Treatment persistence evaluation of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer patients in early and late stage disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to analyze the persistence with tamoxifen (TAM) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer (BC) in early and late stage disease. METHODS: This study based on data from The IMS Oncology Analyzer (OA) including retrospective longitudinal patient treatment histories from diagnosis for all cancer types. 4,626 patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer with current or terminated treatment with TAM or AIs between January 2003 and March 2012 in Germany were included. RESULTS: Our results indicate a significantly increased risk for treatment discontinuation for patients in the age groups of 41 - 50 and 51 - 60 years compared to older patients as well as in patients with a stage IV tumor compared to patients with lower stage tumors. If treatment was initiated by a gynecologist, patients are less likely to discontinue their therapy compared to treatment initiated by an oncologist. Furthermore, the risk of therapy break up was significantly lower in patients treated in an office-based setting compared to the reference group of patients treated in general hospitals. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, persistence with endocrine treatment in woman with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer is low, especially in later stage disease, and needs to be significantly increased to improve outcome in clinical practice. Further research is required to understand this complex, but important aspect.

Prevalence and risk factors of neuropathy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in primary care practices: a retrospective database analysis in Germany and U.K.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic neuropathy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in general practices. METHODS: Longitudinal data from nationwide general practices in Germany (n=630) and U.K. (n=100) (Disease Analyzer) were analyzed. Patients with newly diagnosed (<1 year) type 2 diabetes (2008-2012) were identified including 45,633 patients (age: 66, SD: 12 years) in Germany and 14,205 patients (age: 63, SD: 13 years) in U.K. Neuropathy was identified by ICD code (E11.4) or the original diagnosis. Associations of potential risk factors with neuropathy were investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of diagnosed neuropathy was 5.7% (95% CI: 5.5-5.9%) in Germany and 2.4% (1.9-2.9%) in U.K. In Germany, factors independently associated with neuropathy in stepwise logistic regression were age (>70 years: OR; 95% CI 2.1; 1.6-2.8), retinopathy (3.0; 2.1-4.2), peripheral artery disease (PAD: 1.9; 1.4-2.5), insulin treatment (4.6; 3.5-6.2) and oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD: 1.6; 1.2-2.0). In UK, male sex (1.4; 1.01-1.9), nephropathy (1.7; 1.2-2.5), PAD (1.5; 1.1-2.1), antihypertensives (1.7; 1.1-2.5), insulin (2.1; 1.1-3.8) and OAD (1.4; 1.01-1.8) were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy at time of type 2 diabetes diagnosis was low in primary care (Germany, UK). Neuropathy was associated with age, PAD and microvacular complications.

Physicians' influence on breast cancer patient compliance.

In recent years there have been major advances in the treatment of breast cancer. However, taking the prescribed medication for a sufficient period of time is crucial to the success of any therapy. Thus far, no database-based studies have been published in German-speaking countries empirically examining the influence of the physician on the compliance of patients. The aim of this study is to investigate, quantify, and critically discuss the effect treating physicians have on the compliance of their breast cancer patients. Patients with a confirmed breast cancer diagnosis who started therapy (tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors) between January 2001 and December 2011 were selected from the representative IMS Disease Analyzer database and analyzed with regard to their compliance. Practices were grouped into two categories concerning the compliance of all treated patients. A regression model showed that a breast cancer patient who is treated in a practice with a trend toward poor compliance has a nearly 60% higher risk for treatment discontinuation than would be the case in a practice with good compliance. It shows how important it is to motivate physicians to strive toward good compliance rates.