Healthcare utilization and costs associated with dabigatran compared to warfarin treatment in newly diagnosed patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: Real-world healthcare resource utilization and costs were compared among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) receiving either dabigatran or warfarin. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using administrative claims data from the United States Department of Defense (DOD) Military Health System. Patients with newly diagnosed AF initiated on dabigatran or warfarin were identified using ICD-9 diagnosis, procedure and drug codes. Patients were observed for 3 months prior to treatment initiation to ascertain a diagnosis of valvular heart disease and 12 months for exclusion of those with a history of anticoagulation therapy. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline characteristics between the two treatment cohorts. Medical and pharmacy utilization and costs were compared between the dabigatran and warfarin treatment groups for 3 and 12 months following treatment initiation. RESULTS: A total of 1102 patients with newly diagnosed NVAF initiated on dabigatran were matched with corresponding warfarin-treated patients. In the 12 months following initiation of anticoagulation, the mean medical costs for patients initiated on dabigatran were significantly lower than for patients initiated on warfarin (-$6299, p < 0.001), largely due to fewer hospitalizations (-0.162, p = 0.009). While pharmacy costs were higher ($4369, p < 0.001) for dabigatran, overall healthcare costs were significantly lower compared with patients on warfarin (12 months: -$1940, p < 0.001). Mean hospital length of stay between these two groups were similar (6.033 days for dabigatran vs 6.318 days for warfarin, p = 0.139). CONCLUSION: Despite higher pharmacy costs for NVAF patients initiated on dabigatran vs warfarin, this was more than offset by lower utilization of medical care resources.

Prevalence of bone metastases and bone-targeting agent use among solid tumor patients in the United States.

PURPOSE: Patients with bone metastases are at an increased risk of experiencing morbidity due to bone complications, and bone-targeting agents (BTA) are indicated for the prevention of these complications. Population-based estimates of the prevalence of bone metastases associated with solid tumors, and current treatment patterns for these patients, are limited. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of bone metastases from solid tumors and to describe recent trends in the use of BTA in the US. METHODS: We estimated the prevalence of bone metastases in the US in 2012 using data from Medicare fee-for-service and PharMetrics Plus, a large commercial claims database. We evaluated the proportion of patients with bone metastases who were treated with BTA in 2012, timing of initiation of BTA relative to bone metastasis diagnosis, and persistence on BTA, overall and by primary tumor type and treatment. RESULTS: There were ~330,000 (168,063 Medicare fee-for-service; 162,239 other) patients aged ≥18 years living with solid tumors and bone metastases in 2012. BTA were used by 43% (Commercial) to 47% (Medicare) of patients in 2012, with the greatest use among breast cancer patients. Over half (Medicare: 57%; Commercial: 53%) of BTA-treated patients initiated BTA after experiencing a bone complication. CONCLUSION: Of the estimated 330,000 solid tumor patients living with bone metastases in the US in 2012, many may have received less than optimal care to prevent bone complications during the calendar year.

Direct-to-implant single-stage immediate breast reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix: predictors of failure.

BACKGROUND: Direct-to-implant single-stage immediate breast reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix is a cost-effective alternative to two-stage expander-implant reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of direct-to-implant single-stage immediate breast reconstruction failure, defined as need for early (≤6 months) revision surgery. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with direct-to-implant single-stage immediate breast reconstruction in 2010 and 2011 at three University of British Columbia hospitals. Data were compared between successful and failed single-stage reconstructions. Predictors of failure were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Patient demographics and complications were compared to a random sample of control patients with two-stage alloplastic reconstruction without acellular dermal matrix. RESULTS: Of 164 breasts that underwent direct-to-implant single-stage immediate breast reconstruction, 52 (31.7 percent) required early revision. Increasing breast cup size was the only significant predictor of early revision compared with bra size A (OR for bra size B, 4.86; C, 4.96; D, 6.01; p < 0.05). Prophylactic mastectomies showed a trend toward successful single stage (OR, 0.47; p = 0.061), whereas smoking history trended toward failure (OR, 1.79; p = 0.065). Mastectomy flap necrosis was significantly higher in direct-to-implant single-stage immediate reconstruction cases compared to two-stage controls. CONCLUSIONS: Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction can be reliably performed in a single stage in patients with small breast size. Increasing breast cup size confers a higher chance of early revision. A two-stage approach may be more cost-effective in larger breasted patients. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Higher persistence in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients treated with dabigatran versus warfarin.

BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulation therapy is the primary tool in reducing stroke risk in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation but is underused. Patients nonpersistent with therapy contribute to this underuse. The objective of this study was to compare persistence rates in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients treated with warfarin versus dabigatran as their oral anticoagulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: US Department of Defense administrative claims were used to identify patients receiving warfarin or dabigatran between October 28, 2010, and June 30, 2012. Patient records were examined for a minimum of 12 months before index date to restrict the analyses to those newly diagnosed with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and naive-to-treatment, identifying 1775 on warfarin and 3370 on dabigatran. Propensity score matching was used to identify 1745 matched pairs. Persistence was defined as time on therapy to discontinuation. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to depict persistence over time. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the factors significantly associated with persistence. Using a 60-day permissible medication gap, the persistence rates were higher for dabigatran than for warfarin at both 6 months (72% versus 53%) and 1 year (63% versus 39%). Patients on dabigatran with a low-to-moderate risk of stroke (CHADS2<2) or with a higher bleed risk (HEMORR2HAGES>3) had a higher likelihood of nonpersistence (hazard ratios, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.60; P<0.001; and hazard ratios, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.47; P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who initiated dabigatran treatment were more persistent than patients who began warfarin treatment. Within each cohort, patients with lower stroke risk were more likely to discontinue therapy.