Antibiotic exposure and acquisition of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria among outpatients at a US Veterans Affairs medical center

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria (R-GNB) among patients without recent hospitalization and to examine the influence of outpatient antibiotic exposure on the risk of acquiring R-GNB in this population. Design: 2-year retrospective cohort study. Setting: Regional Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Patients: Outpatients at 13 community-based clinics. Methods: We examined the rate of acquisition of R-GNB within 90 days following an outpatient visit from 2018 to 2019. We used clinical and administrative databases to determine and summarize prescriptions for systemic antibiotics, associated infectious diagnoses, and subsequent R-GNB acquisition among patients without recent hospitalizations. We also calculated the odds ratio of R-GNB acquisition following antibiotic exposure. Results: During the 2-year study period, 7,215 patients had outpatient visits with microbiological cultures obtained within 90 days. Of these patients, 206 (2.9%) acquired an R-GNB. Among patients receiving antibiotics at the visit, 4.6% acquired a R-GNB compared to 2.7% among patients who did not receive antibiotics, yielding an unadjusted odds ratio of 1.75 (95% confidence interval, 1.18–2.52) for a R-GNB following an outpatient visit with versus without an antibiotic exposure. Regardless of R-GNB occurrence, >50% of antibiotic prescriptions were issued at visits without an infectious disease diagnosis or issued without documentation of an in-person or telehealth clinical encounter. Conclusions: Although the rate of R-GNBs was low (2.9%), the 1.75-fold increased odds of acquiring a R-GNB following an outpatient antibiotic highlights the importance of antimicrobial stewardship efforts in outpatient settings. Specific opportunities include reducing antibiotics prescribed without an infectious diagnosis or a clinical visit.

Emergency-department accesses in home care paediatric patients: Occurrence and risks of use in a six-year retrospective investigation in Northern Italy

Objective To assess the determinants of ED use in paediatric patients enrolled in an Integrated Paediatric Home Care (IPHC) program. Methods A retrospective study was conducted using administrative databases on a cohort of patients enrolled in an IPHC program between January 1st, 2012, and December 31st, 2017, in Northern Italy. ED visits that occurred during the IPHC program were considered. Data were collected considering sociodemographic, clinical and organizational variables. A multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed. The dependent variable to identify possible associations was ED visit. Results A total of 463 ED visits occurred in 465 children, with an incidence rate of 1. The risk of ED visits significantly increased among children involved in the IPHC program after hospital discharge (OR 1.94). Additionally, the risk of ED visits increased significantly as the duration of IPHC increased (OR 5.80 between 101 and 200 days, to OR 7.84 between 201 and 300 days, OR 12.54 between 301 and 400 days and OR 18.67 to more than 400 days). Conclusion The overall results represent a practical perspective to contribute improving both the service quality of IPHC and reducing low acuity and improper ED use.

Longitudinal Healthcare Utilization and Costs in Parkinson’s Disease: Pre-Diagnosis to 9 Years After

Background: There is currently insufficient long-term data on costs of treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is chronic and progressive, and associated with substantial healthcare costs. Identifying patterns in healthcare utilization and cost may illuminate further discussion on early intervention. Objective: To characterize long-term healthcare utilization and costs of PD in newly diagnosed patients managed by movement disorder specialists. Methods: Using a longitudinal matched-cohort study of linked data from the National Neuroscience Institute Parkinson’s disease and Movement Disorder and healthcare administrative databases in Singapore from 2008–2017, we compared healthcare utilization and costs between patients and controls matched on age, sex, race, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. Results: 1,162 patients met study inclusion criteria and 1,157 matched controls were identified. The total mean annual healthcare cost (at 2017 costs) was significantly increased in patients compared to controls from years 1–9 post-diagnosis. The increased cost was observed 2 years before diagnosis (USD2322 vs. 2052; p < 0.001). Mean annual cost attributable to PD increased from USD1854 at 1-year post-diagnosis to USD2652 at 9 years. Over 9 years, average costs were significantly higher across all domains of healthcare utilization except primary care—cost of intermediate and long-term care was increased by a factor of 2.5, specialist care by 2.3, emergency department visits by 1.6, and hospital admissions by 1.3. Conclusion: PD results in higher healthcare utilization and costs. Pre-diagnosis increase in healthcare utilization observed in patients supports the presence of prodromal PD symptoms and may present an opportunity for early diagnosis.

