Health care resource utilization and costs associated with diagnosed medication overuse headache and potential acute medication overuse in individuals with migraine.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate health care resource utilization and costs associated with medication overuse headache and potential acute medication overuse. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted with Clinformatics Data Mart data (1 January 2019-31 December 2019) that included continuously enrolled commercially insured adults with migraine (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-10-CM] code G43.xxx). Medication overuse headache was defined as ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient claims with an ICD-10-CM code G44.41/40 (drug-induced headache). Potential acute medication overuse was defined as possessing sufficient medication for >10 mean treatment days/month for ergots, triptans, opioids, or combination analgesics or >15 mean cumulative days/month for simple prescription analgesics (e.g., acetaminophen, aspirin, other non-opioid analgesics) for >6 consecutive months. All-cause and migraine-related health care resource utilization and costs were compared after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Among 90,017 individuals with migraine, the frequency of medication overuse headache/potential acute medication overuse was 12.6% (diagnosed medication overuse headache: 0.6%; potential acute medication overuse: 12.1%). Adjusted all-cause total costs ($31,235 vs $21,486; difference: $9,749 [P < 0.001]) and adjusted migraine-related total costs ($9,770 vs $6,207; difference: $3,563 [P < 0.001]) were higher in the medication overuse headache/potential acute medication overuse group versus those without medication overuse headache/potential acute medication overuse. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with diagnosed medication overuse headache/potential acute medication overuse had higher all-cause and migraine-related health care resource utilization and costs versus individuals without medication overuse headache/potential acute medication overuse, suggesting that improved migraine management is needed to reduce associated costs.

Patient, Provider, and Health Care System Characteristics Associated With Overuse in Bronchiolitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the routine use of ß-agonists, corticosteroids, antibiotics, chest radiographs, and viral testing in bronchiolitis, but use of these modalities continues. Our objective for this study was to determine the patient, provider, and health care system characteristics that are associated with receipt of low-value services. METHODS: Using the Virginia All-Payers Claims Database, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of children aged 0 to 23 months with bronchiolitis (code J21, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision) in 2018. We recorded medications within 3 days and chest radiography or viral testing within 1 day of diagnosis. Using Poisson regression, we identified characteristics associated with each type of overuse. RESULTS: Fifty-six percent of children with bronchiolitis received ≥1 form of overuse, including 9% corticosteroids, 17% antibiotics, 20% ß-agonists, 26% respiratory syncytial virus testing, and 18% chest radiographs. Commercially insured children were more likely than publicly insured children to receive a low-value service (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.30; P < .0001). Children in emergency settings were more likely to receive a low-value service (aPR 1.24; 95% CI: 1.15-1.33; P < .0001) compared with children in inpatient settings. Children seen in rural locations were more likely than children seen in cities to receive a low-value service (aPR 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11-1.29; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Overuse in bronchiolitis remains common and occurs frequently in emergency and outpatient settings and rural locations. Quality improvement initiatives aimed at reducing overuse should include these clinical environments.

Predicting postoperative opioid use with machine learning and insurance claims in opioid-naïve patients.

BACKGROUND: The clinical impact of postoperative opioid use requires accurate prediction strategies to identify at-risk patients. We utilize preoperative claims data to predict postoperative opioid refill and new persistent use in opioid-naïve patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 112,898 opioid-naïve adult postoperative patients from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart database. Potential predictors included sociodemographic data, comorbidities, and prescriptions within one year prior to surgery. RESULTS: Compared to linear models, non-linear models led to modest improvements in predicting refills - area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) 0.68 vs. 0.67 (p < 0.05) - and performed identically in predicting new persistent use - AUROC = 0.66. Undergoing major surgery, opioid prescriptions within 30 days prior to surgery, and abdominal pain were useful in predicting refills; back/joint/head pain were the most important features in predicting new persistent use. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative patient attributes from insurance claims could potentially be useful in guiding prescription practices for opioid-naïve patients.

Persistent Opioid Use after Ophthalmic Surgery in Opioid-Naive Patients and Associated Risk Factors.

