Naxos study: risk of bleeding with oral anticoagulants in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients in France

Background

In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), oral anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism, at the expense of an increased risk of bleeding.

Purpose

To compare the risk of bleeding and sites of bleeding according to the type of oral anticoagulant used in NVAF patients.

Methods

NAXOS is a population-based, historical cohort study including all patients aged ≥18 years with NVAF and newly initiating one of the OACs available in France between 2014 and 2016, aiming to compare safety, effectiveness, and all-cause mortality, according to the type of oral anticoagulant used. The French national health insurance reimbursement database, cross-linked with the hospitalisation database and civil status registry (SNIIRAM) was used to identify first users of oral anticoagulants and outcomes over their follow-up.

Major bleeding events were identified through main diagnoses of hospital stays, with a specific focus on bleeding site. Apixaban was used as the reference treatment.

Analyses were performed on crude data and with adjustment on propensity scores calculated separately for each of the comparators (VKAs, rivaroxaban and dabigatran).

Results

Overall, 321,501 NVAF patients were included: 87,565 (27.2%), 112,628 (35.0%), 100,063 (31.1%), and 21,245 (6.6%) initiated apixaban, VKAs, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran, respectively. The crude risks of intracranial bleeding were 0.45 [0.40–0.50], 1.23 [1.16–1.30], 0.48 [0.44–0.53], and 0.26 [0.19–0.34] per 100 patient-year, for apixaban, VKA, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran, respectively. The respective figures for gastro-intestinal bleeding were: 0.67 [0.61–0.74], 1.73 [1.64–1.81], 1.01 [0.94–1.08], 1.02 [0.89–1.17]; and those for non-intracranial and non-gastro-intestinal but other bleeding were: 0.84 [0.78–0.92], 2.22 [2.13–2.32], 1.24 [1.17–1.31] and 0.71 [0.60–0.84].

After adjustment on propensity-scores, patients initiating apixaban were at a lower risk of all major bleeding vs. VKA, rivaroxaban and dabigatran (HR=0.49 [0.46–0.52], 0.63 [0.58–0.67]) and 0.85 [0.76–0.95]). Apixaban was associated with a decreased risk of intracranial bleeding compared with VKAs (HR=0.46 [0.40–0.53]) and rivaroxaban (HR=0.80 [0.69–0.93]), and an increased risk compared with dabigatran (HR=1.53 [1.12–2.07]). The risk of gastro-intestinal bleeding was lower with apixaban than with VKAs (HR=0.57; [0.55–0.59]), rivaroxaban (HR=0.59; [0.52–0.66]), and dabigatran (HR=0.57; 0.48–0.68]). For other bleedings, apixaban was associated with a lower risk compared with VKAs (HR=0.47; [0.43–0.52]), and rivaroxaban (HR=0.59; [0.53–0.66]), and with a similar risk compared with dabigatran (HR=1.01; [0.84–1.23]).

Conclusion

In this large, real-world, population-based cohort, apixaban was associated with a lower risk of all types of bleedings requiring hospitalisation, compared with vitamin K antagonists. Differences between direct oral anticoagulants were also observed.

Results of the comparative analyses

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer

P1255Comparative safety and effectiveness of standard doses of apixaban versus dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and VKAs in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients in France: the NAXOS study

Background

Real-world data comparing all available oral anticoagulants (OAC) on a nationwide scale (i.e. in France: apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran and vitamin K antagonists – VKAs) are lacking. In everyday practice, oral anticoagulants are often underdosed, which may render comparisons between agents difficult.

Purpose and methods

NAXOS is a French real-world study comparing the safety (major bleeding), effectiveness (stroke, systemic thromboembolic events (STE)) and all-cause mortality for apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and VKAs, in adult patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) initiating a given OAC between 2014 and 2016. The French national health insurance data (SNIIRAM) were used. Analyses were performed with adjustment on propensity scores. To avoid bias potentially related to underdosing, the present analysis included only patients receiving standard doses of apixaban (5mg bid), rivaroxaban (20mg od), and dabigatran (150 mg bid), or VKAs. Only OAC naïve patients were included.

Results

In the OAC-naive cohorts treated with apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran, 54,575 (62.3%), 65,208 (65.2%), and 9,000 (42.4%), respectively, had the standard dose at the index dispensation, and 112,628 patients received VKAs. After adjustment on propensity scores, apixaban 5 mg was associated with a lower risk of major bleeding, compared to VKAs (Hazard Ratio: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.43–0.51) and rivaroxaban 20mg (HR: 0.64; 0.59–0.71), but not to dabigatran 150 mg (HR: 0.97; 0.79–1.18). Apixaban was associated with a lower risk of stroke and STE, compared to VKAs (HR: 0.62; 0.56–0.69) but not to rivaroxaban (HR: 1.03; 0.92–1.16), and dabigatran (HR: 0.96; 0.76–1.21). Apixaban showed a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to VKAs (HR: 0.44; 0.41–0.47) and rivaroxaban (HR: 0.87; 0.81–0.94) but not to dabigatran (HR: 1.10; 0.92–1.32).

