1
|
Hajek A, Becher H, Brenner H, Holleczek B, Katzke V, Kaaks R, Minnerup H, Karch A, Baurecht H, Leitzmann M, Peters A, Gastell S, Ahrens W, Haug U, Nimptsch K, Pischon T, Michels KB, Dorrn A, Klett-Tammen CJ, Castell S, Willich SN, Keil T, Schipf S, Meinke-Franze C, Harth V, Obi N, König HH. Personality and the use of cancer screenings - Results of the German National Cohort. Prev Med Rep 2024; 41:102677. [PMID: 38533391 PMCID: PMC10963220 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the association between personality characteristics and use of different cancer screenings. Methods We used data from the German National Cohort (NAKO; mean age was 53.0 years (SD: 9.2 years)) - a population-based cohort study. A total of 132,298 individuals were included in the analyses. As outcome measures, we used (self-reported): stool examination for blood (haemoccult test, early detection of bowel cancer), colonoscopy (screening for colorectal cancer), skin examination for moles (early detection of skin cancer), breast palpation by a doctor (early detection of breast cancer), x-ray examination of the breast ("mammography", early detection of breast cancer), cervical smear test, finger examination of the rectum (early detection of prostate cancer), and blood test for prostate cancer (determination of Prostate-Specific Antigen level). The established Big Five Inventory-SOEP was used to quantify personality factors. It was adjusted for several covariates based on the Andersen model. Unadjusted and adjusted multiple logistic regressions were computed. Results A higher probability of having a skin examination for moles, for example, was associated with a higher conscientiousness (OR: 1.07, p < 0.001), higher extraversion (OR: 1.03, p < 0.001), higher agreeableness (OR: 1.02, p < 0.001), lower openness to experience (OR: 0.98, p < 0.001) and higher neuroticism (OR: 1.07, p < 0.001) among the total sample. Depending on the outcome used, the associations slightly varied. Conclusions Particularly higher levels of extraversion, neuroticism and conscientiousness are associated with the use of different cancer screenings. Such knowledge may help to better understand non-participation in cancer screening examinations from a psychological perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Heiko Becher
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hermann Brenner
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bernd Holleczek
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Saarland Cancer Registry, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Verena Katzke
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rudolf Kaaks
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heike Minnerup
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - André Karch
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hansjörg Baurecht
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michael Leitzmann
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Sylvia Gastell
- German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ahrens
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katharina Nimptsch
- Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Pischon
- Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
- Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biobank Technology Platform, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universitaet Berlin, Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karin B. Michels
- Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Anja Dorrn
- Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Stefanie Castell
- Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Brunswick, Germany
| | - Stefan N. Willich
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Keil
- Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- State Institute of Health I, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sabine Schipf
- Institute for Community Medicine, Department SHIP/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Claudia Meinke-Franze
- Institute for Community Medicine, Department SHIP/Clinical-Epidemiological Research, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Volker Harth
- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadia Obi
- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Princk C, Kollhorst B, Haug U. Use of leflunomide among girls and women of childbearing age and occurrence of leflunomide-exposed pregnancies in Germany. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 125:108573. [PMID: 38460863 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Leflunomide is contraindicated during pregnancy and treatment cessation is recommended two years before pregnancy. We aimed to describe leflunomide use in women of childbearing age in Germany, the occurrence of pregnancies in women using leflunomide and malformations among children possibly exposed in utero. Using the GePaRD database (claims data, ∼20% of the German population), we determined annual age-standardized prevalences of leflunomide use between 2004 and 2019 among females aged 13-49 years. Further, we estimated the number of exposed pregnancies by assessing whether the exposure window assigned to the last dispensation before pregnancy (days covered by the dispensation plus two years) overlapped the onset of pregnancy or whether there was a dispensation in the first eight weeks of pregnancy. For exposed live births, a mother-baby linkage was performed and the presence of congenital malformation was assessed. The age-standardized prevalence of leflunomide use ranged between 0.34 and 0.46 per 1000 females during the study period. About one third of the users were ≤40 years. We identified 205 leflunomide-exposed pregnancies ending during the study period. 71% of these pregnancies ended in a live birth (26% preterm) and 10% in an induced abortion. In 86% of the live births (n=125) the mother-baby linkage was successful. Among these 125 children, 13 children (10%) had congenital malformations. In conclusion, we observed a considerable number of pregnancies in women using leflunomide in the two years before or during early pregnancy. This highlights the importance of monitoring the implementation of existing risk minimization measures for leflunomide in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Princk
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department for Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen 28359, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 2, Bremen 28359, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schwarz S, Schafer W, Horenkamp-Sonntag D, Liebentraut J, Haug U. Correction to: Follow-Up of 3 Million Persons Undergoing Colonoscopy in Germany: Utilization of Repeat Colonoscopies and Polypectomies Within 10 Years. Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2024; 15:e00677. [PMID: 38407275 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wiebke Schafer
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | | | | | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Scholle O, Rasmussen L, Reilev M, Viebrock J, Haug U. Comparative Analysis of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in Early Life: A Population-Based Study Across Birth Cohorts in Denmark and Germany. Infect Dis Ther 2024; 13:299-312. [PMID: 38261237 PMCID: PMC10904695 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-024-00916-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Comparing antibiotic prescribing between countries can provide important insights into potential needs of improving antibiotic stewardship programs. We aimed to compare outpatient antibiotic prescribing in early life between children born in Denmark and Germany. METHODS Using the Danish nationwide healthcare registries and a German claims database (GePaRD, ~ 20% population coverage), we included children born between 2004 and 2016, and followed them regarding outpatient antibiotic prescriptions until end of enrollment or the end of 2018. We then determined the median time to first antibiotic prescription. Based on all prescriptions in the first 2 years of life, we calculated the rate of antibiotic treatment episodes and for the children's first prescriptions in this period, we determined established quality indicators. All analyses were stratified by birth year and country. RESULTS In the 2016 birth cohorts, the median time to first antibiotic prescription was ~ 21 months in Denmark and ~ 28 in Germany; the rate of antibiotic treatment episodes per 1000 person-years was 537 in Denmark and 433 in Germany; the percentage of prescribed antibiotics with higher concerns regarding side effects and/or resistance potential was 6.2% in Denmark and 44.2% in Germany. In the 2016 birth cohorts, the age at first antibiotic prescription was 50-59% higher compared to the 2004 birth cohorts; the rate of antibiotic treatment episodes was 43-44% lower. CONCLUSIONS Infants in Denmark received antibiotics markedly earlier and more frequently than in Germany, while quality indicators of antibiotic prescribing were more favorable in Denmark. Although both countries experienced positive changes towards more rational antibiotic prescribing in early life, our findings suggest potential for further improvement. This particularly applies to prescribing antibiotics with a lower potential for side effects and/or resistance in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Scholle
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstrasse 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lotte Rasmussen
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mette Reilev
- Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jost Viebrock
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstrasse 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Reinold J, Kollhorst B, Wentzell N, Platzbecker K, Haug U. Use of isotretinoin among girls and women of childbearing age and occurrence of isotretinoin-exposed pregnancies in Germany: A population-based study. PLoS Med 2024; 21:e1004339. [PMID: 38271295 PMCID: PMC10810459 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to isotretinoin during pregnancy must be avoided due to its teratogenicity, but real-world data on its use are scarce. We aimed to describe (i) isotretinoin use in women of childbearing age in Germany; (ii) the occurrence of isotretinoin-exposed pregnancies; and (iii) malformations among children exposed in utero. METHODS AND FINDINGS Using observational data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD, claims data from approximately 20% of the German population), we conducted annual cross-sectional analyses to determine age-standardized prevalence of isotretinoin use between 2004 and 2019 among girls and women aged 13 to 49 years. In cohort analyses, we estimated the number of exposed pregnancies by assessing whether there was prescription supply overlapping the beginning of pregnancy (estimated supply was varied in sensitivity analyses) or a dispensation within the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. Data of live-born children classified as exposed in a critical period according to these criteria were reviewed to assess the presence of congenital malformations. The age-standardized prevalence of isotretinoin use per 1,000 girls and women increased from 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16, 1.24) in 2004 to 1.96 (95% CI: 1.92, 2.01) in 2019. In the base case analysis, we identified 178 pregnancies exposed to isotretinoin, with the number per year doubling during the study period, and at least 45% of exposed pregnancies ended in an induced abortion. In sensitivity analyses, the number of exposed pregnancies ranged between 172 and 375. Among live-born children, 6 had major congenital malformations. The main limitation of this study was the lack of information on the prescribed dose, i.e., the supply had to be estimated based on the dispensed amount of isotretinoin. CONCLUSIONS Isotretinoin use among girls and women of childbearing age increased in Germany between 2004 and 2019, and there was a considerable number of pregnancies likely exposed to isotretinoin in a critical period. This highlights the importance of monitoring compliance with the existing risk minimization measures for isotretinoin in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Reinold
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katharina Platzbecker
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Didelez V, Haug U, Garcia-Albeniz X. Re: Are Target Trial Emulations the Gold Standard for Observational Studies? Epidemiology 2024; 35:e3. [PMID: 37643412 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Didelez
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Riedel O, Viebrock J, Haug U. Overall survival in 92,991 colorectal cancer patients in Germany: differences according to type of comorbidity. Acta Oncol 2023; 62:1931-1938. [PMID: 37975622 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2023.2282120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poorer survival in cancer patients with vs. without comorbidity has been reported for various cancer sites. For patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), limited data are available so far. METHODS Patients with CRC diagnosed between 2010 and 2018 were identified in a health claims database covering 20% of the German population. We assessed the prevalence of comorbidities at cancer diagnosis and categorized the patients into the groups: 'none', 'somatic only', 'mental only' or 'both' types of comorbidities. Hazard ratios (HR, with 95% confidence intervals) for five-year overall survival were estimated by Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for age, sex and stage at diagnosis (advanced vs. non-advanced). RESULTS We included 92,991 patients (females: 49.1%, median age: 72 years) with a median follow-up of 30 months. The proportions assigned to the groups 'none', 'somatic only', 'mental only' or 'both' were 24.7%, 65.5%, 1.4% and 8.4%. Overall, 32.8% of the patients died during follow-up. Compared to patients without comorbidities ('none'), the adjusted HR regarding death from any cause was 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07-1.14) in the group 'somatic only', 1.74 (95% CI: 1.58-1.92) in the group 'mental only' and 1.92 (95% CI: 1.84-2.00) in the group 'both'. For patients with 'mental only' comorbidities, the adjusted HR was higher in males than in females (HR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.88-2.55 vs. HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.37-1.75). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that patients with CRC and with mental comorbidities, particularly males, have a markedly lower overall survival compared to those without any or only somatic comorbidities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Riedel