PURPOSE: To determine the rate and risk factors for new persistent opioid use after ophthalmic surgery in the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective claims-based cohort analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Opioid-naive patients 13 years of age and older who underwent incisional ophthalmic surgery between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2017, and were included in Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart database. METHODS: New persistent opioid use was defined as filling an opioid prescription in the 90-day and the 91- to 180-day periods after the surgical procedure. The outcome variable was an initial perioperative opioid prescription fill. Rates of new persistent opioid use were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify variables increasing the risk of new persistent use and refill of an opioid prescription after the initial perioperative prescription in first 30 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: New persistent opioid use and refill. RESULTS: A total of 327 379 opioid-naive patients (mean age, 67 years [standard deviation, 16 years]; 178 067 women [54.4%]) who underwent ophthalmic surgery were examined. Among these patients, 14 841 (4.5%) had an initial perioperative opioid fill. The rate of new persistent opioid use was 3.4% (498 of 14 841 patients) compared with 0.6% (1833 of 312 538 patients) in patients who did not have an initial perioperative opioid fill. After adjusting for patient characteristics, initial perioperative opioid fill was associated independently with increased odds of new persistent use (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 6.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.57-6.91; P < 0.001). Among patients who had filled an initial perioperative prescription, a prescription size of 150 morphine milligram equivalents or more was associated with an increased odds of refill (adjusted OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.58-2.22; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to opioids in the perioperative period is associated with new persistent use in patients who were previously opioid-naive. This suggests that exposure to opioids is an independent risk factor for persistent use in patients undergoing incisional ophthalmic surgery. Surgeons should be aware of those risks to identify at-risk patients given the current national opioid crisis and to minimize prescribing opioids when possible.

The impact of health literacy on beliefs about medication in a Dutch medication-using population.

PURPOSE: Medication beliefs are likely contingent on aspects of health literacy: knowledge, motivation, and competences to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information. An association between medication beliefs and health literacy is expected as they both influence self-management. The aim of this study was to examine the association between health literacy and the beliefs about overuse and harmful effects of medication and to examine modifying effects of age, gender, and number of medications on this association. METHODS: The data were collected using the online "Medication panel" of the Dutch Institute for Rational Use of Medicine. A linear regression model was used to examine the association between health literacy and beliefs about medication and the modifying effects of age, gender, and number of medications on this association. RESULTS: Respondents with a lower level of health literacy had more concerns about overuse (ß adj.= -.174, p<.001) and harmful (ß adj.= -.189, p<.001) effects of medication. This study found no modifying effects. CONCLUSIONS: A lower health literacy level is associated with more concerns about the overuse and harmful effects of medication. The results of this study suggest that extra attention should be given to persons with low health literacy level by healthcare professionals, to decrease their concerns about overuse and harmful effects, and improve adherence to self-management behavior.

Parent-Reported Symptoms and Medications Used Among Children With Severe Neurological Impairment.

Importance: Children with severe neurological impairment (SNI) often take multiple medications to treat problematic symptoms. However, for children who cannot self-report symptoms, no system exists to assess multiple symptoms and their association with medication use. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of 28 distinct symptoms, test whether higher global symptom scores (GSS) were associated with use of more medications, and assess the associations between specific symptoms and medications. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019, using structured parent-reported symptom data paired with clinical and pharmacy data, at a single-center, large, hospital-based special health care needs clinic. Participants included children aged 1 to 18 years with SNI and 5 or more prescribed medications. Data analysis was performed from April to June 2020. Exposure: During routine clinical visits, parent-reported symptoms were collected using the validated 28-symptom Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and merged with clinical and pharmacy data. Main Outcomes and Measures: Symptom prevalence, counts, and GSS (scored 0-100, with 100 being the worst) were calculated, and the association of GSS with medications was examined. To evaluate associations between symptom-medication pairs, the proportion of patients with a symptom who used a medication class or specific medication was calculated. Results: Of 100 patients, 55.0% were boys, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 9 (5-12) years, 62.0% had 3 or more complex chronic conditions, 76.0% took 10 or more medications, and none were able to complete the MSAS themselves. Parents reported a median (IQR) of 7 (4-10) concurrent active symptoms. The median (IQR) GSS was 12.1 (5.4-20.8) (range, 0.0-41.2) and the GSS was 9.8 points (95% CI, 5.5-14.1 points) higher for those with worse recent health than usual. Irritability (65.0%), insomnia (55.0%), and pain (54.0%) were the most prevalent symptoms. Each 10-point GSS increase was associated with 12% (95% CI, 4%-19%) higher medication counts, adjusted for age and complex chronic condition count. Among the 54.0% of children with reported pain, 61.0% were prescribed an analgesic. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that children with SNI reportedly experience substantial symptom burdens and that higher symptom scores are associated with increased medication use. Paired symptom-medication data may help clinicians identify targets for personalized symptom management, including underrecognized or undertreated symptoms.

