Use of antipsychotics and long-term risk of parkinsonism

Introduction Few epidemiological studies have assessed the risk of parkinsonisms after prolonged use of neuroleptics. We aimed to examine the long-term risk of degenerative parkinsonisms (DP) associated with previous use of neuroleptics. Methods All residents in Piedmont, Northern-west Italy, older than 39 years (2,526,319 subjects), were retrospectively followed up from 2013 to 2017. Exposure to neuroleptics was assessed through the regional archive of drug prescriptions. The development of DP was assessed using the regional archives of both drug prescriptions and hospital admissions. We excluded prevalent DP cases at baseline as well as those occurred in the first 18 months (short-term risk). The risk of DP associated with previous use of neuroleptics was examined through Cox regression, using a matched cohort design. Results The risk of DP was compared between 63,356 exposed and 316,779 unexposed subjects. A more than threefold higher risk of DP was observed among subjects exposed to antipsychotics, compared to those unexposed (HR = 3.27, 95% CI 3.00–3.57), and was higher for exposure to atypical than typical antipsychotics. The risk decreased after 2 years from therapy cessation but remained significantly elevated (HR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.76–3.21). Conclusions These results indicate a high risk of developing DP long time from the start of use and from the cessation for both typical and atypical neuroleptics, suggesting the need of monitoring treated patients even after long-term use and cessation.

Descriptive analysis of adverse drug reaction reports in children and adolescents from Germany: frequently reported reactions and suspected drugs

Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in the pediatric population may differ in types and frequencies compared to other populations. Respective studies analyzing ADR reports referring to children have already been performed for certain countries. However, differences in drug prescriptions, among others, complicate the transferability of the results from other countries to Germany or were rarely considered. Hence, the first aim of our study was to analyze the drugs and ADRs reported most frequently in ADR reports from Germany referring to children contained in the European ADR database (EudraVigilance). The second aim was to set the number of ADR reports in relation to the number of drug prescriptions. These were provided by the Research Institute for Ambulatory Health Care in Germany. Methods For patients aged 0–17 years 20,854 spontaneous ADR reports were received between 01/01/2000–28/2/2019. The drugs and ADRs reported most frequently were identified. Stratified analyses with regard to age, sex and drugs used “off-label” were performed. Reporting rates (number of ADR reports/number of drug prescriptions) were calculated. Results Methylphenidate (5.5%), ibuprofen (2.3%), and palivizumab (2.0%) were most frequently reported as suspected. If related to the number of drug prescriptions, the ranking changed (palivizumab, methylphenidate, ibuprofen). Irrespective of the applied drugs, vomiting (5.4%), urticaria (4.6%) and dyspnea (4.2%) were the ADRs reported most frequently. For children aged 0–1 year, drugs for the treatment of nervous system disorders and foetal exposure during pregnancy were most commonly reported. In contrast, methylphenidate ranked first in children older than 6 years and referred 3.5 times more often to males compared to females. If age- and sex-specific exposure was considered, more ADR reports for methylphenidate referred to children 4–6 years and females 13–17 years. Drugs for the treatment of nervous system disorders ranked first among “off-label” ADR reports. Conclusions Our analysis underlines the importance of putting the number of ADR reports of a drug in context with its prescriptions. Additionally, differences in age- and sex-stratified analysis were observed which may be associated with age- and sex-specific diseases and, thus, drug exposure. The drugs most frequently included in “off-label” ADR reports differed from those most often used according to literature.

Incidence of unlicensed and off-label medication prescriptions at the Department of Paediatrics: what has changed after seven years?

BackgroundMany common drugs have not been registered for use in children. Therefore, they are sometimes prescribed as unlicensed or off-label. This study, performed at the Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic, evaluated off-label and unlicensed prescriptions. A similar study, conducted in 2013 by the same authors (P. Matalová – maiden name P. Langerová), showed that the number of off-label and unlicensed prescriptions was relatively low, compared to other studies. The goal of this study was to compare the frequency of off-label and unlicensed drug prescriptions, and to assess whether these prescriptions have declined.MethodsThe study evaluated the incidence of unlicensed and off-label prescriptions at the Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Olomouc during a period of six months. A total of 10,710 prescriptions for 5,243 children were processed.Results In our previous study, performed from January to June 2012, a total of 8,559 prescriptions for 4,282 children were processed. Off-label and unlicensed prescriptions were found in 9.01% and 1.26% of all prescriptions, respectively. Unlicensed prescriptions were significantly more common in boys (1.5%) than in girls (1.0%). Seven years later, the same study in the same months was performed to ascertain the development in prescribing practice. In the 2019 study, the total number of prescriptions and patients was higher (18.8% vs. 22.2%, respectively) as was the number of off-label and unlicensed prescriptions (11.1% and 1.7%, respectively).ConclusionsThis study shows that the incidence of unlicensed and off-label drug prescriptions is not high, but paediatricians should avoid exposing children to unnecessary risks as well as depriving them of potentially effective pharmacotherapy. The goal was to highlight the need for clinical trials in paediatrics and to determine in which drugs the demand for also being registered for younger children is highest. The number of off-label and unlicensed prescriptions indicates a gap in registration processes and should provide a clue as to which drugs are candidates for having their SPCs changed.

