Average daily glucocorticoid dose, number of prescription days, and cumulative dose in the initial 90 days of glucocorticoid therapy are associated with subsequent hip and clinical vertebral fracture risk: a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide health insurance claims database in Japan.

PURPOSE: Fracture risk assessment is recommended at three months after glucocorticoid (GC) therapy initiation. This study aimed to assess whether GC exposure in the initial 90 days of GC therapy is associated with subsequent hip and clinical vertebral fracture risk using the nationwide health insurance claims database of Japan (NDBJ). METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 50 years who were prescribed GC (≥ 70 mg prednisolone or equivalent; PSL) in the initial 90 days of GC therapy and were followed for hip and clinical vertebral fracture incidences for the subsequent 1080 days were selected from NDBJ. Associations of GC exposure with hip or clinical vertebral fracture risk were evaluated by Cox regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: We selected 316,396 women and 299,871 men for the GC-exposed group and 43,164 women and 33,702 men for the reference group. Higher GC doses and longer prescription days in the initial 90 days of GC therapy were significantly and dose-dependently associated with increased fracture risk relative to the reference group. Patients receiving GC ≥ 5 mg PSL/day had a significantly increased fracture risk in the stratum of 30-59 days of GC prescription. In addition, female patients who received GC (≥ 1 and < 2.5 mg PSL/day) for 90 days in the initial 90 days of GC therapy had a significantly increased fracture risk. CONCLUSIONS: GC exposure in the initial 90 days of GC therapy was dose-dependently associated with hip and clinical vertebral fracture risk. GC may increase fracture risk with lower doses for shorter durations than previously reported. Fracture risk assessment three months after glucocorticoid (GC) therapy initiation is recommended. We found that GC exposure in the initial 90 days of GC therapy at lower daily doses for shorter durations than previously reported were significantly and dose-dependently associated with fracture risk using a nationwide health insurance claims database.

Relationship between antidementia medication and fracture prevention in patients with Alzheimer's dementia using a nationwide health insurance claims database.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association between antidementia medication use and incidence of new vertebral, hip, and radial fractures in patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD). We used the nationwide health insurance claims database of Japan from 2012 to 2019 and identified 12,167,938 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were newly registered from April 2012 to March 2016 and had verifiable data receipt from half-year before to 3 years after the registration. Among these patients, 304,658 were diagnosed with AD and we showed the prescription status of antidementia and osteoporosis medication among them. Propensity score matching was conducted for AD group with and without antidementia medication use, and 122,399 matched pairs were yielded. The incidence of hip fractures (4.0% vs. 1.9%, p < 0.001) and all clinical fractures (10.5% vs. 9.0%, p < 0.001) significantly decreased and that of radial fractures increased (0.6% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.001) in AD patients with antidementia medication use compared with AD patients without antidementia medication use. No significant difference was found in vertebral fractures (6.6% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.51). Overall, these results suggest a positive relationship between antidementia medication use and fracture prevention in patients with AD.

Real-world effectiveness of anti-osteoporosis medications for the prevention of incident hip and clinical vertebral fractures in patients on long-term glucocorticoid therapy: A nationwide health insurance claims database study in Japan.

PURPOSE: Early initiation of anti-osteoporosis medications (AOMs) is recommended for patients on long-term glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. This study aimed to clarify the real-world effectiveness of AOMs against incident hip and vertebral fractures in patients undergoing GC therapy using the nationwide health insurance claims database of Japan (NDBJ). METHODS: Patients aged ≥50 years who were prescribed GC (≥5 mg/day prednisolone or equivalent) for ≥90 days and who were followed up regarding AOM prescription and hip and clinical vertebral fracture incidences for the subsequent 1080 days between 2012 and 2018 were selected from NDBJ. Associations of AOMs prescribed within 90 days since GC therapy initiation with hip or vertebral fracture risk were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression using propensity score inverse probability weighting (IPW) for receiving any AOM or individual AOMs. RESULTS: In total, 96,475 women and 98,385 men were included in the analysis; 38.0 % of women and 27.6 % of men received AOMs. Patients who received any AOM and those who received bisphosphonates or denosumab had a significantly lower risk of hip and clinical vertebral fractures than those who received no AOM in both sexes after propensity score IPW. Teriparatide was associated with an increased risk of both fractures in women and an increased risk of clinical vertebral fractures in men. Selection biases such as confounding by indication might have caused an underestimation of AOMs' protective effects. CONCLUSIONS: Bisphosphonates and denosumab were associated with a lower fracture incidence in patients on long-term GC therapy in real-world settings.

