Current medical research and opinion
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To examine medication dosing patterns of duloxetine and pregabalin among patients with fibromyalgia. ⋯ Among patients with fibromyalgia, duloxetine and pregabalin initiators had different dosing patterns. The average daily dose for duloxetine was relatively stable over time, while pregabalin patients had significant dose increase over the 12-month post-index period.
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The prevalence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in the US is largely unknown. Prior research has estimated PAH prevalence in Europe at ∼15-52 per million. ⋯ Prevalence rates of CTEPH and PAH increase with age, and are higher among women. The increased risk of PE may explain the sharp age gradient for CTEPH prevalence. The estimated US prevalence of PAH is higher than existing estimates.
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Comparative Study
Adherence and persistence to a regimen of basal insulin in a pre-filled pen compared to vial/syringe in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes.
This study was conducted to compare adherence and persistence of patients initiating basal insulin therapy with Levemir FlexPen versus those initiating basal insulin therapy with NPH via vial and syringe. ⋯ These results suggest that persistence and adherence with insulin may be improved for patients initiating basal insulin therapy with Levemir FlexPen versus NPH vial.
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This commentary critically evaluates the limitations of genetic risk predictions in multifactorial disease, with specific reference to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a common blinding disease with 33 million people worldwide experiencing vision impairment. ⋯ In the case of complex multifactorial disease such as AMD, to have the same predictive certainty that exists for monogenic disorders, we must account for all gene-environment interactions. We discuss sensitive vision tests that reflect causal gene-environment mechanisms and their potential in AMD risk prediction.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Impact of rosiglitazone therapy on the lipid profile, glycemic control, and medication costs among type 2 diabetes patients.
To investigate the impact of rosiglitazone therapy on lipid profiles, glycemic control, and costs associated with cholesterol-lowering and diabetic medications among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in a standard practice setting. ⋯ Addition of rosiglitazone to an existing antidiabetic medication regimen improved glycemic control to a lesser extent than metformin/sulfonylurea, and also deteriorated patients' lipid profiles, leading to significantly greater daily costs. Economic evaluations of alternative therapies should consider such costs to estimate the full impact of different therapeutic approaches in diabetes.