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jost Viebrock
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rach S, Kühne L, Zeeb H, Ahrens W, Haug U, Pohlabeln H. Mild COVID-19 infection associated with post-COVID-19 condition after 3 months - a questionnaire survey. Ann Med 2023; 55:2226907. [PMID: 37337723 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2226907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2, can lead to post-COVID-19 condition, a secondary syndrome of persistent and new post-acute symptoms, but evidence on this syndrome is still scarce. METHODS In a questionnaire survey, residents of the city of Bremen (Germany) with verified SARS-CoV-2 infection were invited to answer questions (online questionnaire or interview) concerning symptoms experienced at the time of infection and at the time of questionnaire completion at least three months later. Main outcome of the analysis was the presence of a post-COVID-19 condition at the time of the interview, defined as the presence of at least two of three leading symptoms: fatigue, breathing difficulties, or cognitive problems. RESULTS A post-COVID-19 condition was more likely to be reported if respondents had, at the time of infection, suffered from fatigue (OR 1.75; 95% CI: 1.00, 3.06), breathing difficulties (OR 4.02; 95% CI: 2.80, 5.77), cognitive symptoms (OR 2.98; 95% CI: 1.48, 6.02), or head- & bone aches (OR 2.06; 95% CI: 1.25, 3.42). The odds of developing a post-COVID-19 condition increased with the number of symptoms at infection. Females were more likely to report a post-COVID-19 condition (OR 1.54; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.24). Analyzing only non-hospitalized respondents changed results only slightly. CONCLUSION Our study adds to growing evidence that even a mild course of COVID-19 poses a risk for developing a post-COVID-19 condition. Females and those with initial symptoms including fatigue, breathing difficulties, and cognitive symptoms seem more likely to also experience post COVID-19 symptoms several months after infection.KEY MESSAGESEven a mild course of COVID-19 poses a risk for developing a post-COVID-19 condition.Females seem more likely to develop a post-COVID-19 condition.Those with initial symptoms including fatigue, breathing difficulties, and cognitive symptoms seem more likely to develop a post-COVID-19 condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Rach
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lisa Kühne
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ahrens
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hermann Pohlabeln
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Reinold J, Kollhorst B, Temme HL, Wentzell N, Haug U. Use of Acitretin Among Girls and Women of Childbearing Age and Occurrence of Acitretin-Exposed Pregnancies in Germany. Clin Drug Investig 2023; 43:865-872. [PMID: 37906397 PMCID: PMC10632260 DOI: 10.1007/s40261-023-01314-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Acitretin has long-lasting teratogenic properties. Therefore, pregnancies must be avoided during and within 3 years after acitretin treatment. We aimed to describe (i) acitretin use in women of childbearing age in Germany, (ii) the occurrence of acitretin-exposed pregnancies, and (iii) malformations among children exposed in utero. METHODS Using 2004-2019 data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD-claims data from ~ 20% of the German population), we determined annual age-standardized prevalence of acitretin use among girls and women aged 13-49 years. In longitudinal analyses, we estimated the number of exposed pregnancies by assessing whether the exposure window assigned to the last dispensation before pregnancy (days covered by dispensation plus 3 years) overlapped the onset of pregnancy or whether there was a dispensation in the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Data of live-born children with in utero exposure to acitretin were reviewed to assess the presence of congenital malformations. RESULTS The age-standardized prevalence of acitretin use per 1000 girls and women was 0.04 in 2019. We identified 35 acitretin-exposed pregnancies; 94.3% of these pregnancies were classified as exposed because they occurred within 3 years after stopping acitretin treatment. Among 18 live-born children linked to their mother, four children (22.2%) had congenital malformations (three children with a major malformation). CONCLUSIONS We observed 35 acitretin-exposed pregnancies mainly because treatment ended too late before pregnancy. Approximately one in five children born from these pregnancies had malformations, highlighting the importance of drawing more attention to the long-lasting teratogenicity of this drug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Reinold
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hellen L Temme
- Health Communication, Department of Implementation Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine-BNITM, Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, University of Erfurt-IPB, Nordhäuser Straße 63, 99089, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 2, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bresalier RS, Senore C, Young GP, Allison J, Benamouzig R, Benton S, Bossuyt PMM, Caro L, Carvalho B, Chiu HM, Coupé VMH, de Klaver W, de Klerk CM, Dekker E, Dolwani S, Fraser CG, Grady W, Guittet L, Gupta S, Halloran SP, Haug U, Hoff G, Itzkowitz S, Kortlever T, Koulaouzidis A, Ladabaum U, Lauby-Secretan B, Leja M, Levin B, Levin TR, Macrae F, Meijer GA, Melson J, O'Morain C, Parry S, Rabeneck L, Ransohoff DF, Sáenz R, Saito H, Sanduleanu-Dascalescu S, Schoen RE, Selby K, Singh H, Steele RJC, Sung JJY, Symonds EL, Winawer SJ. An efficient strategy for evaluating new non-invasive screening tests for colorectal cancer: the guiding principles. Gut 2023; 72:1904-1918. [PMID: 37463757 PMCID: PMC10511996 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE New screening tests for colorectal cancer (CRC) are rapidly emerging. Conducting trials with mortality reduction as the end point supporting their adoption is challenging. We re-examined the principles underlying evaluation of new non-invasive tests in view of technological developments and identification of new biomarkers. DESIGN A formal consensus approach involving a multidisciplinary expert panel revised eight previously established principles. RESULTS Twelve newly stated principles emerged. Effectiveness of a new test can be evaluated by comparison with a proven comparator non-invasive test. The faecal immunochemical test is now considered the appropriate comparator, while colonoscopy remains the diagnostic standard. For a new test to be able to meet differing screening goals and regulatory requirements, flexibility to adjust its positivity threshold is desirable. A rigorous and efficient four-phased approach is proposed, commencing with small studies assessing the test's ability to discriminate between CRC and non-cancer states (phase I), followed by prospective estimation of accuracy across the continuum of neoplastic lesions in neoplasia-enriched populations (phase II). If these show promise, a provisional test positivity threshold is set before evaluation in typical screening populations. Phase III prospective studies determine single round intention-to-screen programme outcomes and confirm the test positivity threshold. Phase IV studies involve evaluation over repeated screening rounds with monitoring for missed lesions. Phases III and IV findings will provide the real-world data required to model test impact on CRC mortality and incidence. CONCLUSION New non-invasive tests can be efficiently evaluated by a rigorous phased comparative approach, generating data from unbiased populations that inform predictions of their health impact.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert S Bresalier
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carlo Senore
- Epidemiology and screening unit, Centro di Riferimento per l'Epidemiologia e la Prevenzione Oncologica in Piemonte, Turin, Italy
| | - Graeme P Young
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - James Allison
- Internal Medicine/Division of Gastroenterology, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Robert Benamouzig
- Gastroenterology & Digestive Oncology Department, Hôpital Avicenne University Paris Nord La Sorbonne, Bobigny, France
| | - Sally Benton
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and NHS Bowel Cancer Screening South of England Hub, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, Surrey, UK
| | - Patrick M M Bossuyt
- Department of Epidemiology & Data Science, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Luis Caro
- Carrera de especialista de Endoscopia Digestiva, Institución GEDYT (Gastroenterologia diagnostico y terapéutica), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Carvalho
- Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Han-Mo Chiu
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Veerle M H Coupé
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Willemijn de Klaver
- Department of Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Clasine Maria de Klerk
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology C2-310, Amsterdam UMC University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Evelien Dekker
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology C2-115, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Duivendrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sunil Dolwani
- Dept of Gastroenterology, Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK
| | - Callum G Fraser
- Centre for Research into Cancer Prevention and Screening, University of Dundee School of Medicine, Dundee, UK
| | - William Grady
- Division of Translational Science and Therapeutics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lydia Guittet
- ERI3 Cancers & Populations, Normandie University, UNICAEN, Caen, France
| | - Samir Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Ulrike Haug
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Geir Hoff
- Department of Research, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway
- Department of CRC screening, Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steven Itzkowitz
- Division of Gastroenterology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tim Kortlever
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Duivendrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Uri Ladabaum
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Beatrice Lauby-Secretan
- Section of Evidence Synthesis and Classification, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Mārcis Leja
- Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Bernard Levin
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Finlay Macrae
- Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gerrit A Meijer
- Pathology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua Melson
- High-Risk Clinic for Gastrointestinal Cancers, University of Arizona Cancer Center Division of Gastroenterology, Banner University, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Colm O'Morain
- Gastroenterology, Trinity College Dublin Faculty of Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Susan Parry
- National Bowel Screening Programme, National Screening Unit, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Medicine, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Linda Rabeneck
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David F Ransohoff
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Roque Sáenz
- Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Hiroshi Saito
- Department of Gastroenterology, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, Aomori, Japan
| | | | - Robert E Schoen
- Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin Selby
- Department of ambulatory Care, Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Harminder Singh
- Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Joseph J Y Sung
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Erin Leigh Symonds
- Department of Gastroenterology, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sidney J Winawer
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Heinze F, Czwikla J, Heinig M, Langner I, Haug U. German mammography screening program: program sensitivity between 2010 and 2016 estimated based on German health claims data. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:852. [PMID: 37697304 PMCID: PMC10496211 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11378-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Program sensitivity is a key quality indicator for mammography screening programs (MSP). Estimating program sensitivity usually requires a linkage of screening and cancer registry data. For the German MSP, such data linkage-based estimates have only been reported for two out of 16 federal states. We aimed to explore the potential of estimating program sensitivity for the German MSP based on information available in health claims data. METHODS We used data from the second-largest statutory health insurance fund in Germany, BARMER (~ 9 million members all over Germany). We included women aged 50 to 69 years with a non-initial screening mammography between 2010 and 2016 and followed them up for two years. We estimated the rate of screen-detected and interval cancers as well as program sensitivity. RESULTS Per year, we included 212,400 to 303,667 women (mean age: 60-61 years). Overall, 1,992,287 non-initial MSP screening examinations conducted in these women between 2010 and 2016 were considered for the analyses. Age-standardized program sensitivity ranged between 69.9% [95% CI: 67.3-72.0%] and 71.7% [95% CI: 69.5-73.9%] during the study period. Per 1,000 non-initial screening examinations, the rate of screen-detected breast cancer ranged between 4.6 and 5.3, and the rate of interval breast cancer rates ranged between 0.6 and 0.8 for the first and between 1.3 and 1.4 for the second year after screening. CONCLUSIONS Our results were plausible and consistent with quality indicators estimated for the German MSP based on data linkage and thus support the value of German health claims data in this regard. The quality indicators estimated in our study are in line with levels expected according to European Guidelines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Heinze
- Department of Health, Long-Term Care and Pensions, SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, Mary-Somerville-Straße 5, Bremen, 28359, Germany.
- High-Profile Area of Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany.