Association of pharmacotherapy with the second hip fracture incidence in women: A retrospective analysis of the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan.

AIM: Second hip fractures worsen the quality of life and are associated with increased mortality. We clarified the association between the pharmacotherapy and second hip fracture prevention. METHODS: The relationship between the incidence of second hip fracture and the presence, type and medication possession ratio (MPR) of pharmacotherapy was investigated using medical insurance data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan during April 2012 to March 2019. RESULTS: Data of 776 040 female patients were analyzed. The 2-year rate of second hip fractures was 3.31% (n = 25 684). Bisphosphonates (n = 148 138, 19.1%) were the most commonly used medications after primary hip fracture. Patients receiving selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) had the lowest age, followed by those receiving bisphosphonates, denosumab and parathyroid hormone (PTH). The second hip fracture crude incidence was lowest in patients administered SERMs (n = 859, 2.44%), followed by those administered bisphosphonates (n = 4451, 3.00%), denosumab (n = 484, 3.19%), no medication (n = 19 017, 3.39%) and PTH (n = 873, 5.35%); however, the age-adjusted incidence was the lowest in patients administered denosumab (2.22%), followed by those administered bisphosphonates (2.35%), SERMs (2.39%), no medications (3.39%) and PTH (3.67%). The MPR was highest in patients administered denosumab (60.0%). Among patients without a second hip fracture, the rate of patients with MPR ≥80% was highest among those administered SERMs (40.8%), followed by those administered bisphosphonates (38.0%), denosumab (35.4%) and PTH (12.2%). CONCLUSION: Differences in patient background characteristics and the rate of patients with MPR ≥80% might underlie the observed differences in the crude incidence of second hip fracture among the medication groups. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 930-937.

Association between comprehensive geriatric assessment and polypharmacy at discharge in patients with ischaemic stroke: A nationwide, retrospective, cohort study.

Background: Polypharmacy and its adverse drug events are a major healthcare challenge related to falls, hospitalisations and mortality. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) may contribute to polypharmacy improvement, however, there is no clear evidence so far. Methods: Using a national inpatient database in Japan from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2018, we investigated the association between CGA and polypharmacy. We identified patients aged ≥65 years admitted for ischaemic stroke who could receive oral medications. Propensity score matching was conducted for patients with and without CGA during hospitalisation. The outcomes were polypharmacy (defined as use of five or more types of oral medications) at discharge, the number of medication types prescribed at discharge, and the difference between the numbers of medication types prescribed on admission and at discharge. Findings: A total of 162,443 patients were analysed, of whom 39,356 (24·2%) received CGA, and propensity score matching identified 39,349 pairs. Compared with non-CGA group, the CGA group had a significantly lower proportion of polypharmacy at discharge (34·3% vs. 32·9%, p < 0·001) and a smaller number of medication types prescribed at discharge (3·84 vs. 3·76, p < 0·001). Interpretation: This study shows the clear evidence that there is a positive relationship between CGA and a reduction in the number of medications in older inpatients with ischaemic stroke. Funding: The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

Delayed initiation of anti-osteoporosis medications increases subsequent hip and vertebral fractures in patients on long-term glucocorticoid therapy: A nationwide health insurance claims database study in Japan.

PURPOSE: Early initiation of anti-osteoporosis medications (AOMs) is recommended for patients on long-term glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. This study aimed to examine whether physicians prescribe AOMs as soon as GC therapy is initiated, and whether a delay in AOM initiation affects hip and vertebral fracture incidence, using the nationwide health insurance claims database of Japan (NDBJ). METHODS: Patients aged ≥50 years who were prescribed GC (≥5 mg/day prednisolone or equivalent) for ≥90 days and who were followed for AOM use and hip and vertebral fracture events for the subsequent 1080 days in 2012-2018 were selected from NDBJ. Delay in AOM initiation was defined as the number of days without AOMs following GC therapy initiation. Associations between delay in AOM initiation and hip and vertebral fracture risk were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: In total, 92,143 women and 94,772 men were included in the analysis, of which only 39.3% of women and 28.5% of men received AOMs within 90 days from GC therapy initiation. Approximately, 15% of hip fractures and 30% of vertebral fractures occurred before AOM initiation in patients with delayed AOM initiation. HRs of both fractures were significantly greater in patients with a longer delay in AOM initiation (p value for trend<0.001). After excluding patients who had fractures before AOM initiation, the magnitude of HRs significantly decreased, and HR trends for hip fracture became insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed initiation of AOMs may result in increased fracture events, which may be reduced by early initiation of AOMs.