The Effects of County Public Hospital Reform on the Consumption and Costs of Antibiotics: Evidence from a Quasinatural Experiment in Jiangsu, China.

BACKGROUND: Overuse of antibiotics is a major driver for rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance worldwide, particularly common in China. The close linkage between hospital revenue and sales of drugs has become the key incentive for overprescription of antibiotics. Since 2009, the Chinese government implemented a series of measures to cut off the link, including removing the markup of drugs, increasing financial subsidies, and adjusting charges for medical service. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impacts of county public hospital reform on the consumption and costs of procured antibiotics in Jiangsu province. METHODS: A quasiexperiment design was conducted in Jiangsu province where 99 county public hospitals implemented the reform successively in different periods. Of these, 37 county public hospitals implemented the reform since January 2013, which were regarded as the intervention group, and the remaining 62 hospitals were included in the control group. A difference-in-differences (DID) analysis with generalized linear regressions was used on the procurement records of antibiotics from January 2012 to December 2013. Modified Park test was used for family distribution and Box-Cox test for log link. Placebo tests were employed to test the common-trend hypothesis of two groups. RESULTS: For the intervention group, the average volume of procured restricted antibiotics and injectable antibiotics increased by 24.12% and 2.75% while the costs increased by 19.01% and 9.09%, respectively. The average costs per DDD of restricted and injectable antibiotics were much higher than unrestricted and oral antibiotics. The DID results showed that the reform had a positive impact on the average volume (p = 0.005) and costs (p = 0.001) of nonrestricted antibiotics. In addition, the implementation of the reform was associated with a reduction in volume (p = 0.031) and costs (p = 0.043) of procured oral antibiotics. The reform also contributed to an increase in average costs per DDD of total antibiotics (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The reform is effective in reducing the consumption and costs of unrestricted and oral antibiotics, but it has failed to reduce the consumption and costs of expensive restricted and injectable antibiotics, leading to increased burden of diseases. It is critical that the health policy initiatives can deincentivize overuse of antibiotics at both hospital and individual physician's levels. The reform should enforce government financial support, improve hospital governance, optimize performance evaluation, and establish specialized management approach for antibiotic use.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on patients with migraine: a web-based survey study.

BACKGROUND: Since the declaration COVID-19 as a pandemic, healthcare systems around the world have faced a huge challenge in managing patients with chronic diseases. Patients with migraine were specifically vulnerable to inadequate medical care. We aimed to investigate the "real-world" impact of COVID-19 pandemic on migraine patients, and to identify risk factors for poor outcome. METHODS: We administered an online, self-reported survey that included demographic, migraine-related, COVID-19-specific and overall psychosocial variables between July 15 and July 30, 2020. We recruited a sample of patients with migraine from headache clinic registry and via social media to complete an anonymous survey. Outcomes included demographic variables, change in migraine frequency and severity during the lockdown period, communication with treating physician, compliance to migraine treatment, difficulty in getting medications, medication overuse, symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, sleep and eating habits disturbance, screen time exposure, work during pandemic, use of traditional medicine, effect of Botox injection cancellation, and overall worries and concerns during pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 1018 patients completed the survey. Of the respondents, 859 (84.3%) were females; 733 (71.9%) were aged 20 to 40 years, 630 (61.8%) were married, and 466 (45.7%) reported working during the pandemic. In comparison to pre-pandemic period, 607 respondents (59.6%) reported increase in migraine frequency, 163 (16%) reported decrease in frequency, and 105 (10.3%) transformed to chronic migraine. Severity was reported to increase by 653 (64.1%) respondents. The majority of respondents; 626 (61.5%) did not communicate with their neurologists, 477 (46.9%) reported compliance to treatment, and 597 (58.7%) reported overuse of analgesics. Botox injections cancellation had a negative impact on 150 respondents (66.1%) from those receiving it. Forty-one respondents (4%) were infected with COVID-19; 26 (63.4%) reported worsening of their headaches amid infection period. Sleep disturbance was reported by 794 (78.1%) of respondents, and 809 (79.5%) reported having symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: COVID-19 pandemic had an overall negative impact on patients with migraine. Several risk factors for poor outcome were identified. Long-term strategies should be validated and implemented to deliver quality care for patients with migraine, with emphasis on psychosocial well-being.