| | - Jonas Czwikla
- Department of Health, Long-Term Care and Pensions, SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, Mary-Somerville-Straße 5, Bremen, 28359, Germany
- High-Profile Area of Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Ingo Langner
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
- High-Profile Area of Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Heinig M, Schäfer W, Langner I, Zeeb H, Haug U. German mammography screening program: adherence, characteristics of (non-)participants and utilization of non-screening mammography-a longitudinal analysis. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1678. [PMID: 37653487 PMCID: PMC10469853 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16589-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Germany, all women aged 50-69 have been invited to biennial mammography screening since 2009. We aimed to assess longitudinal adherence over ten years in women aged 50 in 2009 and characterize the different adherence groups. METHODS Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD, ~ 20% of the German population), we included women aged 50 in 2009 (baseline) with continuous health insurance coverage and without breast cancer or in-situ-carcinoma. We followed them until age 59 and categorized them according to mammography screening participation into the following groups: never, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 times. We characterized these groups, inter alia, regarding the use of other preventive measures, non-screening mammography (i.e., mammography outside the organized screening program) and menopausal hormone therapy. RESULTS Overall, 82,666 women were included. Of these, 27.6% never participated in the screening program, 15.1% participated 1-2 times, 31.7% participated 3-4 times and 25.6% participated regularly (5-6 times). Among regular participants, 91% utilized other preventive measures (e.g., cervical cancer screening, general health checkup) before baseline as compared to 66% among non-participants. Menopausal hormone therapy was least common among non-participants (11% vs. 18% among regular participants). Among non-participants, the proportions using ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3 non-screening mammographies between age 50-59 were 25%, 18%, and 15%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Using a large cohort based on claims data, this study provides novel insights into longitudinal adherence to the mammography screening program and the use of mammography outside of the program in Germany. Between age 50-59, 57% of eligible women participated at least three times in the German mammography screening program and 28% (~ 3 in 10 women) never participated. Among non-participants, 15% had at least three non-screening mammographies during this period, indicating potential gray screening. Participants more often utilized other preventive measures as compared to non-participants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Wiebke Schäfer
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ingo Langner
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Amann U, Nadine Wentzell, Kollhorst B, Haug U. Prescribing of endothelin receptor antagonists and riociguat in women of childbearing age in a large German claims database study. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 119:108415. [PMID: 37245698 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Use of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) and riociguat, approved for treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH), is contraindicated during pregnancy due to reported teratogenicity in animals. We aimed to investigate prescribing of these drugs in girls/women of childbearing age and to explore - as a secondary aim - the occurrence of pregnancies exposed to these drugs. Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD, claims data from 20% of the German population) we conducted cross-sectional analyses to determine prescribing prevalence of ERAs and riociguat between 2004 and 2019 and to characterize users and prescribing patterns. In a cohort analysis, we assessed the occurrence of pregnancies exposed to these drugs in the critical time window. Overall, we identified 407 women with ≥ 1 dispensation of bosentan between 2004 and 2019; the respective number was 73 for ambrisentan, 182 for macitentan, 31 for sitaxentan, and 63 for riociguat. In nearly all years, more than 50% of the girls/women were ≤ 40 years. Age-standardized prevalence was highest for bosentan (0.04/1000) in 2012 and 2013, followed by macitentan (0.03/1000) in 2018 and 2019. We observed 10 exposed pregnancies: 5 to bosentan, 3 to ambrisentan, and 2 to macitentan. The increased prevalence of macitentan and riociguat from 2014 onwards might reflect changes in PH treatment. Even though PH is a rare disease and pregnancy should be avoided in women with PH, particularly if they use ERAs, we identified pregnancies exposed to ERAs. Multi-database studies will be needed to assess the risk of these drugs on the unborn child.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ute Amann
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Voss A, Kollhorst B, Platzbecker K, Amann U, Haug U. Risk Profiles of New Users of Oral Anticoagulants Between 2011 and 2019 in Germany. Clin Epidemiol 2023; 15:827-837. [PMID: 37483262 PMCID: PMC10362862 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s405585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Over the last decade, the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has strongly increased. We aimed to describe and compare risk profiles including potential changes over time among persons with non-valvular atrial fibrillation initiating treatment with different DOACs or phenprocoumon (vitamin K antagonist) between 2011 and 2019 in Germany. Patients and Methods Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD; claims data of ~20% of the German population), we identified persons with a first dispensing of phenprocoumon or a DOAC and a diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation between August 2011 and December 2019. We described the morbidity of included patients prior to treatment initiation, stratified by year of treatment initiation. Results Overall, we included 448,028 new users (phenprocoumon: N = 118,117, rivaroxaban: N = 130,997, apixaban: N = 130,300, edoxaban: N = 38,128, dabigatran: N = 30,486). Comparing new DOAC users in 2019, the proportion with prior ischemic stroke was highest for dabigatran (17%) and lowest for rivaroxaban (8%). The proportion with prior major bleeding was also highest for dabigatran (25%) and lowest for edoxaban (20%). New users of apixaban were oldest and, eg, showed the highest prevalence of congestive heart failure. Changes over time were most pronounced for phenprocoumon. For example, among persons initiating phenprocoumon in 2012 vs 2019, the proportion with prior major bleeding increased from 18% to 35%; the proportion with renal disease increased from 20% to 36% and the proportion with liver disease from 18% to 24%. Conclusion This study demonstrated differences in risk profiles between new users of different oral anticoagulants and substantial changes over time among new phenprocoumon users. These differences have to be considered in head-to-head comparisons of these drugs based on observational data, especially regarding potential unmeasured confounding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Voss
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katharina Platzbecker
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ute Amann
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Schwarz S, Hornschuch M, Pox C, Haug U. Polyp detection rate and cumulative incidence of post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer in Germany. Int J Cancer 2023; 152:1547-1555. [PMID: 36444495 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Studies have shown that the quality of colonoscopy influences the incidence of post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC). However, data from Germany on this association are lacking. We aimed to assess cumulative incidence of PCCRC in persons undergoing colonoscopy in Germany according to the physician's polyp detection rate (PDR). Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD) with claims data of ~20% of the German population, we included persons with a baseline colonoscopy between 2008 and 2017 and categorized them according to the procedure at baseline (snare polypectomy, forceps polypectomy, no polypectomy). In each subgroup, we distinguished between persons examined by physicians with a PDR in the lowest quartile vs higher quartiles and described cumulative CRC incidence during follow-up. Overall, 822 715 persons examined by 1752 physicians were included. One quarter of the physicians had a PDR ≤21.8% (lowest quartile). In all subgroups, the 5-year cumulative CRC incidence was statistically significantly higher in persons examined by physicians with a PDR ≤21.8% vs >21.8%: It was 69% higher in persons with snare polypectomy (0.88% vs 0.52%), 87% higher in persons with forceps polypectomy (0.58% vs 0.31%), and 48% higher in persons without polypectomy at baseline (0.31% vs 0.21%). In conclusion, we found a substantially increased PCCRC risk in persons examined by physicians with a low PDR in Germany, irrespective of the baseline findings. Our study highlights the importance of a high-quality colonoscopy to maximize the preventive effect of colonoscopy on CRC incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michel Hornschuch
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christian Pox
- Department of Medicine, St. Joseph-Stift Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schink T, Braitmaier M, Haug U. Authors' reply. BJOG 2023; 130:846-847. [PMID: 36951090 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - M Braitmaier
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - U Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Haug U. Oral anticoagulants and fecal immunochemical tests for hemoglobin: do they go together? Endoscopy 2023; 55:456-457. [PMID: 36827989 DOI: 10.1055/a-2025-0963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Voss A, Smits E, Swart KMA, Balabanova Y, Brobert G, Suzart-Woischnik K, Herings RMC, Schink T, Haug U. Time Trends in Patient Characteristics of New Rivaroxaban Users with Atrial Fibrillation in Germany and the Netherlands. Drugs Real World Outcomes 2023:10.1007/s40801-022-00350-2. [PMID: 36725812 DOI: 10.1007/s40801-022-00350-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Use of the direct oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban has strongly increased in Europe since its market approval for non-valvular atrial fibrillation in 2011. Patients characteristics of rivaroxaban initiators may have changed over time but this has not been investigated so far. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe time trends of patient baseline characteristics among new rivaroxaban users with non-valvular atrial fibrillation from 2011 to 2016/17 in two European countries. METHODS We used data from Germany (German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database) and the Netherlands (PHARMO Database Network). We included new rivaroxaban users with (i) a first dispensing between 2011 and 2016/17, (ii) ≥ 2 years of age, and (iii) a diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation and described their baseline medication and comorbidity prior to starting rivaroxaban stratified by year of inclusion. RESULTS Overall, 130,652 new rivaroxaban users were included during the study period (Germany: N = 127,743, the Netherlands: N = 2909). The sex ratio and median age remained relatively stable over time. The proportion of patients without prior use of oral anticoagulants before initiation of rivaroxaban increased in both countries between 2011 and 2016/17 (Germany: from 51 to 76%, the Netherlands: from 57 to 85%). In Germany, we observed a relative decrease by 27% in the proportion of new rivaroxaban users with a history of ischemic stroke and by 18% in the proportion with a transient ischemic attack at baseline. No such a pattern was observed in the Netherlands. The proportion of patients with heart failure at baseline showed a three-fold increase in the Netherlands, while there was a relative decrease by 12% in Germany. CONCLUSIONS Patient characteristics of new rivaroxaban users with non-valvular atrial fibrillation changed between 2011 and 2016/17, but changes differed between countries. These patterns have methodological implications. They have to be considered in the interpretation of observational studies comparing effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants, especially regarding potential bias due to unmeasured confounding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annemarie Voss
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Smits
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Karin M A Swart
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Ron M C Herings
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany. .,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Haug U, Kollhorst B, Schink T, Thöne K, Dathe K, Schaefer C, Onken M. Investigating drug safety in pregnancy based on the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD): A proof-of-concept analysis on the association between valproate and spina bifida. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2023; 32:148-157. [PMID: 36401747 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Large health-care databases are increasingly used for research on drug utilization and safety in pregnancy. For the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD), covering ~20% of the German population, algorithms have been developed to identify pregnancies, to estimate their date of onset and to link mothers to their babies. Using this methodology, we aimed to conduct a proof-of-concept analysis on the known association between valproate (VPA) exposure in early pregnancy and spina bifida in the exposed child. METHODS We identified all pregnancies in GePaRD between 2006 and 2016 in women aged 12 to 50 years. To each VPA dispensation of these women, an exposure period was assigned, based on the dispensation date and the number of defined daily doses in the dispensed package. A pregnancy was classified as exposed to VPA in the critical time window if this exposure period overlapped with the first 55 days of pregnancy. Risk ratios were calculated for spina bifida in live births and induced abortions comparing VPA-exposed ones to all pregnancies. RESULTS Overall, we identified 1 271 384 pregnancies fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Of these, 668 pregnancies (0.053%) were classified as exposed to VPA in the critical time window regarding spina bifida. An induced abortion accompanied by a diagnosis of spina bifida was observed in one of the VPA-exposed pregnancies (0.15%) and in 154 of all pregnancies (0.012%), yielding a risk ratio of 12.4 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-88.2). Out of 775 875 pregnancies ending in a live birth, 366 (0.047%) were classified as VPA exposed. A diagnosis of spina bifida was coded in 3 of 366 VPA-exposed live births (0.82%) and in 260 of all live births (0.03%), yielding a relative risk of 24.5 (95% CI: 7.9-76.0). CONCLUSIONS Our proof-of-concept analysis based on GePaRD showed a strong association between intrauterine exposure to VPA and occurrence of spina bifida. The results are plausible and consistent with the literature, supporting the suitability of GePaRD and the developed algorithms to conduct studies on drug safety in pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Katarina Dathe
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christof Schaefer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlies Onken
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Reilev M, Jensen PB, Ranch LS, Egeberg A, Furu K, Gembert K, Hagg D, Haug U, Karlstad Ø, Reutfors J, Schäfer W, Schwartz S, Smits E, Holthius E, Herings R, Trifirò G, Kirchmayer U, Rosa AC, Belleudi V, Gini R, Støvring H, Hallas J. Methodology of the brodalumab assessment of hazards: a multicentre observational safety (BRAHMS) study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066057. [PMID: 36725094 PMCID: PMC9896233 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Safe and effective pharmacological treatment is of paramount importance for treating severe psoriasis. Brodalumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin (IL) 17 receptor A, was granted marketing authorisation in the EU in 2017. The European Medicines Agency requested a postauthorisation safety study of brodalumab to address potential safety issues raised during drug development regarding major adverse cardiovascular events, suicidal conduct, cancer and serious infections. METHODS AND ANALYSIS BRodalumab Assessment of Hazards: A Multinational Safety is a multicentre observational safety study of brodalumab running from 2017 to 2029 using population-based healthcare databases from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Germany and three different centres in Italy. A distributed database network approach is used, such that only aggregate data are exchanged between sites.Two types of designs are used: a case-time-control design to study acute effects of transient treatment and a variation of the new user active comparator design to study the effects of transient or chronic treatment. As comparators, inhibitors of TNF-α, inhibitors of IL-12 and IL-23, and other inhibitors of cytokine IL-17A are included.In the self-controlled case-time-control design, the risk of developing the outcome of interest during periods of brodalumab use is compared within individuals to the risk in periods without use.In the active comparator cohort design, new users of brodalumab are identified and matched to new users of active comparators. Potential baseline confounders are adjusted for by using propensity score modelling. For outcomes that potentially require large cumulative exposure, an adapted active comparator design has been developed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study is approved by relevant authorities in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy in line with the relevant legislation at each site. Data confidentiality is secured by the distributed network approach. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER EUPAS30280.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mette Reilev
