 506 (35.3%) of those without AD. Prolonged (greater than or equal to 90 days) concomitant use of BZDRs and opioids was more common among BZDR users without AD (N = 3936; 16.1%) than among those with AD (N = 2963; 10.4%). A shorter duration of concomitant use (1-89 days) revealed similar results, N = 3821; 15.6% and N = 3008; 10.6%, respectively. Prolonged concomitant use of BZDRs and opioids was associated with female sex, low socioeconomic position, most of the common comorbidities and history of substance abuse or long-term benzodiazepine use. The most commonly used combinations were Z-drug (31.7%) or benzodiazepine (29.9%) with a weak opioid. CONCLUSIONS Despite the recommendations and risks, the prevalence of concomitant BZDR and opioid use was common in older persons with or without AD. It is important to develop strategies to reduce unnecessary concomitant use of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niina Karttunen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aleksi Hamina
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Impact Assessment Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Maija Tolppanen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Research Centre for Comparative Effectiveness and Patient Safety (RECEPS), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Research Centre for Comparative Effectiveness and Patient Safety (RECEPS), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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30
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Lavikainen P, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Koponen M, Tiihonen J, Hartikainen S, Tolppanen AM. Antiepileptic Drugs and Accumulation of Hospital Days Among Persons With Alzheimer's Disease. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019; 20:751-758. [PMID: 30630728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the accumulation of hospital days between initiators and noninitiators of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) among persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD). DESIGN Exposure-matched cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Persons newly diagnosed with AD in 2005-2011 (n = 70,718) and initiating AED use identified from Finnish health care registers. For each AED initiator, 1 noninitiator matched on age, sex, and time since AD diagnosis was selected. Persons with epilepsy were excluded from the study. METHODS Association between AED initiation or use of individual AEDs and accumulation of hospital days during a 2-year follow-up was assessed using negative binomial model. RESULTS AED initiators (n = 4432) were hospitalized on average for 43.7 (SD: 88.3) days and matched noninitiators for 32.2 (SD: 71.3) days during the 2-year follow-up. Altogether, 27.3% of the AED initiators and 35.6% of the noninitiators had no hospital days during the study period. Number of accumulated hospital days during the follow-up was 31% higher [adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR): 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.43] among AED initiators than the noninitiators. Hospital days due to diseases of the nervous system excluding dementia (aIRR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.72-4.31), musculoskeletal system (aIRR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.73-3.58), respiratory system (aIRR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.47-2.43), and mental and behavioral disorders excluding dementia (aIRR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.02-3.79) were more common among the AED initiators than noninitiators. Among pregabalin (aIRR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.56-0.77), gabapentin (aIRR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49-0.88), and clonazepam (aIRR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.96) initiators, the number of accumulated hospital days was 27% to 35% lower than the days accumulated among the initiators of valproic acid. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS AED initiators had more hospital days than noninitiators. Pregabalin and gabapentin were associated with a lower number of hospital days than valproic acid. Further research is needed on the reasons for these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piia Lavikainen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Heidi Taipale
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marjaana Koponen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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31
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Kettunen R, Taipale H, Tolppanen AM, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Hartikainen S, Koponen M. Duration of new antidepressant use and factors associated with discontinuation among community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 75:417-425. [DOI: 10.1007/s00228-018-2591-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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32
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Incident opioid use and risk of hip fracture among persons with Alzheimer disease: a nationwide matched cohort study. Pain 2018; 160:417-423. [DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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33
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Lähteenvuo M, Tanskanen A, Taipale H, Hoti F, Vattulainen P, Vieta E, Tiihonen J. Real-world Effectiveness of Pharmacologic Treatments for the Prevention of Rehospitalization in a Finnish Nationwide Cohort of Patients With Bipolar Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry 2018; 75:347-355. [PMID: 29490359 PMCID: PMC5875349 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics are the main maintenance treatments for bipolar disorder. Lithium is considered to be the most effective mood stabilizer, but very little is known about overall health outcomes associated with specific treatments and the comparative long-term effectiveness of specific psychotropics or routes of administration in the prevention of rehospitalizations. OBJECTIVE To study the comparative effectiveness of pharmacologic treatments in the prevention of rehospitalization in a nationwide cohort of patients with bipolar disorder. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study examined the risk of psychiatric, cardiovascular, and all-cause hospitalization from January 1, 1987, to December 31, 2012, among all patients in Finland who had been hospitalized for bipolar disorder (N = 18 018; mean follow-up time, 7.2 years) using prospectively gathered nationwide databases for hospitalization and dispensed medications. The primary analysis was within-individual analysis, in which each individual was used as his or her own control to eliminate selection bias. The study adjusted for the effect of concomitant psychotropic medications, duration of illness, and the temporal orders of exposure and nonexposure periods. Statistical analysis was conducted from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2012. