Real-World Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Patients With Insomnia Prescribed Trazodone in the United States.

PURPOSE: This study sought to describe patient characteristics and treatment patterns among patients with insomnia prescribed trazodone in the United States. METHODS: This real-world, retrospective, descriptive cohort study used US commercial insurance claims from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2019. The index date was the first prescription for trazodone between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018, with 6 months for the preindex period and ≥6 months for the postindex period. FINDINGS: Among 5.8 million patients with insomnia, 17.7% were prescribed trazodone, and 357,380 adults (6.2%) and 7564 children (0.1%) met the study eligibility criteria. The mean (SD) age was 48.8 (15.8) years for adults and 14.8 (2.7) years for pediatrics. Most patients were female (229,280 adults [64.2%] and 4481 children [59.2%]). Insomnia due to mental disorder was the most common specific diagnosis. The most common (>25%) comorbid conditions were anxiety, depression, and hypertensive disease, and 1 of 10 had a history of substance abuse. Zolpidem was previously prescribed (73,342 adults [20.5%] and 233 children [3.1%]) and continued to be prescribed. Concomitant antidepressants were most common (216,893 adults [60.7%] and 5414 children [71.6%]), but benzodiazepines (132,740 adults [37.1%] and 1188 children [15.7%]), antiepileptics (115,064 adults [32.2%] and 2103 children [27.8%]), nonbenzodiazepines (90,946 adults [25.4%] and 542 children [7.2%]), and antipsychotics (40,490 adults [11.3%] and 2063 children [27.3%]) were also prescribed. IMPLICATIONS: This study provides current evidence that trazodone use is widespread among patients with insomnia and is often associated with other specific comorbidities, such as psychiatric conditions. A deeper knowledge of the real-world management of patients with insomnia may facilitate steps toward improving sleep quality, daytime functioning, and clinical outcomes for patients.

Skin infections in Europe: a retrospective study of incidence, patient characteristics and practice patterns.

OBJECTIVE: Acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) are associated with considerable morbidity and a heavy healthcare burden. The primary objectives of this two-phase study were to determine the incidence of skin infections and ABSSSIs in hospitalized patients (Phase A), and to describe the characteristics and treatment of hospitalized patients with ABSSSIs (Phase B). METHODS: This non-interventional, retrospective study was based on data collected from adult patients hospitalized for skin infections in six European countries (Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Russia and Spain) between January 2014 and June 2016. RESULTS: In Phase A, the total hospital incidence of skin infections and ABSSSIs was 2.4 and 1.8 per 1000 patient-days, respectively. Overall, 73.6% of 50,469 hospitalizations for skin infections were for ABSSSIs. Among the 750 patients with ABSSSIs included in Phase B, Gram-positive bacteria were isolated in 24.9%, most commonly methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (11.5%). Empirical therapy was administered to 98.1% of patients, most often with a penicillin, with or without a ß-lactamase inhibitor (42.1%). Complete cure was achieved in 46.5% and 34.5% of patients after initial treatment and treatment modification, respectively. Overall, 22.7% of patients had at least one additional ABSSSI-related hospitalization, 47.1% of patients visited the emergency room, 19.3% of patients visited primary care clinics, and 34.8% of patients visited a specialist. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ABSSSIs in Europe is associated with a heavy healthcare burden, highlighting the need for optimized management strategies that may reduce healthcare utilization.