Figure 1. Forest plot presenting the results of the standard dose analysis (PS adjusted).

Conclusions

The NAXOS population-based country-wide observational study shows that 42% to 65% of patients were treated with standard doses of OACs. Analyses of standard doses confirmed the superiority of apixaban compared with VKAs for the three studied outcomes and suggests better safety profile of apixaban compared to rivaroxaban but similar to dabigatran.

Acknowledgement/Funding

The Alliance Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer

Use of analgesics in France, following dextropropoxyphene withdrawal

Background

In 2009, the European Medicines Agency recommended withdrawal of dextropropoxyphene (DXP); in March 2011 it was withdrawn from the market in France. Up until that time the combination dextropropoxyphene-paracetamol (DXP/PC) was widely used for analgesia. At withdrawal, French regulators recommended that DXP/PC be replaced by other step 2 analgesics, i.e. tramadol, codeine, or opium-containing drugs, or by PC for a weak level of pain. To investigate prescribing behaviours after DXP/PC withdrawal, dispensations of analgesics before and after withdrawal were analysed.

Methods

Aggregated dispensation data of analgesics prescribed between January 2009 and December 2012 in the Rhône-Alpes region were obtained from the general health insurance claims data; changes in analgesic dispensation over time were analysed with the ATC/DDD methodology. Pre (Jan-June 2009) and post-withdrawal (Jan-June 2012) changes of DDDs where computed for each analgesic step.

Results

The dispensations of DXP/PC experienced a two-step decrease until 2011. Over the withdrawal period 2009-2012, there was a 14% decrease in the overall use of analgesic (from 109 to 94 DDDs), while the use of step 2 analgesics declined by 46% (− 22 DDDs, from 47 to 25 DDDs). This latter decline included a cessation of use of DXP/PC (29 DDDs in 2009) that were only in part (+ 7 DDDs, from 18 to 25 DDDs) compensated by increased use of codeine, tramadol and opium, in monotherapy or combined with PC. For step 1 analgesics, use increased with 9%, mostly PC (+ 8 DDDs, from 31 to 39 DDDs). Step 3 analgesics dispensations remained largely unchanged over this period (around 3 DDDs).

Conclusions

In the Rhône-Alpes region, DXP/PC withdrawal was accompanied in part by an increased use of same level analgesics, and in part by an increased use of PC in monotherapy. The extent of DXP/PC use before withdrawal, and the increased use of PC after DXP withdrawal, underline the complexity of pain management.

Costs of perennial allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma increase with severity and poor disease control

BACKGROUND

Perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) represents a global and public health problem, due to its prevalence, morbidity, and impact on the quality of life. PAR is frequently associated with allergic asthma (AA). Costs of PAR with or without AA are poorly documented.

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to detail medical resource utilization (MRU) and related direct cost for PAR, with or without concomitant AA, in France.

METHODS

Using Electronic Health Records (EHRs), we identified in 2010 two cohorts of PAR patients, based on General Practitioners' diagnoses and prescribing data, with and without concomitant AA. For each patient, the EHRs were linked to corresponding claims data with MRU and costs during years 2011 to 2013. Predefined subgroup analyses were performed according to severity of PAR and level of AA control.

RESULTS

The median annual cost reimbursed by social security system for a patient with PAR, and no AA was 159€ in 2013. This varied from 111€ to 188€ depending on PAR severity. For patients with PAR and concomitant AA, the median annual cost varied between 266€ and 375€, and drug treatment accounted for 42-55% of the costs, depending on asthma control.

CONCLUSION

This study linking diagnoses from EHRs to claims data collected valid information on PAR management, with or without concomitant AA, and on related costs. There was a clear increase in costs with severity of PAR and control of AA.

[Therapeutic adherence in asthma in France: A general review]

INTRODUCTION

Adherence in asthma is a paramount issue of disease management. A general review of the French publications on this topic has been conducted.

METHODS

Research equations used for bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Science Direct, Banque de données en santé publique, Cochrane and Cairn.info) comprised the following keywords: "asthma", "therapeutic adherence" and "France". These publications unrelated to asthma, focused on asthma management without exploring adherence, or those conducted in populations without French patients were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 82 articles have been selected (36 surveys, 4 randomized trials and 42 reviews/syntheses). Whatever the methodology used and publication year, the inadequate therapeutic adherence in asthma was steadily reported, notably for controllers and the quality of use of inhaled devices.

