Patient-reported outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with locally advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with durvalumab in phase 1/2 dose-escalation study 1108.

BACKGROUND: Durvalumab has shown meaningful clinical activity in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) in Study 1108 (NCT01693562). An important focus in treatment is health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Here, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from Study 1108 and their relationship with inflammatory biomarkers are explored. METHODS: Disease-related symptoms, functioning, and HRQOL were assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bladder (FACT-Bl) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30). Relationships between PRO improvements and the best changes in the tumor size, albumin level, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were assessed with Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: The mean FACT-Bl total score improved from 107.5 (standard deviation [SD], 23.0) at the baseline to 115.4 (SD, 22.6) on day 113, with similar increases found for the Trial Outcome Index (TOI) and Bladder Cancer Subscale (BLCS) scores. The mean FACT-Bl total scores improved over time, and the FACT-Bl TOI scores significantly improved by day 113 (P < .05). The mean EORTC QLQ-C30 Global Health Status/Quality of Life score improved from 57.1 (SD, 24.8) at the baseline to 69.0 (SD, 21.4) on day 113; the functional scale and symptom scores (day 113) were higher than the baseline scores (P < .05) for EORTC Social Functioning. The FACT-Bl total, BLCS, and TOI scores improved in 32.6%, 34.9%, and 32.6% of the patients by day 113; 26.3% to 37.8% of the patients exhibited improvements in EORTC QLQ-C30 functional scores. The best tumor shrinkage and posttreatment improvements in serum albumin and NLR correlated with increases in FACT-Bl total, TOI, and BLCS scores and in EORTC Physical Functioning and Role Functioning scores (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Durvalumab was associated with improvements in disease-related symptoms, functioning, and HRQOL in patients with mUC. Improvements in systemic inflammation may contribute to PRO improvements in these patients.

Acne treatment patterns, expectations, and satisfaction among adult females of different races/ethnicities.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on acne treatment patterns, expectations, and satisfaction in the adult female subpopulation, particularly among different racial and ethnic groups. OBJECTIVE: Describe acne treatment patterns and expectations in adult females of different racial/ethnic groups and analyze and explore their potential effects on medication compliance and treatment satisfaction. METHODS: A cross-sectional, Web-based survey was administered to US females (25-45 years) with facial acne (≥25 visible lesions). Data collected included sociodemographics, self-reported clinical characteristics, acne treatment use, and treatment expectations and satisfaction. RESULTS: Three hundred twelve subjects completed the survey (mean age, 35.3±5.9 years), comprising black (30.8%), Hispanic (17.6%), Asian/other (17.3%), and white (34.3%). More than half of the subjects in each racial group recently used an acne treatment or procedure (black, 63.5%; Hispanic, 54.5%; Asian/other, 66.7%; white, 66.4%). Treatment use was predominantly over-the-counter (OTC) (47.4%) versus prescription medications (16.6%). OTC use was highest in white subjects (black, 42.7%; Hispanic, 34.5%; Asian/other, 44.4%; white, 59.8%; P<0.05). The most frequently used OTC treatments in all racial/ethnic groups were salicylic acid (SA) (34.3%) and benzoyl peroxide (BP) (32.1%). Overall, compliance with acne medications was highest in white versus black (57.0±32.4 vs 42.7±33.5 days, P>0.05), Hispanic (57.0±32.4 vs 43.2±32.9 days, P>0.05), and Asian/other (57.0±32.4 vs 46.9±37.2 days, P>0.05) subjects. Most subjects expected OTC (73.7%) and prescription (74.7%) treatments to work quickly. Fewer than half of the subjects were satisfied with OTC treatment (BP, 47.0%; SA, 43.0%), often due to skin dryness (BP, 26.3%; SA, 44.3%) and flakiness (BP, 12.3%; SA, 31.1%). No statistically significant differences were observed among racial/ethnic groups in their level of satisfaction with OTC or prescription acne treatments. CONCLUSION: Racial/ethnic differences were observed in acne treatment patterns in adult females, while treatment expectations were similar. Results indicate that treatment patterns and expectations may impact treatment satisfaction and medication compliance.