Reducing antibiotic prescribing and addressing the global problem of antibiotic resistance by targeted hygiene in the home and everyday life settings: A position paper.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to threaten global health. Although global and national AMR action plans are in place, infection prevention and control is primarily discussed in the context of health care facilities with home and everyday life settings barely addressed. As seen with the recent global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, everyday hygiene measures can play an important role in containing the threat from infectious microorganisms. This position paper has been developed following a meeting of global experts in London, 2019. It presents evidence that home and community settings are important for infection transmission and also the acquisition and spread of AMR. It also demonstrates that the targeted hygiene approach offers a framework for maximizing protection against colonization and infections, thereby reducing antibiotic prescribing and minimizing selection pressure for the development of antibiotic resistance. If combined with the provision of clean water and sanitation, targeted hygiene can reduce the circulation of resistant bacteria in homes and communities, regardless of a country's Human Development Index (overall social and economic development). Achieving a reduction of AMR strains in health care settings requires a mirrored reduction in the community. The authors call upon national and international policy makers, health agencies, and health care professionals to further recognize the importance of targeted hygiene in the home and everyday life settings for preventing and controlling infection, in a unified quest to tackle AMR.

Analysis of the use and cost of stress ulcer prophylaxis for surgical inpatients.

Background Stress ulcer is a superficial and asymptomatic lesion and causes bleeding. As many as 50% of death cases are reported as the result of stress ulcer bleeding. Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is a drug used to prevent gastrointestinal tract injuries due to stress ulcers. The inappropriate use of SUP drugs can cause adverse drug reactions, and thus SUP drugs are only given to patients in accordance with guidelines in order to avoid the overuse of SUP drugs. The aim of this present study is to analyse the suitability of SUP drug usage based on the criteria from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the drug costs of SUP overuse. Methods An observational descriptive study was conducted from April 24, 2019, to May 17, 2019, in the inpatient surgical ward of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital. Data were obtained from patient medical health records. Results One hundred fifty-two patients used 1404 SUP drugs. Approximately 48% of usage did not suit the ASHP criteria and was considered as medication overuse. The cost of excessive SUP usage during the study period was more than US $65, which is 30.08% of the total drug cost of prescribed stress ulcer drugs. Conclusions The present study suggests that the relatively high excessive drug costs for SUP show a need for monitoring of the application of SUP therapy guidelines.

Example of antimicrobial stewardship program in a community hospital in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate use of antibiotics has caused the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria. The hospital of Alessandria, Italy, implemented an antimicrobial stewardship (AS) pilot program between 2013 and 2015 in the intensive care units (ICUs) and internal medicine departments of Casale Monferrato and Tortona. We aimed to describe the project, results at the end of the intervention, and its strengths and weaknesses. METHODS: The protocol, designed by the local infection control committee, included three consecutive steps: local guidelines for empirical antibiotic therapy and list of prescription antibiotics with justification, monitoring of antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance trend, and peer-to-peer audit sessions in the wards. RESULTS: One thousand and eighty-five observations were made, corresponding to 850 patients admitted to the ICUs (16.7%) and internal medicine departments (83.3%). Appropriate antibiotic prescriptions increased by 6.4% between 2013 and 2015. The greatest improvement in appropriate prescriptions was observed for glycopeptides and fluoroquinolones (+17.4% and +16.2%, respectively). We reported 305 inappropriate prescriptions, with the most frequent errors being absence of an infectious process (33.3%), inadequate combination therapy (12.8%), and absence of microbiological investigations (8.5%). A reduced incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) was also observed (p<0.0037). CONCLUSIONS: Antimicrobial stewardship programs contribute to improving antibiotic prescription and can be implemented in small community hospitals. Narrower interventions, focused on a single disease or single antibiotic should be encouraged.

Promoção do uso racional de medicamentos no contexto dos 3º e 4º ciclos da educação de jovens e adultos / Promotion of the rational use of medicines in the context of the 3th and 4th cycles of youth and adult education / Promoción del uso racional de medicamentos en el context de los 3º y 4º ciclos de educación juvenil y adulta