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Peter Bjødstrup Jensen
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lise Skov Ranch
- Biostatistics and Pharmacoepidemiology, LEO Pharma A/S, Ballerup, Denmark
| | - Alexander Egeberg
- Department of dermatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kari Furu
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Helath, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karin Gembert
- Department of Medicine Solna, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Hagg
- Department of Medicine Solna, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Science, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Øystein Karlstad
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Helath, Oslo, Norway
| | - Johan Reutfors
- Department of Medicine Solna, Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Wiebke Schäfer
- Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sarina Schwartz
- Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz-Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Smits
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Emily Holthius
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ron Herings
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gianluca Trifirò
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ursula Kirchmayer
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valeria Belleudi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Gini
- Epidemiology Unit, Agenzia regionale di sanità della Toscana, Florence, Italy
| | - Henrik Støvring
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jesper Hallas
- Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Willame C, Dodd C, Durán CE, Elbers RJHJ, Gini R, Bartolini C, Paoletti O, Wang L, Ehrenstein V, Kahlert J, Haug U, Schink T, Diez-Domingo J, Mira-Iglesias A, Carreras JJ, Vergara-Hernández C, Giaquinto C, Barbieri E, Stona L, Huerta C, Martín-Pérez M, García-Poza P, de Burgos A, Martínez-González M, Bryant V, Villalobos F, Pallejà-Millán M, Aragón M, Carreras JJ, Souverein P, Thurin NH, Weibel D, Klungel OH, Sturkenboom MCJM. Background rates of 41 adverse events of special interest for COVID-19 vaccines in 10 European healthcare databases - an ACCESS cohort study. Vaccine 2023; 41:251-262. [PMID: 36446653 PMCID: PMC9678835 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In May 2020, the ACCESS (The vACCine covid-19 monitoring readinESS) project was launched to prepare real-world monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines. Within this project, this study aimed to generate background incidence rates of 41 adverse events of special interest (AESI) to contextualize potential safety signals detected following administration of COVID-19 vaccines. METHODS A dynamic cohort study was conducted using a distributed data network of 10 healthcare databases from 7 European countries (Italy, Spain, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, France and United Kingdom) over the period 2017 to 2020. A common protocol (EUPAS37273), common data model, and common analytics programs were applied for syntactic, semantic and analytical harmonization. Incidence rates (IR) for each AESI and each database were calculated by age and sex by dividing the number of incident cases by the total person-time at risk. Age-standardized rates were pooled using random effect models according to the provenance of the events. FINDINGS A total number of 63,456,074 individuals were included in the study, contributing to 211.7 million person-years. A clear age pattern was observed for most AESIs, rates also varied by provenance of disease diagnosis (primary care, specialist care). Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia rates were extremely low ranging from 0.06 to 4.53/100,000 person-years for cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) with thrombocytopenia (TP) and mixed venous and arterial thrombosis with TP, respectively. INTERPRETATION Given the nature of the AESIs and the setting (general practitioners or hospital-based databases or both), background rates from databases that show the highest level of completeness (primary care and specialist care) should be preferred, others can be used for sensitivity. The study was designed to ensure representativeness to the European population and generalizability of the background incidence rates. FUNDING The project has received support from the European Medicines Agency under the Framework service contract nr EMA/2018/28/PE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Willame
- Department of Datascience & Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, the Netherlands
| | - C Dodd
- Department of Datascience & Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, the Netherlands
| | - CE Durán
- Department of Datascience & Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, the Netherlands
| | - RJHJ Elbers
- Department of Data science & Biostatistic, Data manegement, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, the Netherlands
| | - R Gini
- Agenzia regionale di sanità della Toscana, via Pietro Dazzi 1, 55100 Florence, Italy
| | - C Bartolini
- Agenzia regionale di sanità della Toscana, via Pietro Dazzi 1, 55100 Florence, Italy
| | - O Paoletti
- Agenzia regionale di sanità della Toscana, via Pietro Dazzi 1, 55100 Florence, Italy
| | - L Wang
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - V Ehrenstein
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - J Kahlert
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - U Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany
| | - T Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - J Diez-Domingo
- Vaccine Research Department, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO – Public Health), Avenida Cataluña, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - A Mira-Iglesias
- Vaccine Research Department, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO – Public Health), Avenida Cataluña, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - JJ Carreras
- Vaccine Research Department, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO – Public Health), Avenida Cataluña, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - C Vergara-Hernández
- Vaccine Research Department, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO – Public Health), Avenida Cataluña, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - C Giaquinto
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - E Barbieri
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - L Stona
- Fondazione Penta ONLUS, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - C Huerta
- Department of Public Health and Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Martín-Pérez
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance Division, Medicines for Human Use Department, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), Calle Campezo 1, 28022 Madrid, Spain
| | - P García-Poza
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance Division, Medicines for Human Use Department, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), Calle Campezo 1, 28022 Madrid, Spain
| | - A de Burgos
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance Division, Medicines for Human Use Department, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), Calle Campezo 1, 28022 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Martínez-González
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance Division, Medicines for Human Use Department, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), Calle Campezo 1, 28022 Madrid, Spain
| | - V Bryant
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance Division, Medicines for Human Use Department, Spanish Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), Calle Campezo 1, 28022 Madrid, Spain
| | - F Villalobos
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Tarragona-Reus, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 43202 Reus, Spain
| | - M Pallejà-Millán
- Unitat de Suport a la Recerca Tarragona-Reus, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 43202 Reus, Spain
| | - M Aragón
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - JJ Carreras
- Vaccine Research Department, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO – Public Health), Avenida Cataluña, 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - P Souverein
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, PO BOX 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - NH Thurin
- INSERM CIC-P1401, Bordeaux PharmacoEpi, Univ. Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France
| | - D Weibel
- Department of Datascience & Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, the Netherlands
| | - OH Klungel
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, PO BOX 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - MCJM Sturkenboom
- Department of Datascience & Biostatistics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, the Netherlands,Corresponding author at: Department Datascience & Biostatistics Univerisity Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hornschuch M, Schwarz S, Haug U. 10-year prevalence of diagnostic and screening colonoscopy use in Germany: a claims data analysis. Eur J Cancer Prev 2022; 31:497-504. [PMID: 34983895 PMCID: PMC9928559 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies providing detailed information on colonoscopy use are important for the interpretation of patterns and trends in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, but there is a lack of such studies from Germany. To fill this gap, we aimed to describe the 10-year prevalence of colonoscopy use based on German health claims data. METHODS Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (short GePaRD; claims data from ~20% of the German population), we determined the 10-year prevalence of colonoscopy use for the year 2017. We determined this prevalence for any colonoscopy, screening (reimbursable from age 55) and diagnostic colonoscopy, stratified by sex, age, educational level and regional factors (e.g. federal state, physicians density in the district of residence). RESULTS In men, the 10-year prevalence of colonoscopy use was as follows (not all age groups reported): 30-34 years: 8%, 40-44 years: 12%, 50-54 years: 21%, 55-59 years: 33% (screening: 10%), 60-64 years: 44% (screening: 23%), 70-74 years: 53% (screening: 23%), 80-84 years: 52% (screening: 15%). In women, the prevalences were similar, with differences mostly less than or equal to 3 percentage points. Also, in analyses stratified by educational level or regional factors, prevalences were mostly similar or varied by less than or equal to 4 percentage points. CONCLUSION In 2017, about 45-50% of men and women in Germany aged 60-84 years had any colonoscopy in the previous 10 years, and about 11-26% had a screening colonoscopy. Our findings suggest no relevant social or regional disparities in the utilization of colonoscopy in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michel Hornschuch
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen
| | - Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Thiyagarajan A, Platzbecker K, Ittermann T, Völzke H, Haug U. Estimating Incidence and Case Fatality of Thyroid Storm in Germany Between 2007 and 2017: A Claims Data Analysis. Thyroid 2022; 32:1307-1315. [PMID: 36006371 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2022.0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Given the paucity of epidemiological studies on thyroid storm, we aimed to estimate the incidence rate and case fatality of thyroid storm in Germany based on a large claims database. Methods: Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD) we identified patients with at least one inpatient discharge diagnosis of thyroid storm (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision, German modification; ICD-10-GM E05.5) between 2007 and 2017 and calculated age-standardized and age-specific incidence rates in males and females (no age restriction). We defined deaths occurring within 30 days of the diagnosis as thyroid storm-associated and determined case fatality by sex and age group. Point estimates were reported with confidence intervals [CIs]. Results: We identified 1690 patients with an incident diagnosis of thyroid storm. Of these, 72% were females (n = 1212). The mean age was 60 years (standard deviation: 18.6 years). The age-standardized incidence rate per 100,000 persons per year was 1.4 [CI 1.2-1.7] in females and 0.7 [CI 0.5-0.9] in males. In females ≤60 and >60 years of age, the incidence rate was 0.9 [CI 0.9-1.0] (males: 0.4 [CI 0.3-0.4]) and 2.7 [CI 2.5-2.9] (males: 1.7 [CI 1.5-1.9]), respectively. The case fatality of thyroid storm was 1.4% [CI 0.6-2.8] in females ≤60 years and 10.9% [CI 8.6-13.7] in females >60 years. In males, the case fatality was 1.0% [CI 0.2-4.0] in those aged ≤60 years and 16.7% [CI 12.6-21.7] in those >60 years. Conclusions: Incidence rates of thyroid storm were markedly higher in females than in males and were three times higher in persons >60 years compared with younger age groups. The case fatality was below 2% in persons aged ≤60 years and markedly higher in older persons (males: 17 times and females: 8 times).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arulmani Thiyagarajan
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katharina Platzbecker
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Till Ittermann
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dengler R, Straub N, Bredow L, Becker J, Hornschuch M, Riedel O, Haug U, Waldeyer K, Hermes-Moll K, Osburg S, Martin J, Walawgo T, Heidt V, Froschauer S. [Outpatient medical specialist care (ASV): A multiperspective study on status quo, challenges and perspectives]. Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes 2022; 174:70-81. [PMID: 36097002 DOI: 10.1016/j.zefq.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2012, the so-called ambulatory medical specialist care (ASV) was implemented in accordance with para. 116b of Book V of the German Social Code (SGB V), enabling physicians in outpatient practices and hospitals to treat patients with rare diseases or complex courses of disease in a uniform framework. The implementation, however, is slow. The Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) has therefore commissioned an evaluation of the ASV with the aim to examine the reasons for this and to provide recommendations for further development. METHODS The health services research study "GOAL-ASV" (Innovation Fund, 01VSF19002) included a multi-perspective design with primary data collection as well as secondary data analyses. Data from the ASV service center and the central association of statutory health insurances and the notification forms of the extended state committees were analyzed. Data from the Robert Koch-Institute, the Federal Joint Committee, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds and a literature database analysis were used in order to estimate the proportion of insured persons qualifying for ASV. Care was examined by analyzing pseudonymized routine data from the statutory health insurances using selected indicators. Participating and not participating physicians were asked to complete an online survey. RESULTS Since the start of ASV, 615,531 insured persons have been treated in this form of care. At the time of analysis, 509 teams were operating, with 26,540 physicians treating 102,898 patients by the end of March 2021 in all indications. This comprises less than 9.8 %. of all approx. 1.05 million eligible patients. Especially in the case of rare diseases, a low willingness of participation can be seen. In addition, there was a relevant proportion of multiple uses of physicians within and outside ASV at 31 percent as well as indications of passive participation of doctors. We found significant regional differences in type and scope of the notification procedure as well as the implementation of teams with 13.4 teams per 1 million inhabitants in Schleswig-Holstein and no team in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Patient benefits (84 %), interdisciplinary (82 %) and cross-sectoral cooperation (75 %) were cited as motivations for participation. The main barriers reported by the respondents were the complex and laborious notification procedure (60 %), the administrative and documentation effort during participation (50 %), insufficient billing figures (49 %), and a small proportion of patients (32 %) with a consecutively unfavorable assessment of the cost to income ratio due to the current reimbursement system. DISCUSSION Nearly ten years after its introduction, the ASV has not become established nationwide. The reasons for this probably are the complex notification procedure and the reimburesement system for rare diseases. In the case of rare diseases, the risk of underuse is becoming apparent. CONCLUSION Strategies to further develop the ASV should, in particular, simplify the notification procedure and reduce the obstacles during participation. The remuneration system should take more account of the specific care required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dengler
- Bundesverband ambulante spezialfachärztliche Versorgung e.V., Grünwald bei München, Deutschland; FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management gGmbH, München, Deutschland.