Hypertension control in ambulatory care patients with diabetes.

PURPOSE: Hypertension (HTN) control among diabetics is essential to preventing macrovascular complications. We investigated correlates of HTN control among a national sample of 1313 patients with diabetes receiving care in ambulatory care settings. METHODS: The current study employed extant data from the 2008 National Ambulatory Care Survey. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between HTN control and candidate covariates, including race, income, provider, and facility characteristics, and patient demographic and health status indicators among patients with diabetes receiving care in ambulatory care facilities. RESULTS: Approximately 28.7% of patients achieved HTN control at the level of 130/80 mm Hg and 57.0% at 140/90 mm Hg. Patients seen at physician offices or academic medical center/hospital settings had greater probability of HTN control compared with outpatient departments and community health centers. Patients seen in academic medical centers or other hospital settings had the greatest probability of control (47.9% at 130/80 mm Hg and 70% at 140/90 mm Hg, P < .0001). Despite being more likely to be on antihypertensive medications, black patients with diabetes had the lowest probability of HTN control at the level of 140/90 mm Hg (41.1%) or 130/80 mm Hg (19.0%) compared with other race/ethnic groups (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetes seen in diverse primary care settings had a low probability of having blood pressure (BP) controlled to the recommended levels. Care setting-specific policies may prove useful in improving BP control. Continued attention is still warranted for racial and ethnic disparities in HTN control.

Cost analysis and efficiency of sub-district health facilities in two districts in Ghana.

To establish the full costs borne by sub-district health facilities in providing services, we analysed the costs and revenues of 10 sub-district health facilities located in two districts in Ghana. The full costs were obtained by considering staff costs, cost of utilities, cost of using health facility equipment, cost of non-drug consumables, equipment maintenance expenses, amounts spent on training, community information sessions and other outreach activities as well as all other costs incurred in running the facilities. We found that (i) a large proportion of sub-district health facility costs is made up of staff salaries; (ii) at all facilities, internally generated funds (IGFs) are substantially lower than costs incurred in running the facilities; (iii) average IGF is several times higher in one district than the other; (iv) wide variations exist in efficiency indicators and (v) there is some evidence that sub-district health facilities may not necessarily be financially more efficient than hospitals in using financial resources. We suggest that the study should be replicated in other districts; but in the mean time, the health authorities should take note of the conclusions and recommendations of this study. Efforts should also be made to improve record keeping at these facilities.

An overview of cardiovascular risk factor burden in sub-Saharan African countries: a socio-cultural perspective.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are currently experiencing one of the most rapid epidemiological transitions characterized by increasing urbanization and changing lifestyle factors. This has resulted in an increase in the incidence of non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). This double burden of communicable and chronic non-communicable diseases has long-term public health impact as it undermines healthcare systems. PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to explore the socio-cultural context of CVD risk prevention and treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. We discuss risk factors specific to the SSA context, including poverty, urbanization, developing healthcare systems, traditional healing, lifestyle and socio-cultural factors. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a search on African Journals On-Line, Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases using combinations of the key country/geographic terms, disease and risk factor specific terms such as "diabetes and Congo" and "hypertension and Nigeria". Research articles on clinical trials were excluded from this overview. Contrarily, articles that reported prevalence and incidence data on CVD risk and/or articles that report on CVD risk-related beliefs and behaviors were included. Both qualitative and quantitative articles were included. RESULTS: The epidemic of CVD in SSA is driven by multiple factors working collectively. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise and smoking contribute to the increasing rates of CVD in SSA. Some lifestyle factors are considered gendered in that some are salient for women and others for men. For instance, obesity is a predominant risk factor for women compared to men, but smoking still remains mostly a risk factor for men. Additionally, structural and system level issues such as lack of infrastructure for healthcare, urbanization, poverty and lack of government programs also drive this epidemic and hampers proper prevention, surveillance and treatment efforts. CONCLUSION: Using an African-centered cultural framework, the PEN3 model, we explore future directions and efforts to address the epidemic of CVD risk in SSA.