The economic impact of rostering junior doctors to triage to assist nursing staff in the early part of the patient journey through the emergency department

Objective This study aims to determine whether redeploying junior doctors to assist at triage represents good value for money and a good use of finite staffing resources. Methods We undertook a cost-minimisation analysis to produce new evidence, from an economic perspective, about the costs associated with reallocating junior doctors in the emergency department. We built a decision-analytic model, using a mix of prospectively collected data, routinely collected administrative databases and hospital costings to furnish the model. To measure the impact of uncertainty on the model’s inputs and outputs, probabilistic sensitivity analysis was undertaken, using Monte Carlo simulation. Results The mean costs for usual care were $27,035 (95% CI $27,016 to $27,054), while the mean costs for the new model of care were $25,474, (95% CI $25,453 to $25,494). As a result, the mean difference was -$1,561 (95% CI -$1,533 to -$1,588), with the new model of care being a less costly approach to managing staffing allocations, in comparison to the usual approach. Conclusion Our study shows that redeploying a junior doctor from the fast-track area of the department to assist at triage provides a modest reduction in cost. Our findings give decision-makers who seek to maximise benefit from their finite budget, support to reallocate personnel within the ED.

Healthcare utilization among persons living with HIV in Manitoba, Canada, prior to HIV diagnosis: A case-control analysis

Background Understanding care patterns of persons living with HIV prior to diagnosis can inform prevention opportunities, earlier diagnosis, and engagement strategies. We examined healthcare utilization among HIV-positive individuals and compared them to HIV-negative controls. Methods Data were from a retrospective cohort from Manitoba, Canada. Participants included individuals living with HIV presenting to care between 2007 and 2011, and HIV-negative controls, matched (1:5) by age, sex, and region. Data from population-based administrative databases included physician visits, hospitalizations, drug dispensation, and chlamydia and gonorrhea testing. Diagnoses associated with physician visits were classified according to International Classification of Diseases chapters. Conditional logistic regression models were used to compare cases/controls, with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) reported. Results A total of 193 cases and 965 controls were included. Physician visits and hospitalizations were higher for cases, compared to controls. In the 2 years prior to case date, cases were more likely to be diagnosed with “blood disorders” (AOR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.0–9.0), be treated for mood disorders (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.6–3.4), and to have 1+ visits to a hospital (AOR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.4–3.6). Conclusion Opportunities exist for prevention, screening, and earlier diagnosis. There is a need for better integration of healthcare services with public health.

Trajectories of Adherence to Biologic Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in Tuscan Administrative Databases: The Pathfinder Study

Scanty information on clustering longitudinal real-world data is available in the medical literature about the adherence implementation phase in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To identify and characterize trajectories by analyzing the implementation phase of adherence to biologic Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), we conducted a retrospective cohort drug-utilization study using Tuscan administrative databases. RA patients were identified by a validated algorithm, including the first biologic DMARD supply from 2010 to 2015, RA specialist visit in the year before or after the first supply date and RA diagnosis in the five years before or in the year after the first supply date. We observed users for three years or until death, neoplasia, or pregnancy. We evaluated adherence quarterly through the Medication Possession Ratio. Firstly, we identified adherence trajectories and described the baseline characteristics; then, we focused on the trajectory most populated to distinguish the related sub-trajectories. We identified 952 first ever-biologic DMARD users in RA (712 females, mean age 52.7 years old, standard deviation 18.8). The biologic DMARD mostly supplied was etanercept (387 users) followed by adalimumab (233). Among 935 users with at least 3 adherence values, we identified 49 fully-adherent users, 829 continuous users, and 57 early-discontinuing users. Significant differences were observed among the index drugs. After focusing on the continuous users, three sub-trajectories were identified: continuous-steady users (556), continuous-alternate users (207), and continuous-declining users (66). No relevant differences emerged at the baseline. The majority of first ever-biologic DMARD users showed a continuous adherence behavior in RA. The role of adherence potential predictors and the association with effectiveness and safety outcomes should be explored by further studies.