| | - Niels Straub
- FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management gGmbH, München, Deutschland
| | - Laura Bredow
- Bundesverband ambulante spezialfachärztliche Versorgung e.V., Grünwald bei München, Deutschland
| | - Jana Becker
- Wissenschaftliches Institut der Niedergelassenen Hämatologen und Onkologen (WINHO) GmbH, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Michel Hornschuch
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie (BIPS), Abteilung Klinische Epidemiologie, Bremen, Deutschland
| | - Oliver Riedel
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie (BIPS), Abteilung Klinische Epidemiologie, Bremen, Deutschland
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie (BIPS), Abteilung Klinische Epidemiologie, Bremen, Deutschland
| | - Katja Waldeyer
- FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management gGmbH, Essen, Deutschland
| | - Kerstin Hermes-Moll
- Wissenschaftliches Institut der Niedergelassenen Hämatologen und Onkologen (WINHO) GmbH, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Sandra Osburg
- Wissenschaftliches Institut der Niedergelassenen Hämatologen und Onkologen (WINHO) GmbH, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Josefin Martin
- Wissenschaftliches Institut der Niedergelassenen Hämatologen und Onkologen (WINHO) GmbH, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Walawgo
- Wissenschaftliches Institut der Niedergelassenen Hämatologen und Onkologen (WINHO) GmbH, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Vitali Heidt
- Wissenschaftliches Institut der Niedergelassenen Hämatologen und Onkologen (WINHO) GmbH, Köln, Deutschland
| | - Sonja Froschauer
- Bundesverband ambulante spezialfachärztliche Versorgung e.V., Grünwald bei München, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Braitmaier M, Kollhorst B, Heinig M, Langner I, Czwikla J, Heinze F, Buschmann L, Minnerup H, García-Albéniz X, Hense HW, Karch A, Zeeb H, Haug U, Didelez V. Effectiveness of Mammography Screening on Breast Cancer Mortality – A Study Protocol for Emulation of Target Trials Using German Health Claims Data. Clin Epidemiol 2022; 14:1293-1303. [PMID: 36353307 PMCID: PMC9639456 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s376107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The efficacy of mammography screening in reducing breast cancer mortality has been demonstrated in randomized trials. However, treatment options - and hence prognosis – for advanced tumor stages as well as mammography techniques have considerably improved since completion of these trials. Consequently, the effectiveness of mammography screening under current conditions is unclear and controversial. The German mammography screening program (MSP), an organized population-based screening program, was gradually introduced between 2005 and 2008 and achieved nation-wide coverage in 2009. Objective We describe in detail a study protocol for investigating the effectiveness of the German MSP in reducing breast cancer mortality in women aged 50 to 69 years based on health claims data. Specifically, the proposed study aims at estimating per-protocol effects of several screening strategies on cumulative breast cancer mortality. The first analysis will be conducted once 10-year follow-up data are available. Methods and Analysis We will use claims data from five statutory health insurance providers in Germany, covering approximately 37.6 million individuals. To estimate the effectiveness of the MSP, hypothetical target trials will be emulated across time, an approach that has been demonstrated to minimize design-related biases. Specifically, the primary contrast will be in terms of the cumulative breast cancer mortality comparing the screening strategies of “never screen” versus “regular screening as intended by the MSP”. Ethics and Dissemination In Germany, the utilization of data from health insurances for scientific research is regulated by the Code of Social Law. All involved health insurance providers as well as the responsible authorities approved the use of the health claims data for this study. The Ethics Committee of the University of Bremen determined that studies based on claims data are exempt from institutional review. The findings of the proposed study will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malte Braitmaier
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ingo Langner
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jonas Czwikla
- SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Franziska Heinze
- SOCIUM Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Laura Buschmann
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Heike Minnerup
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Xabiér García-Albéniz
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- RTI Health Solutions, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hans-Werner Hense
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - André Karch
- Institute for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Westfälische Wilhelms University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Hajo Zeeb
- Department of Prevention and Evaluation, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Didelez
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Correspondence: Vanessa Didelez, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Department of Biometry and Data Management, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany, Tel +49-421-56939, Fax +49-421-56941, Email
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Reinold J, Braitmaier M, Riedel O, Haug U. Potential of Health Insurance Claims Data to Predict Fractures in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. Clin Epidemiol 2022; 14:1111-1122. [PMID: 36237823 PMCID: PMC9552670 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s379002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose In older adults, fractures are associated with mortality, disability, loss of independence and high costs. Knowledge on their predictors can help to identify persons at high risk who may benefit from measures to prevent fractures. We aimed to assess the potential of German claims data to predict fractures in older adults. Patients and Methods Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (short GePaRD; claims data from ~20% of the German population), we included persons aged ≥65 years with at least one year of continuous insurance coverage and no fractures prior to January 1, 2017 (baseline). We randomly divided the study population into a training (80%) and a test sample (20%) and used logistic regression and random forest models to predict the risk of fractures within one year after baseline based on different combinations of potential predictors. Results Among 2,997,872 persons (56% female), the incidence per 10,000 person years of any fracture in women increased from 133 in age group 65–74 years (men: 71) to 583 in age group 85+ (men: 332). The maximum predictive performance as measured by the area under the curve (AUC) across models was 0.63 in men and 0.60 in women and was achieved by combining information on drugs and morbidities. AUCs were lowest in age group 85+. Conclusion Our study showed that the performance of models using German claims data to predict the risk of fractures in older adults is moderate. Given that the models used data readily available to health insurance providers in Germany, it may still be worthwhile to explore the cost–benefit ratio of interventions aiming to reduce the risk of fractures based on such prediction models in certain risk groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Reinold
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, 28359, Germany,Correspondence: Jonas Reinold, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany, Tel +49 421 218-56868, Fax +49 421 218-56821, Email
| | - Malte Braitmaier
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Oliver Riedel
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, 28359, Germany,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Platzbecker K, Wentzell N, Kollhorst B, Haug U. Fingolimod, teriflunomide and cladribine for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in women of childbearing age: description of drug utilization and exposed pregnancies in Germany. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 67:104184. [PMID: 36174258 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.104184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Authorizations of fingolimod, teriflunomide and cladribine were accompanied by risk minimization measures concerning their teratogenic potential. Real-world data on their use are scarce. We aimed to assess trends in the use of fingolimod, teriflunomide and cladribine among women of childbearing age, estimate the number of pregnancies occurring under treatment and explore the occurrence of malformations in newborns exposed during early pregnancy in Germany. METHODS Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD, claims data from ∼20% of the German population), we determined annual age-standardized prevalences of fingolimod, teriflunomide and cladribine use from their authorization until 2019 among women aged 13-49 years (cross-sectional analyses). In longitudinal analyses, we estimated the number of exposed pregnancies by assessing whether there was an overlap between the exposure windows assigned to dispensations and the onset of pregnancy or a dispensation in the first eight weeks of pregnancy. For live births, a mother-baby linkage was performed. All available data of children with in-utero exposure and malformation codes in the first year of life were reviewed to verify the occurrence of congenital malformations. RESULTS For fingolimod, the age-standardized prevalence of use per 1,000 females increased from 0.14 in 2011 to 0.46 in 2019; for teriflunomide, from 0.06 in 2013 to 0.28 in 2019; for cladribine, from 0.01 in 2017 to 0.07 in 2019. The proportion of users aged ≤40 years was 60% for fingolimod, 45% for teriflunomide and 65% for cladribine. We identified 136 pregnancies exposed to fingolimod, 50 to teriflunomide and one to cladribine. For fingolimod and teriflunomide, respectively, 72% and 62% of exposed pregnancies ended in a live birth. Mother-newborn linkage was successful in 64 (fingolimod) and 20 (teriflunomide) live-born children. Among these, there were six with relevant malformations (mainly heart defects) for fingolimod and two for teriflunomide. CONCLUSION Use of fingolimod, teriflunomide and cladribine among women of childbearing age has substantially increased in Germany. A high proportion of users was in age groups in which pregnancies typically occur. Despite risk minimization measures, early pregnancy exposure to these drugs was observed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Platzbecker
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Schink T, Princk C, Braitmaier M, Haug U. Use of combined oral contraceptives and risk of venous thromboembolism in young women: A nested case-control analysis using German claims data. BJOG 2022; 129:2107-2116. [PMID: 35876787 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among young women for nine combined oral contraceptives (COCs) including progestogens with as yet unclear risk of VTE such as chlormadinone and nomegestrol using COCs containing levonorgestrel with low ethinylestradiol (< 50μg) as reference. DESIGN Case-control study nested in a cohort of new users of COCs SETTING: German claims data POPULATION: 1,166 cases of VTE matched to 11,660 controls nested in a cohort of 677,331 girls and young women aged 10-19 years with ≥ 1 COC dispensing between 2005 and 2017 after a one-year period without such a dispensing. METHODS Confounder-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of VTE associated with current use of the respective COC were calculated using conditional logistic regression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES VTE defined as diagnosis of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS Compared to levonorgestrel with low ethinylestradiol (< 50μg), the risk of VTE was two-fold increased for COCs containing dienogest (2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.77-2.80), cyproterone (2.15, 1.43-3.25), chlormadinone (OR 2.06, 1.58-2.68), desogestrel (1.93, 1.44-2.61), and drospirenone (1.89, 1.41-2.55) and five-fold increased for gestodene (5.05, 1.23-20.74). For norgestimate and nomegestrol, respectively, the point estimates suggest a two-fold and 40% increased risk (1.90, 0.62-5.81 and 1.41, 0.52-3.81). CONCLUSION Our study confirms that levonorgestrel with low ethinylestradiol (< 50μg) is the COC associated with the lowest risk of VTE and suggests that for chlormadinone, the risk of VTE is two times higher and thus in the same range as for desogestrel and drospirenone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christina Princk
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, Bremen, Germany
| | - Malte Braitmaier
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Heinig M, Heinze F, Schwarz S, Haug U. Initial and ten-year treatment patterns among 11,000 breast cancer patients undergoing breast surgery-an analysis of German claims data. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:130. [PMID: 35109813 PMCID: PMC8812022 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09240-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to explore the potential of German claims data for describing initial and long-term treatment patterns of breast cancer patients undergoing surgery. METHODS Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD, ~ 20% of the German population) we included patients with invasive breast cancer diagnosed in 2008 undergoing breast surgery and followed them until 2017. We described initial and long-term treatment patterns and deaths. Analyses were stratified by stage (as far as available in claims data), age at diagnosis, and mode of detection (screen-detected vs. interval vs. unscreened cases). RESULTS The cohort comprised 10,802 patients. The proportion with neoadjuvant therapy was highest in patients < 50 years (19% vs. ≤ 8% at older ages). The proportion initiating adjuvant chemotherapy within four months after diagnosis decreased with age (< 50 years: 63%, 50-69: 46%, 70-79: 27%, 80 + : 4%). Among women < 69 years, ~ 30% had two breast surgeries in year one (70-79: 21%, 80 + : 14%). Treatment intensity was lower for screen-detected compared to interval or unscreened cases, both in year one (e.g., proportion with mastectomy ~ 50% lower) and within 2-10 years after surgery (proportions with radiotherapy or chemotherapy about one third lower each). CONCLUSIONS This study illustrates the potential of routine data to describe breast cancer treatment and provided important insights into differences in initial and long-term treatment by mode of detection and age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Franziska Heinze