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for rehospitalization were calculated. RESULTS Among the cohort (9558 women and 8460 men; mean [SD] age, 46.6 [17.0] years), 9721 patients (54.0%) had at least 1 psychiatric rehospitalization. In comparison between use and no use among specific agents reaching nominal statistical significance, risperidone long-acting injection (HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.34-1.00]), gabapentin (HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.44-0.77]), perphenazine long-acting injection (HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.41-0.88]), and lithium carbonate (HR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.60-0.73]) were associated with the lowest risk of psychiatric rehospitalization. Concerning all-cause hospitalization, lithium (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.66-0.76]) was associated with the lowest risk. The most frequently used antipsychotic treatment, quetiapine fumarate, showed only modest effectiveness (risk of psychiatric rehospitalization: HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-0.98]; risk of all-cause hospitalization: HR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.88-0.98]). Long-acting injections were associated with substantially better outcomes compared with identical oral antipsychotics (risk of psychiatric rehospitalization: HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.55-0.90]; risk of all-cause hospitalization: HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.57-0.86]). Results from sensitivity analyses showed consistent beneficial effects only for lithium and for long-acting injections compared with their oral counterparts. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Lithium was the most effective mood stabilizer, and long-acting injections the most effective antipsychotics, in preventing hospitalization due to mental or physical illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Impact Assessment Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | | | - Eduard Vieta
- Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, Finland,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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34
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Torvinen-Kiiskinen S, Tolppanen AM, Koponen M, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Hartikainen S, Taipale H. Proton pump inhibitor use and risk of hip fractures among community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease-a nested case-control study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 47:1135-1142. [PMID: 29508411 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hip fractures are a major health concern among older persons with Alzheimer's disease, who usually use many concomitant drugs for several diseases. Evidence of the association between proton pump inhibitor use and risk of hip fracture is contradictory. AIM To investigate whether the long-term use of proton pump inhibitor is associated with risk of hip fractures among community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS In this nested case-control study, the nationwide MEDALZ data were utilised. Community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease who encountered incident hip fracture (N = 4818; mean age 84.1) were included as cases. Four controls were matched for each case at the date of hip fracture (N = 19 235; mean age 84.0). The association between hip fracture and duration of current PPI use (ongoing use during 0-30 days before the index date), and cumulative duration of use during 10 years before was investigated with conditional logistic regression. RESULTS Long-term or cumulative proton pump inhibitor use was not associated with an increased risk of hip fracture. Current proton pump inhibitor use was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22). The risk was increased in short-term current use (<1 year) (adjusted OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10-1.37). CONCLUSIONS The increased risk of hip fracture was evident only in short-term proton pump inhibitor use, but no association was found for long-term or cumulative use. Thus, our findings do not support previous assumptions that long-term proton pump inhibitor use would be associated with an increased risk of hip fractures.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Torvinen-Kiiskinen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A-M Tolppanen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Research Centre for Comparative Effectiveness and Patient Safety (RECEPS), University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - M Koponen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - A Tanskanen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - J Tiihonen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - S Hartikainen
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - H Taipale
- Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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35
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Tan ECK, Sluggett JK, Johnell K, Onder G, Elseviers M, Morin L, Vetrano DL, Wastesson JW, Fastbom J, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Bell JS. Research Priorities for Optimizing Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: An International Consensus. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2018; 19:193-199. [PMID: 29361432 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Medication management is becoming increasingly challenging for older people, and there is limited evidence to guide medication prescribing and administration for people with multimorbidity, frailty, or at the end of life. Currently, there is a lack of clear research priorities in the field of geriatric pharmacotherapy. To address this issue, international experts from 5 research groups in geriatric pharmacotherapy and pharmacoepidemiology research were invited to attend the inaugural Optimizing Geriatric Pharmacotherapy through Pharmacoepidemiology Network workshop. A modified nominal group technique was used to explore and consolidate the priorities for conducting research in this field. Eight research priorities were elucidated: quality of medication use; vulnerable patient groups; polypharmacy and multimorbidity; person-centered practice and research; deprescribing; methodological development; variability in medication use; and national and international comparative research. The research priorities are discussed in detail in this article with examples of current gaps and future actions presented. These priorities highlight areas for future research in geriatric pharmacotherapy to improve medication outcomes in older people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin C K Tan
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia; Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Janet K Sluggett
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia; NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Center, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristina Johnell
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Graziano Onder
- Department of Geriatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Monique Elseviers
- Center for Research and Innovation in Care (CRIC), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lucas Morin
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Davide L Vetrano
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Geriatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Jonas W Wastesson
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan Fastbom
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J Simon Bell
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia; NHMRC Cognitive Decline Partnership Center, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Hornsby, NSW, Australia; Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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