Prevalence And Definitions of Polypharmacy: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Polypharmacy is common associated with several adverse health outcomes. There are currently no systematic reviews or meta-analyses on the prevalence of polypharmacy and associated factors. We aimed to identify population-based observational studies reporting on the prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases with no restriction on date. Population-based observational studies with cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort designs using administrative databases or registries to define or measure polypharmacy among individuals over 19. Using a standardized form, two reviewers independently extracted study characteristics, a crude prevalence rate of polypharmacy and its standard error with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk of bias and quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The main outcome was the prevalence of polypharmacy and factors associated with polypharmacy. Using a random-effects model, pooled prevalence estimates with 95% CI was reported. Subgroup analysis was performed if significant heterogeneity was explored. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to predict polypharmacy prevalence.RESULTS: 106 full-text articles were identifies using 21 unique terms with 138 descriptive definitions of polypharmacy. The pooled estimated prevalence polypharmacy in studies reporting all medication classes was 37% (95% CI: 31%-43%). Differences in polypharmacy prevalence were reported for studies using different numerical threshold and polypharmacy was also associated with study year in meta-regression. Sex, study geography, study design and study setting were not associated with differences in polypharmacy prevalence. DISCUSSION: Our review highlights that polypharmacy is common particularly among older adults and those in inpatient settings. A variety of definitions are used to define polypharmacy and differences in polypharmacy definitions may have implications for understanding the burden or polypharmacy and outcomes associated with polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Clinicians should be aware of the common occurrence of polypharmacy in all populations and undertake efforts to minimize inappropriate polypharmacy whenever possible.

Prevalence and direct costs of patients with neuromyelitis optica: data from Campania region in southern Italy

Aim: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and direct costs of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients in Campania, Italy. Materials & methods: We retrospectively evaluated 53 NMO patients (mean age: 50.9 ± 16.5 years; 34% men) from the Campania Region administrative databases identified through disease exemption codes in 2018 and analyzed the incidence of NMO among the Campania region population and the disease-related cost. Results: The prevalence of NMO was 0.91 per 100,000 individuals. The average regional cost per NMO patient was 10,836.2 euros. The highest cost was related to drugs (60.6%), followed by hospitalizations (32.7%), diagnostics (4.8%) and laboratory tests (1.0%). Conclusion: NMO is an extremely rare disease with an annual disease-related cost of 0.005% of public health expenditure.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Fall-Related Injuries Among Older Adults in Ontario, Canada

The number of older adults is growing rapidly in the province of Ontario meaning there will be more fall-related injuries (FRIs) in coming decades. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations in Canada. The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence, circumstances, types, and locations of FRIs among older adults in Ontario. Using a population-based retrospective design, we analyzed secondary data from three health administrative databases (NACRS, DAD, RPDB) for 2010-2014. Older adults (≥ 65 years) admitted to an emergency department (ED) with a combined diagnosis of ICD-10-CA codes for a fall (W00-W19) and injury (S00-S99 or T00-T14) were selected. Descriptive statistics were performed in R and rates were reported per 100,000 population. There were 304,610 FRI ED admissions (3,089/100,000) and 143,210 patients (47.0%) were subsequently hospitalized (1,452/100,000). Females accounted for 63.0% ED and 61.2% hospital admissions. Age-specific rates increased with age at both ED (2,208/100,000 in 65-69 group, 6,552/100,000 in 90+ years old) and hospital (698/100,000 in 65-69 group, 4,364/100,000 in 90+ years old). Females had higher rates of ED (3,503 vs. 2,572/100,000) and hospital (1,598 vs. 1,270/100,000) admissions than males. The most common injury types at the ED were fractures (1,234/100,000), superficial injuries (719/100,000), other or unspecified injuries (572/100,000), open wounds (498/100,000), and sprains, strains, and tears (162/100,000). FRIs are a considerable problem for older adults and better injury prevention strategies are needed for all female age groups, the 90+ year age group of both genders, and fractures.