Analysis of the regional difference in the number of multi-drug prescriptions and its predictors in Japan, 2015–2018

Objective Polypharmacy and multi-drug prescription are major public health problems in Japan, but only a few studies have investigated the regional differences. By revealing regional differences in the multi-drug prescriptions, we can infer regions with high rates of multimorbidity or inappropriate prescribing. This study revealed regional differences in multi-drug prescriptions (the number of simultaneous prescriptions of seven or more internal medicines) and investigated the factors affecting the difference using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan data. Results The standardized claim ratio (SCR) of the number of multi-drug prescriptions, which corrected the difference in sex and age distribution of prefectures, varied depending on prefectures. A panel data analysis investigating the association between the SCR and explanatory variables (Medical institutions, socioeconomic factors, and physical characteristics of people in prefectures) revealed that the number of public assistance recipients per 1,000 persons was positively and significantly associated with the SCR (Standardized partial regression coefficient = 0.244, p-value = 0.038). In conclusion, regional differences in the number of the multi-drug prescriptions were revealed in Japan, suggesting that public assistance recipients tend to experience multi-drug prescriptions.

A conflict with prescription shoppers

The physician should be familiar with early diagnosis and dealing with patients who seek nonmedical drug prescriptions. It is a dilemma, and it may create a problem in health care practice in unequipped physicians. The common illegal drugs requested by 'prescription shoppers' are opioids and benzodiazepines.

Patients with tinnitus use more primary healthcare compared to people without tinnitus

Tinnitus is a heterogeneous condition not only in terms of nature of the sound, but also in co-morbidities such as mental health issues. Prevalence number range widely between 5 and 43%. Even though the etiologic pathway between tinnitus and its comorbidities remains unclear, in this study we aim to assess whether people with tinnitus use more primary health care than people without tinnitus. To compare primary healthcare consumption between patients with tinnitus and people without tinnitus. In this cross-sectional study, data on number of consultations with the general practitioner or nurse practitioner mental health services were obtained from Nivel (Netherlands Institute for Health Service Research) Primary Care Database in 2018 (n = 963,880 people). People with an open tinnitus episode (n = 8050) were defined as a patient with tinnitus and compared to all other people. Percentages, means, ranges and mean differences were calculated for the total number of consultations and for organ specific diagnoses registered as ICPC-1 code on the day of consultation. Secondary, the total number of referrals to medical specialists and number of drug prescriptions was collected. Logistic regressions were performed to predict having one or more contacts, referrals, and prescriptions,with having tinnitus, this was corrected for age and gender. Patients with tinnitus had a mean of 9.8 (SD 10.9) primary care consultations in 2018, compared to 5.7 (SD 7.9) for people without tinnitus. More patients with tinnitus had more than one referral to medical specialists (47%) compared to people without tinnitus (25%). Patients with tinnitus have 1.2 (mean difference) more drug prescriptions than people without tinnitus. Compared to people without tinnitus, patients with tinnitus were more likely to have one or more of primary healthcare contact, independent of age group and gender. Patients with tinnitus had more consultations in primary health care than people without tinnitus. They are more often referred to medical specialists and receive more drug prescriptions. The causal relationship between tinnitus and the higher healthcare consumption remains to be researched.

QUALITY OF PRESCRIPTIONS IN PRIMARY CARE: WE NEED TO TARGET THAT

Aim: To identify errors in drug prescriptions and its causes in a primary healthcare center. Method: Cross-sectional study carried out in a primary healthcare center in northeastern Brazil. A total of 707 drug prescriptions were analyzed using an instrument with pre-established criteria, according to the country's legal provisions regarding drug prescription. An Ishikawa diagram was created to identify the possible causes for the identified errors. Results: A total of 138 drug prescriptions (19.5%) presented information failure or inadequacy. From the errors found, 116 (16.41%) were related to information on dosage. The Ishikawa diagram showed opportunity for improvement in management, training, and technical/professional qualification. Conclusion: The errors seen on drug prescriptions at a primary healthcare center were related to illegibility, absence of dosage, and absence of mandatory patient information. Organizational, technical, scientific, and political factors were identified as the roots of the identified errors.