- Department of Health, Long-Term Care and Pensions, SOCIUM Research Center On Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 2, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wentzell N, Haug U. Characterization of pregnancies among women with epilepsy using valproate before or during pregnancy - A longitudinal claims data analysis from Germany. Epilepsy Res 2022; 179:106838. [PMID: 34891025 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize pregnancies among women with epilepsy who have filled a prescription for valproate at any time before or during pregnancy and to assess other antiepileptic drug (AED) prescriptions. METHODS Based on health claims data (German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database - GePaRD; covering ~20% of the population), we selected pregnancies beginning between 2014 and 2016 in women with at least three years of observation period before pregnancy and with at least one epilepsy diagnosis code in the year before pregnancy. Among those, we selected pregnancies with at least one valproate dispensation any time before or during pregnancy. We further described these pregnancies regarding patterns in the dispensation of valproate and other AED among the women from their first day in the database until the end of the pregnancy. RESULTS Among 2068 pregnancies fulfilling the inclusion criteria, we identified 454 pregnancies (89% ending in live births and 8% in induced abortions) in 430 women with at least one valproate dispensation before or during pregnancy. In 357 of these pregnancies (79%), valproate was only dispensed before pregnancy, while 97 pregnancies (21%) had a valproate dispensation during pregnancy and of these, 77% (N = 75) during the first trimester. The proportion with a valproate dispensation during pregnancy declined from 2014 (25%) to 2016 (19%), also concerning exposure during the first trimester (2014: 20%, 2015: 17%, 2016: 12%), while the proportion ending in an induced abortion was increasing (2014: 5%, 2015: 8%, 2016: 13%). In 48% of exposed pregnancies (N = 36), there was no other AED dispensed during the entire observation time before pregnancy. This proportion was lower for pregnancies beginning in 2016 (33%) than for those beginning in 2014 and 2015 (53% and 50%, respectively). CONCLUSION In most women with epilepsy using valproate before or during pregnancy, valproate was dispensed only well before pregnancy beginning. The proportion exposed to valproate during the first trimester declined between 2014 and 2016, but the low proportion treated with alternative AED before valproate treatment suggests there is still room for improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 2, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Boakye D, Günther K, Niedermaier T, Haug U, Ahrens W, Nagrani R. Associations between comorbidities and advanced stage diagnosis of lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiol 2021; 75:102054. [PMID: 34773768 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2021.102054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Comorbidities and advanced stage diagnosis (ASD) are both associated with poorer cancer outcomes, but the association between comorbidities and ASD is poorly understood. We summarized epidemiological evidence on the association between comorbidities and ASD of selected cancers in a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed and Web of Science databases up to June 3rd, 2021 for studies assessing the association between comorbidities and ASD of lung, breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Also, potential variations in the associations between comorbidities and ASD by cancer type were investigated using random-effects meta-regression. Thirty-seven studies were included in this review, including 8,069,397 lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer patients overall. The Charlson comorbidity index score was positively associated with ASD (stages III-IV) of breast cancer but was inversely associated with ASD of lung cancer (pinteraction = 0.004). Regarding specific comorbidities, diabetes was positively associated with ASD (OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.09-1.26), whereas myocardial infarction was inversely associated with ASD (OR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.75-0.95). The association between renal disease and ASD differed by cancer type (pinteraction < 0.001). A positive association was found with prostate cancer (OR = 2.02, 95%CI = 1.58-2.59) and an inverse association with colorectal cancer (OR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.70-1.00). In summary, certain comorbidities (e.g., diabetes) may be positively associated with ASD of several cancer types. It needs to be clarified whether closer monitoring for early cancer signs or screening in these patients is reasonable, considering the problem of over-diagnosis particularly relevant in patients with short remaining life expectancy such as those with comorbidities. Also, evaluation of the cost-benefit relationship of cancer screening according to the type and severity of comorbidity (rather than summary scores) may be beneficial for personalized cancer screening in populations with chronic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Boakye
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Kathrin Günther
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tobias Niedermaier
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ahrens
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Rajini Nagrani
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Börnhorst C, Reinders T, Rathmann W, Bongaerts B, Haug U, Didelez V, Kollhorst B. Avoiding Time-Related Biases: A Feasibility Study on Antidiabetic Drugs and Pancreatic Cancer Applying the Parametric g-Formula to a Large German Healthcare Database. Clin Epidemiol 2021; 13:1027-1038. [PMID: 34737647 PMCID: PMC8560066 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s328342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Investigating intended or unintended effects of sustained drug use is of high clinical relevance but remains methodologically challenging. This feasibility study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the parametric g-formula within a target trial for application to an extensive healthcare database in order to address various sources of time-related biases and time-dependent confounding. Patients and Methods Based on the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD), we estimated the pancreatic cancer incidence comparing two hypothetical treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), i.e., (A) sustained metformin monotherapy vs (B) combination therapy with DPP-4 inhibitors after one year metformin monotherapy. We included 77,330 persons with T2DM who started metformin therapy at baseline between 2005 and 2011. Key aspects for avoiding time-related biases and time-dependent confounding were the emulation of a target trial over a 7-year follow-up period and application of the parametric g-formula. Results Over the 7-year follow-up period, 652 out of the 77,330 study subjects had a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Assuming no unobserved confounding, we found evidence that the metformin/DPP-4i combination therapy increased the risk of pancreatic cancer compared to a sustained metformin monotherapy (risk ratio: 1.47; 95% bootstrap CI: 1.07–1.94). The risk ratio decreased in sensitivity analyses addressing protopathic bias. Conclusion While protopathic bias could not fully be ruled out, and computational challenges necessitated compromises in the analysis, the g-formula and target trial emulation proved useful: Self-inflicted biases were avoided, observed time-varying confounding was adjusted for, and the estimated risks have a clear causal interpretation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Börnhorst
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Department of Biometry and Data Management, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tammo Reinders
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Department of Biometry and Data Management, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Rathmann
- Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Brenda Bongaerts
- Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Department of Biometry and Data Management, Bremen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Didelez
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Department of Biometry and Data Management, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Department of Biometry and Data Management, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Lansdorp-Vogelaar I, Meester R, de Jonge L, Buron A, Haug U, Senore C. Risk-stratified strategies in population screening for colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer 2021; 150:397-405. [PMID: 34460107 PMCID: PMC9293115 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has been demonstrated to reduce CRC incidence and mortality. However, besides such benefits, CRC screening is also associated with potential harmful effects. In an ideal world, screening would only be directed to the small proportion of the population that might potentially benefit. Risk‐based screening can be seen as a first step towards this ideal world, by redistributing screening resources from low‐risk to high‐risk individuals. In theory, this should result in scarce resources being used in individuals who benefit most, while intensity of screening is reduced in individuals who benefit less, hence improving the benefit‐harm ratio among all invitees. Available strategies that have been proposed for risk‐based CRC screening include using information on age, sex, prior screening history, lifestyle and/or genetic information. Implementation of risk‐based screening requires careful consideration of reliable risk prediction models, participation with screening and informed decision‐making. While it is important to recognise the limitations of current approaches, available evidence suggests that it might be feasible to start planning the introduction of tailored strategies within screening programmes. Implementing risk‐based screening based on age, sex and prior screening history alone would already represent a substantial improvement over current uniform screening approaches. We propose that it is time that screening programmes start there and continue striving towards more comprehensive approaches embedding primary prevention as an effective approach to lower risk for everyone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Reinier Meester
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie de Jonge
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Buron
- Epidemiology and Evaluation Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.,IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,REDISSEC (Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Carlo Senore
- SSD Epidemiologia e Screening - CPO, University Hospital Cittàdella Salute e dellaScienza, Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Scholle O, Neubert A, Riedel O, Toni I, Haug U. Repeated Use of Prescription Drugs in Pediatrics: Comprehensive Overview Based on German Claims Data. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:706682. [PMID: 34335267 PMCID: PMC8319624 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.706682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Investigating drug utilization in large and unselected samples of children and adolescents is an important component of public health monitoring. Most existing studies in this field focused on any drug use (i.e., ≥1 prescription of a certain drug) although chronic drug use may be more relevant. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of prevalence and types of prescription drugs used repeatedly in children and adolescents in Germany in 2016. Methods: We used the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD)—a claims database covering ∼20% of the German population. We included children and adolescents aged 0–17 years and assessed repeated use of prescription drugs (≥3 prescriptions in 2016) on two levels: therapeutic subgroups (ATC 2nd level) and chemical substances (ATC 5th level). Analyses were stratified by sex and age groups (<2, 2–5, 6–12, and 13–17 years). Results: Overall, 2.5 million children and adolescents were included. In the age groups below 13 years, the prevalence rates of repeated use of prescription drugs (ATC 2nd level) were higher in boys than in girls (113–152 vs. 83–130 per 1,000 person-years), whereas in the age group 13–17 years, they were twice as high in girls than in boys (236 vs. 118 per 1,000 person-years). In boys and girls aged below six years, systemic antibiotics, topical ocular antibiotics, and drugs for constipation were among the most common drugs used repeatedly. For higher ages, methylphenidate, levothyroxine, and combined hormonal contraceptives, were among the most common drugs used repeatedly. Conclusions: Overall, about one in ten children in Germany repeatedly used prescription drugs. This proportion as well as the type of drugs used repeatedly markedly varied by sex and age. For certain drugs, our findings raise concerns regarding appropriateness of prescribing that should be addressed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Scholle
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Antje Neubert
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oliver Riedel
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Irmgard Toni
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Zeeb H, Ahrens W, Haug U, Grabenhenrich L, Pigeot I. [Epidemiological approaches to address key research questions on COVID-19-an overview]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2021; 64:1076-1083. [PMID: 34258629 PMCID: PMC8276842 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-021-03378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiology as a scientific discipline is predestined to address key problems in the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to do so, classic and new methods are used, and new challenges are emerging.This paper addresses the various phases of the population-based progression of SARS-CoV‑2 infection and COVID-19. Based on a selective literature search, sample questions from studies conducted in Germany and internationally are presented, their respective epidemiological approaches discussed, and research gaps described.Scientific questions to be answered with epidemiological data and research approaches arise in every phase of infection and disease. Descriptive data are often generated via (repeated) cross-sectional studies. For analytical questions, such as the identification of risk groups, case-control studies could have provided valuable results, especially in the early phase of the pandemic, but were rarely conducted. Data from health insurance companies have an important function in the analysis of the course of disease; however, the potential of this data source with regard to questions on vaccination can probably hardly be used. Improved coordination of the various studies and a more "open data" oriented research infrastructure can further strengthen the contribution of epidemiology to the control of the current and future pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hajo Zeeb
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland. .,Wissenschaftsschwerpunkt Gesundheitswissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland.
