scholarly journals Optimization of resources by drug management: A multicentred web-administered study on the use of ipilimumab in Italy

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-792
Author(s):  
V Damuzzo ◽  
A Russi ◽  
M Chiumente ◽  
C Masini ◽  
B Rebesco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Preparation ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Drug Management ◽  
Economic Management ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Oncology Care ◽  
Open Issue ◽  
Drug Waste ◽  
Market Strategies

Objective In a scenario of new expensive cancer therapies entering the market, strategies of optimisation and cost containment are crucial in oncology care. Better management of drug waste and centralization of drug preparation can be effective strategies to achieve these goals. The aim of this work is to describe the economic management of a high cost anticancer drug (ipilimumab) in some Italian reference centres. Methods This was an observational, multicentred study in which economical and clinical data of 21 cancer centres (418 patients) were collected during the enrollment period from February 2013 to August 2014. The follow-up period ended in July 2015. Results Participants purchased 10.7% more vials of ipilimumab than necessary for compounding. The results were variable among centres, and only five centres had a deviation lower than 5% between the drug purchased and the drug prescribed. Hospitals applying the drug day reached a statistically significant residual of drug effectively used compared to the amount prescribed (P = 0.018). Consequently, the price for treating a model patient was significantly lower in those hospitals (median spare of 7456 euro per patient). Conclusions This study demonstrated that the careful management of drug waste and the application of drug-day, through a proper selection of vial and the ability to use the leftover drug, can generate economic savings. However, tailoring the drug stock to clinical need is still an open issue which deserves further analysis.

scholarly journals Incidence and frequency of cancer cachexia during chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 5271-5279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuichi Mitsunaga ◽  
Eiji Kasamatsu ◽  
Koji Machii
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cancer Cachexia ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
First Line ◽  
Timing Of Onset ◽  
Line Chemotherapy

Abstract Purpose Cachexia influences the patient’s physical wellbeing and quality of life, and the patient’s ability to tolerate their cancer therapies, especially cytotoxic chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and timing of onset of cancer cachexia during chemotherapy and its association with prognosis and toxicity in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods We performed a retrospective study in patients who underwent first-line chemotherapy after diagnosis of advanced PDAC between 6 June 2008 and 31 March 2017. Base cachexia (weight loss up to 6 months before starting first-line chemotherapy) and follow-up cachexia (after starting first-line chemotherapy) were defined as weight loss > 2% with a body mass index (BMI) < 20 kg/m2 or weight loss > 5%. Results A total of 150 patients were registered. The median age and BMI were 65 years and 21.7 kg/m2, respectively. Base cachexia occurred in 50% of patients. Follow-up cachexia occurred in 32% within 12 weeks of starting first-line chemotherapy, reaching 64% at 1 year. Overall survival was not significantly different between patients with and without follow-up cachexia, regardless of whether cancer cachexia occurred within 12, 24, or 48 weeks of starting first-line treatment. Appetite loss, fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea were more frequent in patients with follow-up cachexia than in those without follow-up cachexia. Conclusion Follow-up cachexia had an early onset, but was not a prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with PDAC. Some adverse events tended to be more frequent in patients with follow-up cachexia than in those without follow-up cachexia.

Assessment of renal function in patients with liver disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-142
Author(s):  
Vladimír Teplan
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Kidney Disease ◽  
Liver Transplantation ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Filtration Rate ◽  
Renal Damage ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Drug Management ◽  
Function Measurement

Accurate measurement of renal function in serious liver disease is very important not only for the estimation of renal damage (chronic kidney disease – CKD), safe drug management, prediction of illness follow-up, intensive methods including hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration or hemoperfusion, but also for the indication of liver transplantation. All methods of renal function measurement using serum creatinine for the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are not accurate: they overestimate the value of GFR; the worse the liver damage is, the higher the level of overestimation; predominantly due to decreased endogenous creatinine production (creatinine generation rate – CGR). Using of cystatin C for GFR in liver disease is mainly promising in acute kidney injury (AKI), but obtained results have not been defi nitive yet and need more relevant data from diff erent methods of GFR estimation.

scholarly journals Longitudinal associations between ultra-processed foods and blood lipids in childhood

2020 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula S. Leffa ◽  
Daniel J. Hoffman ◽  
Fernanda Rauber ◽  
Caroline N. Sangalli ◽  
Júlia L. Valmórbida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Blood Lipids ◽  
Blood Lipid ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Porto Alegre ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
System A ◽  
Data Consumption

AbstractEmerging evidence suggests that the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) plays a role in the development of chronic diseases, but evidence of their influence in children is limited. Our objective was to study longitudinal trends of UPF intake and determine their impact on blood lipids in young children. The present study was a follow-up of a randomised field trial of children (n 308) from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Dietary intake was collected using two 24-h recalls at 3 and 6 years of age, and consumption of UPF was classified according to the NOVA system, a food classification based on the extent and purpose of industrial food processing. At age 6 years, blood tests were performed to measure lipid profile. Contribution of UPF to total energy intake increased by 10 % during the follow-up period, from 43·4 % at 3 years to 47·7 % at 6 years of age. Linear regression models showed that children in the highest tertile of UPF consumption at age 3 years had higher levels of total cholesterol (TC; β 0·22 mmol/l; 95 % CI 0·04, 0·39) and TAG at age 6 years (β 0·11 mmol/l, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·20) compared with those in the lowest tertile. A positive dose–response was observed for an absolute increment of 10 % of UPF on TC (β 0·07 mmol/l, 95 % CI 0·00, 0·14) and TAG (β 0·04 mmol/l, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·07). Based on our data, consumption of UPF increased significantly over time and was associated with higher blood lipid levels in children from a low-income community. Our findings highlight the need for effective strategies to minimise the consumption of UPF in early life.