CONCLUSION

The present review highlights the sustainability of adherence-related issues in asthma and the need to improve patients' knowledge on asthma and the finality of therapy. It also highlights the need of an improved communication between patients and physicians is also advocated. Further studies with more recent data are desirable to assess changes in disease management of asthma and the impact of potential future corrective interventions.

Anti-osteoporotic treatments in France: initiation, persistence and switches over 6 years of follow-up

Limited information is available on anti-osteoporotic treatment initiation patterns in France. In 2006-2013, the most frequently prescribed first-line treatment class for osteoporosis was represented by bisphosphonates (alendronic acid and risedronic acid), followed by strontium ranelate. Persistence with anti-osteoporotic treatment was low, with high proportions of treatment discontinuations and switches.

INTRODUCTION

This epidemiological, longitudinal study described first-line treatment initiation, persistence, switches to second-line treatment, and medical care consumption in osteoporotic patients in France during the 2007-2013 period.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥50 years, who were recorded in a French claims database and did not die during the observation period, were included if they met ≥1 inclusion criteria for osteoporosis in 2007 (≥1 reimbursement for anti-osteoporotic treatment, hospitalisation for osteoporotic fracture (spine, hip, femur, forearm bones, humerus, wrist), or ≥1 reimbursement for long-term osteoporosis-associated status). We collected data on consumption of anti-osteoporotic treatment (alendronic acid, ibandronic acid, risedronic acid, zoledronic acid, raloxifene, strontium ranelate, teriparatide) and of osteoporosis-related medical care after the date of first reimbursement for anti-osteoporotic treatment.

RESULTS

We obtained 2219 patients with a 6-year follow-up and 1387 who initiated an anti-osteoporotic treatment in 2007 and who can be selected for the treatment regimen analysis. The most frequently used first-line treatments were alendronic acid (32.7 %), risedronic acid (22.4 %), strontium ranelate (19.3 %), ibandronic acid (13.1 %) and raloxifene (12.2 %). Among patients who received these treatments, the highest persistence after 6 years was observed for raloxifene (37.3 %), alendronic acid (35.1 %) and risedronic acid (32.3 %). Treatment discontinuations were reported for 35.5 % (raloxifene) to 53.4 % (strontium ranelate) and treatment switches for 27.4 % (alendronic acid) to 56.6 % (ibandronic acid) of these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that persistence with anti-osteoporotic treatment was relatively low in France, with high proportions of treatment discontinuations and switches, and that patients with osteoporosis were insufficiently monitored by bone specialists.

What are the therapeutic alternatives to dextropropoxyphene in France? A prescribers' survey

About a year after dextropropoxyphene (DXP) withdrawal from the French market, we conducted a survey among members of the French Society of Anesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine (Sfar) and of the French Society of the Study and Treatment of Pain (SFETD) to identify the indications for which this WHO level II analgesic had been prescribed, the prescriber's feedback following withdrawal, and the substitutive analgesics prescribed. DXP had been prescribed by more than 75% of the 430 anaesthesiologists and 230 pain specialists interviewed, mainly for acute and chronic non-cancer pain of moderate intensity. While two thirds of pain specialists were not satisfied with DXP withdrawal, this decision did not affect the majority of anaesthesiologists. In both groups, the main substitutive analgesic was tramadol combined with acetaminophen, while only 24% of prescribers considered acetaminophen alone as a substitute.

[Deliberate interruptions and changes of dose of inhaled corticosteroids by asthma patients: "a community pharmacy study"]

BACKGROUND

Adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) remains a major issue for asthma management, even among patients receiving a regular prescription from their doctor. The frequency of deliberate interruption of ICS, and of spontaneous changes of dose, were studied in a population of asthma patients recruited in community pharmacies.

METHODS

Asthma patients (aged 18-50) recruited in community pharmacies reported in self-administered questionnaires their spontaneous interruptions and changes of doses of ICS during the past 3 months. The characteristics of patients who interrupted their therapy or who modified the dose were compared with other patients.

RESULTS

The studied population included 252 patients (mean age 35 year-old, females: 59%), of whom 62% had inadequately controlled asthma. Among these patients, 25% had interrupted ICS therapy during the past 3 months, while 21% spontaneously changed the dose. The most reported reason for interrupting ICS was the cessation of symptoms (50%). In multivariate analysis, interrupting ICS was mainly associated with inadequate asthma control (OR=3.1, 95% CI 1.5-6.4), while the strongest association with changing ICS doses was the patients' perception of asthma as a concern in their lives (OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.2-8.4).

CONCLUSION

These results underline a poor understanding of the purpose of ICS therapy by patients. They also highlight the need of therapeutic education to improve the management of the disease.