| | - Wolfgang Ahrens
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.,Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.,Wissenschaftsschwerpunkt Gesundheitswissenschaften, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland
| | - Linus Grabenhenrich
- Abteilung Methodenentwicklung und Forschungsinfrastruktur (MF), Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Iris Pigeot
- Leibniz-Institut für Präventionsforschung und Epidemiologie - BIPS, Achterstr. 30, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.,Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Reinold J, Braitmaier M, Riedel O, Haug U. Anticholinergic burden: First comprehensive analysis using claims data shows large variation by age and sex. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253336. [PMID: 34191827 PMCID: PMC8244868 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The cumulative effect of medication inhibiting acetylcholine activity—also known as anticholinergic burden (AB)—can lead to functional and cognitive decline, falls, and death. Given that studies on the population prevalence of AB are rare, we aimed to describe it in a large and unselected population sample. Methods Using the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD) with claims data from ~20% of the German population we analyzed outpatient drug dispensations in 2016. Based on the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) scale, we classified persons into four categories and determined the cumulative AB as continuous variable. Results Among 16,470,946 persons (54% female), the prevalence of clinically relevant AB (ACB≥3) was 10% (women) and 7% (men). Below age 40 it was highest in persons ≤18 years (6% both sexes). At older ages (50–59 vs. 90–99 years), prevalence of ACB≥3 increased from 7% to 26% (men) and from 10% to 32% (women). Medication classes contributing to the cumulative AB differed by age: antihistamines, antibiotics, glucocorticoids (≤19 years), antidepressants (20–49 years), antidepressants, cardiovascular medication, antidiabetics (50–64 years), and additionally medication for urinary incontinence/overactive bladder (≥65 years). Medication dispensed by general physicians contributed most to the cumulative AB. Conclusion Although a clinically relevant AB is particularly common in older persons, prevalence in younger age groups was up to 7%. Given the risks associated with AB in older persons, targeted interventions at the prescriber level are needed. Furthermore, risks associated with AB in younger persons should be explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Reinold
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Malte Braitmaier
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Oliver Riedel
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Komen JJ, Pottegård A, Mantel-Teeuwisse AK, Forslund T, Hjemdahl P, Wettermark B, Hellfritzsch M, Hallas J, Olesen M, Bennie M, Mueller T, Voss A, Schink T, Haug U, Kollhorst B, Karlstad Ø, Kjerpeseth LJ, Klungel OH. Persistence and adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation across five Western European countries. Europace 2021; 23:1722-1730. [PMID: 34096584 PMCID: PMC8576279 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To assess persistence and adherence to non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in five Western European healthcare settings. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a multi-country observational cohort study, including 559 445 AF patients initiating NOAC therapy from Stockholm (Sweden), Denmark, Scotland, Norway, and Germany between 2011 and 2018. Patients were followed from their first prescription until they switched to a vitamin K antagonist, emigrated, died, or the end of follow-up. We measured persistence and adherence over time and defined adequate adherence as medication possession rate ≥90% among persistent patients only. RESULTS Overall, persistence declined to 82% after 1 year and to 63% after 5 years. When including restarters of NOAC treatment, 85% of the patients were treated with NOACs after 5 years. The proportion of patients with adequate adherence remained above 80% throughout follow-up. Persistence and adherence were similar between countries and was higher in patients starting treatment in later years. Both first year persistence and adherence were lower with dabigatran (persistence: 77%, adherence: 65%) compared with apixaban (86% and 75%) and rivaroxaban (83% and 75%) and were statistically lower after adjusting for patient characteristics. Adherence and persistence with dabigatran remained lower throughout follow-up. CONCLUSION Persistence and adherence were high among NOAC users in five Western European healthcare settings and increased in later years. Dabigatran use was associated with slightly lower persistence and adherence compared with apixaban and rivaroxaban.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joris J Komen
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Healthcare Development, Stockholm Region, Public Healthcare Services Committee, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anton Pottegård
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Aukje K Mantel-Teeuwisse
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tomas Forslund
- Department of Healthcare Development, Stockholm Region, Public Healthcare Services Committee, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul Hjemdahl
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology/Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Wettermark
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology & Social Pharmacy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maja Hellfritzsch
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jesper Hallas
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten Olesen
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Marion Bennie
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.,Public Health and Intelligence Strategic Business Unit, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tanja Mueller
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Annemarie Voss
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Life Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Øystein Karlstad
- Chronic Diseases and Ageing, Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars J Kjerpeseth
- Chronic Diseases and Ageing, Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olaf H Klungel
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Schäfer W, Wentzell N, Schink T, Haug U. Characterization of pregnancies exposed to St. John's wort and their outcomes: A claims data analysis. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 102:90-97. [PMID: 33961968 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the utilization of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) during pregnancy. In Germany, certain preparations of St. John's wort can be reimbursed by statutory health insurances, facilitating to investigate exposure to St. John's wort based on claims data. We therefore aimed to characterize pregnancies exposed to St. John's wort and to explore potential malformations in the babies. Using claims data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD), pregnancies exposed to St. John's wort during at least one trimester between 2006 and 2016 and the corresponding babies were identified. Exposure was identified via outpatient dispensations. Pregnancies were characterized regarding timing of exposure, use of other antidepressants, pregnancy outcomes and the occurrence of major malformations in the babies (not considering codes for musculoskeletal and other malformations due to low data quality in this regard). Out of 496 pregnancies with a dispensation of St. John's wort during pregnancy, 420 (85 %) had a dispensation during the first trimester. There was a dispensation of other antidepressants before pregnancy in 21 % (during pregnancy: 12 %). Eleven percent of pregnancies ended in non-live births. In 312 babies linked to 305 pregnancies, major malformations were coded in 18 babies (5.8 %), of which 17 were exposed in the first trimester. The crude relative risk of major malformations for babies exposed during the first vs. the second or third trimester only was 3.56 (0.48-26.17). Our results suggest that only in a minority of pregnancies, St. John's wort is used as an alternative to other antidepressants. Even though the relatively high rates of non-live births and major malformations after exposure to St. John's wort during the first trimester need to be interpreted with caution, the findings are striking and generate hypotheses that merit further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Schäfer
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Life Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Schwarz S, Oppelt KA, Heinig M, Haug U. Potential of German claims data to characterize utilization of new cancer drugs: the example of crizotinib. Future Oncol 2021; 17:2305-2313. [PMID: 33784820 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-1052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: Premarketing clinical trials are typically conducted under controlled conditions and in selected study populations, so real-world information on the utilization of new cancer drugs is limited. We aimed to explore the potential of German claims data in this regard, exemplified by the ALK inhibitor crizotinib, used in non-small-cell lung cancer therapy. Materials & methods: We identified patients treated with crizotinib in the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (2004-2017; 20% of the German population) and assessed patient characteristics, treatment and survival. Results: We identified 348 crizotinib-treated patients (56% female; 25% first-line users). After 2 years, overall survival was 48%, with higher survival in men than in women (58 vs 40%). Overall, 76% of patients discontinued crizotinib treatment. Of those, 41% received another ALK inhibitor afterward. Conclusion: The results underline the potential of German claims data for real-world monitoring of oncological drug utilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research & Epidemiology - BIPS, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katja A Oppelt
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research & Epidemiology - BIPS, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research & Epidemiology - BIPS, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research & Epidemiology - BIPS, 28359, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human & Health Sciences, University of Bremen, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Oppelt KA, Kuiper JG, Ingrasciotta Y, Ientile V, Herings RMC, Tari M, Trifirò G, Haug U. Characteristics and Absolute Survival of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated With Biologics: A Real-World Data Analysis From Three European Countries. Front Oncol 2021; 11:630456. [PMID: 33747950 PMCID: PMC7973261 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.630456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Biologics were approved for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) based on favorable benefit-risk-assessments from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but evidence on their use in the real-world setting is scarce. Based on descriptive analyses we therefore aimed to assess characteristics and survival of CRC patients treated with biologics using large healthcare databases from three European countries (Netherlands, Italy, Germany). Methods: We included CRC patients treated with a biologic in 2010 or 2014 and characterized them regarding age, sex, comorbidities, and absolute survival. Results: Among 4,758 patients, the mean age ranged from 64.8 to 66.8 years, the majority was male, and comorbidities used as exclusion criteria in RCTs were coded in up to 30% of these patients. The proportion of bevacizumab users decreased between 2010 (72–93%) and 2014 (63–85%). In 2014, the absolute 12-month survival in new users was 64% (95% CI 51–77%), 56% (30–80%), and 61% (58–63%) in the Dutch, Italian, and German database, respectively, varying by age and comorbidity. Conclusions: Our study suggests that in the real-world setting, CRC patients treated with biologics are older and less selected regarding comorbidities compared to patients in RCTs, potentially explaining the relatively low 12-month survival we found. Treatment decisions in the real-world setting may require careful evaluation given that the risk-benefit ratio may vary depending on age and co-existing conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katja A Oppelt
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Ylenia Ingrasciotta
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Valentina Ientile
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ron M C Herings
- PHARMO Institute for Drug Outcomes Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Gianluca Trifirò
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Heinig M, Schwarz S, Haug U. Self-selection for mammography screening according to use of hormone replacement therapy: A systematic literature review. Cancer Epidemiol 2021; 71:101812. [PMID: 33608235 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mammography screening participation may be influenced by the awareness of an increase in breast cancer risk due to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which received particular attention upon publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial results in 2002. Our aim was to synthesize evidence on a potential self-selection for mammography screening according to HRT use. We systematically searched the literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) for studies reporting on the association between HRT use and mammography screening participation. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. Overall, 2018 studies were identified. Of these, 32 studies from nine countries, predominantly from North America (50%) and Europe (28%), were included. In studies from all countries and 94% of all studies, higher mammography screening uptake among HRT users compared to non-users was reported. In all 21 studies reporting an odds ratio, the association was positive, and in about 70% of these studies, this association was ≥2. This also held true for studies exclusively using data collected before publication of the WHI findings in 2002 (63% of all studies). The association was not restricted to certain types of screening (organized vs. opportunistic) or certain types of HRT (combined vs. estrogen-only). We found a consistent and relevant association between mammography screening uptake and HRT use. This is of considerable relevance for the design and interpretation of studies investigating risk factors or evaluating preventive measures for breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 2, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Marron M, Brackmann LK, Kuhse P, Christianson L, Langner I, Haug U, Ahrens W. Vaccination and the Risk of Childhood Cancer-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Oncol 2021; 10:610843. [PMID: 33552984 PMCID: PMC7862764 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.610843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Infections may play a role in the etiology of childhood cancer and immunizations may be protective because vaccinations stimulate the immune system. Observational studies reported inconsistent associations between vaccination and risk of childhood cancer. Since a synthesis of the evidence is lacking, we conducted a meta-analysis stratified by histological and site-specific cancer. METHODS We performed a systematic review (CRD42020148579) following PRISMA guidelines and searched for literature in MEDLINE, Embase, and the Science Citation Index databases. We identified in three literature databases 7,594 different articles of which 35 met the inclusion criteria allowing for 27 analyses of 11 cancer outcomes after exposure to nine different types of vaccinations. We calculated summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random effects models. RESULTS We observed four inverse associations between childhood leukemia and certain vaccines as well as the number of vaccinations: OR 0.49 (95% CI = 0.32 to 0.74) for leukemia death after bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination; OR 0.76 (95% CI = 0.65 to 0.90) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia after Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination; OR 0.57 (95% CI = 0.36 to 0.88) for leukemia; and OR 0.62 (95% CI = 0.46 to 0.85) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia after three or more vaccinations of any type. All other conducted analyses did not show any associations. DISCUSSION The results are consistent with the hypothesis that vaccinations reduce the risk of childhood leukemia. However, the robustness and validity of these results is limited due to the small number, substantial heterogeneity, and methodological limitations of available studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Marron