Follow-up after implementing a web-based support tool for intrathecal pump drug management

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 135.1-135
Author(s):  
Ethan M Young ◽  
Chad R Greene ◽  
Thomas M Austin ◽  
Mark S Miller ◽  
Christopher M Sobey
Keyword(s):  
Drug Management ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Support Tool

scholarly journals Monitoring the heart during cancer therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_M) ◽  
pp. M44-M49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Habibian ◽  
Alexander R Lyon
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Injury ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Oncology Care ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Protective Treatment ◽  
Clinical Strategy

Abstract A growing number of effective cancer therapies is associated with cardiovascular (CV) toxicities including myocardial injury or dysfunction, leading to reduced ventricular function, and increased risk of heart failure. As the timing of administration of cancer treatment is known, the potential for risk stratification pre-treatment, and appropriate surveillance and monitoring during treatment, and intervention with cardio-protective treatment strategies in patients exhibiting early evidence of CV toxicity is an appealing clinical strategy. The field of cardio-oncology has developed, and the application of monitoring strategies using CV biomarkers and CV imaging has been to focus of many studies and is now implemented in dedicated cardio-oncology services supporting oncology centres. In this article, we review the background and rationale for monitoring, the different options and their strengths, weaknesses and where they are helpful in specific cardiotoxic cancer therapies, and the impact in cardio-oncology care.

Using Canadian administrative data to evaluate primary and oncology care of breast cancer patients post-treatment: Subset of the CanIMPACT Study.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 5-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary L McBride ◽  
Patti Groome ◽  
Donna Turner ◽  
Margaret Jorgensen ◽  
Cynthia Kendell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Oncology Care

5 Background: CanIMPACT is a multi-provincial Canadian research team funded to identify and address key issues faced by cancer patients and providers at the intersection of primary and specialist oncology care. Canada has national healthcare standards, but provincial/territorial healthcare delivery systems. One facet will use administrative data from the population-based, publicly-funded healthcare system to evaluate issues during pre-diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment survivorship for breast cancer patients. For the survivorship phase, we aim to conduct the following analyses and compare across provinces: 1) Utilization of physician services overall and by specialty, including oncologists, non-oncology specialists, and primary care; 2) Assessment of adherence to ASCO and Canadian follow-up guideline for breast cancer care, use of surveillance breast imaging, and metastatic investigations; 3) Assessment of adherence to recommended care of chronic illness and preventive care; 4) Quantification of the cost of follow-up overall and by specialty; 5) Comparison of inter- and intra-provincial variation for all outcomes by health administrative region and for vulnerable groups (age ≥ 75 at diagnosis, northern/rural/remote, low income, immigrants), and examine the effect of continuity of primary care and chronic disease on post-treatment care. Methods: Patients will be identified from provincial cancer registries and linked to data extracted from: outpatient physician service claims, hospital inpatient and outpatient data, and cancer facility medical records. Results: Participating provinces have finalized the core questions and detailed protocols, and assessed data comparability. They are in the process of obtaining the required ethics and data access approvals, and data acquisition for processing and analysis. Conclusions: Results will address existing information gaps that can be used to improve transition and care across the cancer care trajectory. Importantly, results will be combined with those of a CanIMPACT qualitative study to inform design of a pragmatic randomized trial focused on improving coordination and quality of care.

Developing a cardiac monitoring plan in at-risk cancer survivors.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 133-133
Author(s):  
Aubri Veneruso ◽  
Megan Rae Slocum ◽  
Sheetal Mehta Kircher ◽  
Nausheen Akhter ◽  
Gillian Murtagh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Treatment Phase ◽  
Cardiac Risk ◽  
Treatment Setting ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Consensus Statements ◽  
Pre Treatment