Insufficient persistence to pharmacotherapy in Japanese patients with osteoporosis: an analysis of the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups in Japan.

In Japan, persistence and the 2-year MPR were inadequate in increasing fracture control efficacy despite a high adherence rate during the treatment period. Both factors were higher in females and those with polypharmacy but worsened with increasing age. PURPOSE: Only a few large-scale studies have examined the care gap between the patients who need osteoporosis treatment and those who receive them in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the persistence and adherence to osteoporosis pharmacotherapy in Japan. METHODS: Continuation (persistence) rates and adherence to osteoporosis pharmacotherapy were investigated using medical insurance data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan, between April 2012 and March 2019. RESULTS: The study included 528,806 male and 3,064,410 female patients. Persistence proportions were 56.6% in the first year and 46.3% in the second year. The medication possession ratio (MPR) from start to discontinuation of treatment (MPRdiscon) was 94.5%, and 92.7% of patients had an MPRdiscon ≥ 80%. The 2-year MPR (MPR730) was 61.9%, and 49.6% of patients had an MPR730 ≥ 80%. Both the persistence proportion and MPR730 were higher in females than in males, whereas MPRdiscon was higher in males. The persistence proportion and MPR730 were highest in the 70-79 years age group, whereas MPRdiscon improved with increasing age. The MPRdiscon and MPR730 were higher in the mixed-fracture and vertebral-fracture groups, respectively. The persistence proportion, MPRdiscon, and MPR730 were higher in patients with polypharmacy than in those without. CONCLUSION: In Japan, persistence and the 2-year MPR were inadequate in increasing fracture control efficacy despite a high adherence rate during the treatment period. To bridge the care gap following osteoporosis pharmacotherapy, improvements are required for males, the elderly, and those without polypharmacy.

Insufficient increase in bone mineral density testing rates and pharmacotherapy after hip and vertebral fracture: analysis of the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan.

Test and treatment rates for osteoporosis in Japan aimed at preventing secondary fragility fractures were insufficient. Those who suffered hip fractures had approximately half the rates of those who suffered vertebral fractures, with such rates being lower among those over 80 years old and males. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to examine the care gap for secondary fracture prevention in Japan given the few large-scale studies regarding the matter. METHODS: Changes in bone mineral density testing (test rate) and osteoporosis pharmacotherapy administration (treatment rate) rates before and after hip and vertebral fracture registration were examined using medical insurance data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan issued from April 2012 to March 2019. RESULTS: The hip fracture group comprised 677,480 women and 264,003 men, the vertebral fracture group comprised 703,247 women and 251,542 men, and the mixed fracture group comprised 3614 women and 1055 men. Test rates were 14.1%, 25.3%, and 17.6% prior to fracture registration (pre-registration) and 22.3%, 43.6%, and 28.1% after fracture registration (post-registration) in the hip, vertebral, and mixed fracture groups, respectively. Moreover, pre-registration treatment rates were 21.2%, 33.5%, and 30.7%, while post-registration rates were 31.6%, 61.7%, and 46.6% in the hip, vertebral, and mixed fracture groups, respectively. All fracture groups showed a tendency for decreased post-registration test and treatment rates among those aged over 80 years old, with men having lower rates. Moreover, 184,180 (19.4% of whom received new treatment) and 707,263 (23.8% of whom received new treatment) patients with and without polypharmacy underwent treatment after registration, respectively. CONCLUSION: To bridge the care gap following fractures, medical professionals should change their perception regarding osteoporosis treatment in patients with hip fractures, elderly individuals undergoing polypharmacy, and males.