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Department Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lara Kim Brackmann
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Department Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Pia Kuhse
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Department Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Lara Christianson
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Library, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ingo Langner
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Department Clinical Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Department Clinical Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
- University of Bremen, Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ahrens
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Department Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Bremen, Germany
- University of Bremen, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Boakye D, Nagrini R, Ahrens W, Haug U, Günther K. The association of comorbidities with administration of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III colon cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:1758835920986520. [PMID: 33613694 PMCID: PMC7841869 DOI: 10.1177/1758835920986520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chemotherapy is an established treatment for stage III colon cancer cases. Older age is known to be associated with less chemotherapy use in these patients, but there might be other relevant factors besides age that influence treatment administration. We summarized evidence on associations between comorbidity and adjuvant chemotherapy administration in stage III colon cancer patients in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases up to 2 June 2020 for studies on comorbidities and chemotherapy use in patients with stage III colon cancer. Summary odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses according to year of colon cancer diagnosis, timing of comorbidity assessment, and geographical region were also conducted. Results: Thirty-three studies were included in this review, including 219,406 stage III colon cancer patients overall. Chemotherapy administration was 60.9% (95% CI: 56.9% to 64.9%), increasing from 57.1% before 2001 to 66.3% after 2010. There were inverse associations between comorbidities and chemotherapy administration. Compared with patients with Charlson comorbidity score 0, those with scores 1 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.72–0.87) and 2+ (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.42–0.56) received chemotherapy less often. Among comorbidities, the strongest predictors of chemotherapy non-use were dementia (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.33–0.54), followed by heart failure (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.28–0.70) and stroke (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.38–0.81). Conclusions: Merely 60% of stage III colon cancer patients receive chemotherapy. Comorbidities are strong predictors of chemotherapy non-use, but the association differs by comorbid condition and is strongest with dementia. Given the survival disadvantage of colon cancer patients with comorbidities, further evidence on the risk–benefit ratio of chemotherapy according to the type and severity of comorbidity and on the extent to which the survival disadvantage of comorbidity is explained by less use or lower tolerability of chemotherapy is needed to foster personalized medical care in these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajini Nagrini
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Ahrens
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Institute of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Günther
- Department of Epidemiological Methods and Etiological Research, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Heinig M, Braitmaier M, Haug U. Prescribing of menopausal hormone therapy in Germany: Current status and changes between 2004 and 2016. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2021; 30:462-471. [PMID: 33368726 DOI: 10.1002/pds.5186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescribing of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) declined drastically after publication of the Women's Health Initiative's (WHI) findings in 2002, but studies on longer-term trends and details of use are scarce. METHODS We used the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD) containing health insurance claims data from ~25 million persons. Using data from 2004-2016, we conducted cross-sectional analyses to determine the prevalence of MHT use overall and by type and route of administration in women aged 45-75. In longitudinal analyses, we assessed MHT use over 5 years and compared the patterns between different time periods. RESULTS From 2004 to 2016, prevalence of systemic MHT prescriptions decreased by >60% in women aged 55-65 and by >50% in women aged 50 and 70 years old. Prevalence declined for most types and routes of administration at all ages (-16% to -79%) with some exceptions, for example, local MHT (vaginal estrogen). Among 50-year-old women in 2012, 6% were already prescribed systemic MHT at age 49 and of the remaining women, 16% were newly prescribed systemic MHT before age 55. At all ages, the cumulative dose of systemic MHT prescribed over 5 years was lower in the period 2012-2016 compared to 2005-2009 (-6% to -46%). CONCLUSIONS For most types of MHT and all age groups, prevalence declined considerably between 2004 and 2016 in Germany. The cumulative dose per MHT user also decreased, suggesting a trend towards a shorter duration of use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Heinig
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Malte Braitmaier
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
|
46
|
Schwarz S, Schäfer W, Horenkamp-Sonntag D, Liebentraut J, Haug U. Follow-up of 3 Million Persons Undergoing Colonoscopy in Germany: Utilization of Repeat Colonoscopies and Polypectomies Within 10 Years. Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2020; 12:e00279. [PMID: 33464730 PMCID: PMC8345921 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Given the sparsity of longitudinal studies on colonoscopy use, we quantified utilization of repeat colonoscopy within 10 years and the proportion of persons with polypectomies at first repeat colonoscopy using a large German claims database. METHODS Based on the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database, we identified persons who underwent colonoscopy between 2006 and 2015 (index colonoscopy) and assessed colonoscopies and polypectomies during follow-up. We defined 3 subcohorts based on available procedure/diagnosis codes at index colonoscopy: persons with snare polypectomy, which is reimbursable for lesions ≥5 mm in size (cohort 1), with a forceps polypectomy (cohort 2), and without such procedures/diagnoses (cohort 3). We stratified all analyses by diagnostic vs screening index colonoscopy. RESULTS Overall, we included 3,076,657 persons (cohort 1-3: 15%, 13%, 72%). Among persons with screening index colonoscopy (30%), the proportions with a repeat colonoscopy within 10 years in cohorts 1, 2, and 3 were 78%, 66%, and 43%, respectively, and a snare polypectomy at first repeat colonoscopy was performed in 27%, 17%, and 12%, respectively. In cohort 1, 32% of persons with a (first) repeat colonoscopy after 9 years had a snare polypectomy (after 3 years: 25%). Among persons with diagnostic index colonoscopies, 80%, 78%, and 65% had a repeat colonoscopy, and 27%, 17%, and 10% had a snare polypectomy at first repeat colonoscopy, respectively. DISCUSSION Our study suggests substantial underuse of repeat colonoscopy among persons with previous snare polypectomy and overuse among lower risk groups. One-quarter of persons with a snare polypectomy at baseline had another snare polypectomy at first repeat colonoscopy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Wiebke Schäfer
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | | | | | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology–BIPS, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Schink T, Wentzell N, Dathe K, Onken M, Haug U. Corrigendum: Estimating the Beginning of Pregnancy in German Claims Data: Development of an Algorithm With a Focus on the Expected Delivery Date. Front Public Health 2020; 8:605076. [PMID: 33195000 PMCID: PMC7658581 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.605076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katarina Dathe
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlies Onken
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Schäfer W, Reinders T, Riedel O, Haug U. How often are antidepressants prescribed off-label among older adults in Germany? A claims data analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2020; 87:1778-1789. [PMID: 32986874 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To estimate the extent of off-label prescribing of antidepressants in older adults and to characterize patients with off-label vs on-label prescriptions of antidepressants using a large German health claims database. METHODS Using data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD), we conducted a cross-sectional study in adults aged 65 years or older with a dispensation of an antidepressant between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2015 after a period of 365 days without such a dispensation. We assessed the overall and annual proportion of off-label prescriptions of antidepressants by class and individual substance. RESULTS Among 263 276 incident users of antidepressants, the proportion of off-label prescribing was 43.6% (95% CI 43.4-43.8%) with little variation between 2009 and 2015 (42.2-44.4%). The proportion of off-label use was higher in men (49%) than women (41%). While the proportion of off-label prescriptions was highest for tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants with 56.2% (amitriptyline 54.6%, maximum 65.9% for trimipramine), it amounted to 41.8% for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram 41.6%, maximum 46.0% for escitalopram) and was 51.2% for mirtazapine. Indicators of overall morbidity were similar in both groups, eg, pain was coded in 72% of off-label users vs 77% of on-label users (insomnia 20% vs 24%). CONCLUSION Our study suggests a high prevalence of off-label antidepressant use among older adults in Germany, which was not restricted to certain classes of antidepressants or individual antidepressants. Given the unclear risk-benefit ratio, studies investigating the safety of off-label use among older adults for individual antidepressants are urgently needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Schäfer
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Tammo Reinders
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Oliver Riedel
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Achterstraße 30, Bremen, 28359, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, 28359, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Schink T, Wentzell N, Dathe K, Onken M, Haug U. Estimating the Beginning of Pregnancy in German Claims Data: Development of an Algorithm With a Focus on the Expected Delivery Date. Front Public Health 2020; 8:350. [PMID: 32903398 PMCID: PMC7434962 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Estimating the beginning of pregnancy is crucial when studying drug safety in pregnancy, but important information in this regard, such as the last menstrual period (LMP), is generally not recorded in claims databases. The beginning of pregnancy is therefore usually estimated by subtracting a median length of pregnancy from the date of birth. Due to the variability in pregnancy lengths, this might result in non-negligible errors. German claims data may offer the possibility to estimate the beginning of pregnancy more precisely based on the expected delivery date (EDD) which can be coded once or more often during a pregnancy. Purpose: To estimate the beginning of pregnancy in German claims data focusing on the potential of the expected delivery date (EDD). Methods: We included data of all pregnancies in women aged 12–50 years ending in a live birth between 2006 and 2015 identified in the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD). We assessed the number of coded EDDs per pregnancy and the concordance if ≥ 2 EDDs were coded. We estimated the beginning of pregnancy by subtracting 280 days from the EDD or the most frequent EDD (in case of discordant EDDs). To examine plausibility, we determined the distribution of pregnancy lengths and assessed whether the gestational age at which prenatal examinations were coded was plausible. For pregnancies without EDD, the beginning was estimated by subtracting the respective observed median lengths of pregnancy for preterm births, term births, and births after due date from the actual dates of birth. Results: In 82.4% of pregnancies, at least one EDD was available (thereof 6.1% with only one EDD and 80.9% with ≥ 2 EDDs that were all concordant). The maximal difference between discordant EDDs was in median 5 days (interquartile range: 3–7 days). Based on the EDD, the median length of pregnancy was 276 days for term births and in 84.7% of pregnancies the second antibody screening test was performed in the recommended interval ± 2 weeks. In pregnancies without EDD the respective proportion was 84.9%. Conclusions: By using the EDD, the beginning of pregnancy can plausibly be estimated in German claims data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Nadine Wentzell
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Katarina Dathe
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlies Onken
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Berlin Institute of Health, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Pharmakovigilanz- und Beratungszentrum für Embryonaltoxikologie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology-BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Pisa FE, Reinold J, Kollhorst B, Haug U, Schink T. Individual Antidepressants and the Risk of Fractures in Older Adults: A New User Active Comparator Study. Clin Epidemiol 2020; 12:667-678. [PMID: 32606992 PMCID: PMC7319507 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s222888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the risk of hip–pelvis and other non-vertebral fractures in older adults using antidepressants (ADs). Methods We conducted a case–control study nested in a cohort of new users of ADs aged ≥65 years without prior hip–pelvis or other non-vertebral fractures, identified in the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD) during 2005–2014. Cases were patients first hospitalized for hip–pelvis or other non-vertebral fractures. Up to 100 controls per case were selected using incidence density sampling. AD use was ascertained at index date (ID) based on the supply of last dispensing. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression with current users of mirtazapine as reference (active comparator). Results A total of 39,853 cases of hip–pelvis fracture (80% women, median age 81 years) and 31,577 cases of other fractures (84% women, median age 79 years) were matched to >3 million controls. For hip–pelvis fracture, aORs in current users were about 1.3 with little variation between individual ADs, ranging from 1.33 for citalopram (95% CI 1.27–1.39) to 1.28 for amitriptyline (1.21–1.35). For other fractures, the aORs were highest in current users of citalopram (1.50; 1.42–1.58) and duloxetine (1.54; 1.39–1.71) and lowest for amitriptyline (1.18; 1.11–1.26) and trimipramine (1.16; 1.03–1.29). For all examined ADs, the aORs were higher for other fractures than for hip–pelvis fracture. Conclusion The risk of fractures varies between ADs, but for most agents is higher than the risk for mirtazapine. When treating older adults with ADs, prescribers should carefully consider the risk profile of individual ADs regarding fractures, which are a major health problem in this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Edith Pisa
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jonas Reinold
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Bianca Kollhorst
- Department of Biometry and Data Management, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Researchand Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Haug
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany.,Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Tania Schink
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS, Bremen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|