133 Background: Improvements in early detection, screening, and treatment of cancer translate into survivors living longer, highlighting the need for guidelines to address the late and long-term effects of cancer treatment. A particularly concerning effect is Cancer Therapeutics-Related Cardiac Dysfunction (CTRCD). Cancer treatments can result in a range of cardiovascular toxicity including left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure and radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). Various consensus statements related to cardiovascular care for adult cancer survivors exist; however there are no globally accepted follow-up guidelines. Our purpose is to create a protocol to stratify a survivor’s cardiac risk and provide a basis for follow-up recommendations. Methods: We first evaluated existing resources within our institution and identified key stakeholders who were recruited to form a multidisciplinary workgroup (2 survivorship advanced practice providers, an oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and 2 cardio-oncologists). We then reviewed current research and literature on cardiotoxic cancer therapies and identified two consensus statements from the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging which helped inform our protocol. Finally, we created a cardiac assessment that could be applied in the pre-treatment phase and extend into the post-treatment phase. Results: Two assessment tools were developed. The first is an algorithm initiated in the pre-treatment setting by an oncologist when a Type I or Type II cardiotoxic agent is planned. The second is a risk assessment tool that is initiated in the post-treatment setting to stratify cardiac risk and provide follow-up recommendations. Conclusions: Development of standardized guidelines for assessment and treatment of late and long-term effects of treatment is critical. This protocol has been developed to account for the many factors that contribute to overall cardiac risk after various anti-cancer therapies. Further data is needed to evaluate long-term cardiac and survival outcomes based on this protocol.

Expansion of an oncology care coordination nurse model to reduce hospitalizations and emergency department utilization.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 82-82
Author(s):  
Georgina T. Rodgers ◽  
Michelle Brusio ◽  
Jacob Lindberg ◽  
Craig Savage ◽  
Joseph Hooley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Care Coordination ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Phone Call ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Coordinated Care ◽  
Care Coordinator ◽  
Oncology Care

82 Background: Comprehensive, coordinated care is a key driver of care transformation within the Oncology Care Model. Care coordination provides deliberate, organized, patient centered care initiatives aimed to improve care transitions, patient education, patient engagement and quality of care throughout the care continuum. Methods: Specialty care coordinator nurses were a part of our heath system’s model of care but over the course of our participation in the OCM we have implemented care coordination in our regional locations across 15 additional sites of care. Standardized templates for initial and follow up education were created for oral and parenteral therapies with an emphasis on symptom management education. A patient education tool was developed through a partnership with nursing, pharmacy and physicians across disease groups to outline when a patient should contact their physician or RN care coordinator with symptom issues. Targeted outreach calls and associated documentation templates were created for symptom assessment and adequate follow up. Templates include a pre-chemo orientation call, post treatment follow up phone call within seven days, and post hospital discharge/ED treat and release follow up calls. A team based huddle guideline was developed to provide a means for interdisciplinary communication to assess patients for high risk based upon medical, functional, social, cognitive and behavioral factors that might lead to a hospitalization. Results: Our teams worked closely with EMR specialists and internal data analysts to build appropriate templates and subsequent reports to monitor compliance with documentation, evaluate the number of outreach touch points and effectiveness of interventions on a reduction of hospitalizations and ED utilization. We have noted an a modest decrease in hospitalizations and ED utilization through OCM feedback reports and reconciliation reports. Conclusions: We continue to monitor our monthly hospital admissions and ED utilization across the health system and drill down into the data to determine if there are any opportunities where care coordination outreach and incoming telephone triage could have prevented the admission.

Feasibility of pharmacist co-management for patients prescribed oral anticancer therapy for gastrointestinal cancers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 77-77
Author(s):  
Cathy Cao ◽  
James M. Cleary ◽  
Anuj K. Patel ◽  
Matthew B. Yurgelun ◽  
Kimmie Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Information ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Drug Access ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Gi Cancers ◽  
The Impact

77 Background: There is an increased use of oral anti-cancer therapies (OACTs) for treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. While OACTs provide convenience compared to IV agents, they carry similar risks for drug-drug interactions (DDI), toxicities, and unique challenges like adherence and drug access. Patients on OACTs have fewer touch-points with clinicians, requiring more patient ownership of treatment. Pharmacist co-management of pts has been shown to be successful in teaching and monitoring of IV therapy. We sought to assess feasibility of pharmacist co-management for pts prescribed OACTs for treatment of GI cancers. Methods: In 2019, the Dana-Farber GI Cancer Center (GCC) had an embedded pharmacist 8 hrs/week to help with co-management of pts on OACTs. The pharmacist provided (1) in-person and telephone teaching; (2) comprehensive medication reconciliation; (3) DDI review; and (4) supportive care recommendations. Patients were identified by reviewing provider schedules and through provider referrals. The initial teach visit was one-on-one with each patient before initiation, with joint visits with providers thereafter for monitoring and adherence checks. Data were collected to quantify the types of support/recommendation provided by pharmacist and the impact on clinical workflow. Results: After 4 months in the GCC clinic, the pharmacist has co-managed 26 new pts, 61% seen in-person. In initial visits, the pharmacist identified 3 DDI, updated 15 medication lists, and assisted 11 pts/or providers with drug access and drug information. The pharmacist saw 10 of 26 pts for follow up, totaling 21 encounters. The pharmacist assisted in 17 of the 21 encounters with drug access and drug information. Pharmacist spent 20 min/pt on teaching. For follow-up visits, the pharmacist did not additional incur clinic resources as patients were seen with providers. Conclusions: Pharmacist co-management of patients on OACTs is feasible and offers an added safety resource to pts and providers from initial teaching to monitoring. Future research will focus on the impacts of co-management on clinical outcomes, such as the use of emergency/hospital visits, the duration of therapy, and adherence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document