Outcomes of anticoagulant prescribing for older patients with atrial fibrillation depends on disability level provided by long-term care insurance.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients aged ≥75 is one of the major risk factors for stroke, and prescription of oral anticoagulants (OACs) should be considered in these patients. We investigated the use of OAC' for patients certificated for long-term care (LTC) insurance, who have a high risk of bleeding among older patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1169 consecutive inpatients aged 75 or older who were admitted to the geriatric ward of The University of Tokyo Hospital between 2012 and 2017, we identified 175 patients (men 48%, mean age 85.5 years) who had AF during admission. The patients' background, prescription of OACs on discharge, and the level of LTC insurance were checked. Patients were followed up for 1 to 5 years. Major bleeding, stroke, and all-cause mortality were investigated as outcomes. Among patients with AF, 63.4% were taking OACs. In multivariate analysis, older age, low BMI and no history of stroke were significant factors for not prescribing OACs. Care level patients with OACs had a higher incidence of stroke than others. There was no difference, irrespective of OAC prescription and disability level, in incidence of major bleeding. Care level patients without OACs had higher mortality than others. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that older care level patients with AF may benefit less from OACs.

Association between comprehensive geriatric assessment and short-term outcomes among older adult patients with stroke: A nationwide retrospective cohort study using propensity score and instrumental variable methods.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional and multidisciplinary method to identify geriatric conditions among older patients. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations between CGA and short-term outcomes among older adult inpatients with stroke. METHODS: The study was a nationwide, retrospective cohort study. We used the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a national Japanese inpatient database, to identify older adult stroke patients from 2014 to 2017. The associations between CGA and in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, readmission rate, rehabilitation intervention, and introduction of home health care were evaluated using propensity score matching and instrumental variable analysis. FINDINGS: We identified 338,720 patients, 21·3% of whom received CGA. A propensity score-matched analysis of 53,861 pairs showed that in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the CGA group than in the non-CGA group (3·6% vs. 4·1%, p < 0·001). The rate of long-term hospitalization (> 60 days) was significantly lower in the CGA group than in the non-CGA group (8·7% vs. 10·1%, p < 0·001), and the rates of rehabilitation intervention (30·3% vs. 24·9%, p < 0·001) and home health care (8·3% vs. 7·6%, p = 0·001) were both higher in the CGA group than in the non-CGA group. Instrumental variable analysis showed similar results. INTERPRETATION: CGA was significantly associated with the examined short-term outcomes. These findings from Japan, one of the most aged countries worldwide, highlight the possible benefits of CGA for short-term outcomes and can be of use for health policy in other international contexts. FUNDING: This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (19AA2007 and H30-Policy-Designated-004) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (17H04141).

Malnutrition-Related Health Care Cost in Japan: An Analysis of Health Insurance Claims Data.

The objective of our study is to evaluate the prevalence and health care cost of malnutrition in Japan. Using the health insurance data, we defined 2 types of malnutrition, strictly diagnosed malnutrition (SDM) and disease-associated malnutrition (DAM) by International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision. We also analyzed the health care costs by body mass index (BMI) data from medical checkups. The nationwide prevalence of SDM was estimated 0.8%, and that of SDM plus DAM was 2.9%. The total annual health care cost for SDM patients in Japan was $14.5 billion, representing 4.3% of the national health expenditures in 2014; the excess cost for patients with SDM was estimated to be $9.7 billion. The health care costs became high among the patients with either low BMI or high BMI. Because of the rapidly aging population, actions are urgently needed to avoid increasing the current high health care costs of malnutrition.

Development of the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 8-items, a short version of the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 21-items, for the assessment of cognitive and daily functions.

AIM: The present study aimed to: (i) examine the reliability and validity of the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 21-items for classifying patients to the appropriate categories for glycemic targets in older patients; and (ii) develop a short version of the tool and examine its reliability and validity. METHODS: A total of 410 older individuals were recruited for this multicenter cross-sectional study. We classified them into three categories used for determining the glycemic target in older patients in Japan based on cognitive functions and activities of daily living. Exploratory factor analyses were used to select the eight items of the shorter version. The reliability and validity of the assessment tools were assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficients and receiver operating characteristic analyses, respectively. RESULTS: The Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 21-items had three latent factors: cognitive function, instrumental activities of daily living and basic activities of daily living. The Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 8-items was developed based on each factor load quantity and was confirmed to have a strong correlation with the original version (r = 0.965, P < 0.001). Both tools significantly discriminated older adults belonging to category I from those belonging to category II or III, and category III from category I or II. CONCLUSIONS: Both tools had sufficient internal consistency and validity to classify older patients into the categories for determining the glycemic target in this population based on cognitive and daily functions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1458-1462.