Introdução: O alto consumo de medicamentos no Brasil impulsiona o desenvolvimento de estratégias para promoção do uso racional dos mesmos, especialmente em população mais vulneráveis. Objetivo: Traçar o perfil socioeconômico, demográfico e farmacoterapêutico dos alunos incluídos na presente pesquisa; bem como, promover atividades de educação em saúde.Metodologia: Trata-se de uma pesquisa epidemiológica transversal, quantitativa e descritiva realizada com 33 alunos do terceiro e quarto ciclos do programa de Educação de Jovens e Adultos de uma escola pública de João Pessoa-PB. Os dados foram coletados através de formulário, ficha de medicamentos e atividades de educação em saúde. Resultados:A maioria dos estudantes jovens e adultos com idade abaixo de 60 anos(75,7%), predominando o sexo feminino(69,6%)e parda(63,3%). Quase metade dos participantes é constituída de desempregados(45,5%). Parte dos alunos(39,9%) afirmaram ter renda mensal de até um salário mínimo. Para realização desse projeto foram efetuadas atividades que proporcionavam, através de metodologias ativas, a educação e promoção do uso racional de medicamentos e o autocuidado. Quanto ao perfil farmacoterapêutico observa-se interações medicamentosas entre anti-hipertensivos, hipoglicemiantes, anti-tireoidiano e medicamentos isentos de prescrição, apresentando presença de automedicação. As classes medicamentosas predominantes foram os analgésicos, anti-hipertensivos, anti-inflamatórios,antiácidos e hipoglicemiantes. Conclusões:O desenvolvimento de práticas educativas no âmbito da Educação de Jovens e Adultos incentivam o diálogo e a participação dos envolvidos, com grande potencial para ampliação do acesso às informações associadas ao autocuidado em saúde em suas famílias, escola e comunidade (AU).

Introduction:The high consumption of medicines in Brazil drives the development of strategies to promote their rational use, especially in the most vulnerable populations. Objective:Draw the socioeconomic, demographic and pharmacotherapeutic profile of the students included in this research; as well as promoting health education activities. Methodology:This is a cross-sectional, quantitative and descriptive epidemiological research carried out with 33 students from the third and fourth cycles of the Youth and Adult Education program of a public school in João Pessoa-PB. The data were collected through a form, medication form and health education activities. Results:The majority of young and adult students under the age of 60 (75.7%), predominantly female (69.6%) and brown (63.3%). Almost half of the participants are unemployed (45.5%). Part of the students (39.9%) said they had a monthly income of up to one minimum wage. In order to carry out this project, activities were carried out that provided, through active methodologies, education and promotion of the rational use of medicines and self-care. Regarding the pharmacotherapeutic profile, drug interactions are observed between antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic agents, anti-thyroid agents and non-prescription drugs, with the presence of self-medication. The predominant drug classes were analgesics, antihypertensives, anti-inflammatories, antacids and hypoglycemic agents. Conclusions:The development of educational practices within the scope of Youth and Adult Education encourages dialogue and the participation of those involved, with great potential for expanding access to information associated with self-care in health in their families, school and community (AU).

Introducción: El alto consumo de medicamentos en Brasil impulsa el desarrollo de estrategias para promover su uso racional, especialmente en las poblaciones más vulnerables. Objetivo:Dibujar el perfil socioeconómico, demográficoy farmacoterapéutico de los estudiantes incluidos en esta investigación; así como promover actividades de educación para la salud. Metodología:Esta es una investigación epidemiológica transversal, cuantitativa y descriptiva realizada con 33 estudiantes del tercer y cuarto ciclo del programa de Educación para Jóvenes y Adultos de una escuela pública en João Pessoa-PB. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de un formulario, formulario de medicamentos y actividades de educación para la salud.Resultados:La mayoría de los estudiantes jóvenes y adultos menores de 60 años (75.7%), predominantemente mujeres (69.6%) y marrones (63.3%). Casi la mitad de los participantes están desempleados (45,5%). Parte de los estudiantes (39.9%) dijeron que tenían un ingreso mensual de hasta un salario mínimo. Para llevar a cabo este proyecto, se llevaron a cabo actividades que proporcionaron, a través de metodologías activas, educación y promoción del uso racional de medicamentos y autocuidado. En cuanto al perfil farmacoterapéutico, se observan interacciones farmacológicas entre fármacos antihipertensivos, agentes hipoglucemiantes, agentes antitiroideos y medicamentos sin receta, con presencia de automedicación. Las clases de drogas predominantes fueron analgésicos, antihipertensivos, antiinflamatorios, antiácidos y agentes hipoglucemiantes. Conclusiones:El desarrollo de prácticas educativas en el ámbito de la educación de jóvenes y adultos fomenta el diálogo y la participación de los involucrados, con un gran potencial para ampliar el acceso a la información asociada con el autocuidado en salud en sus familias, escuelas y comunidades (AU).

Pathways to antibiotics in Bangladesh: A qualitative study investigating how and when households access medicine including antibiotics for humans or animals when they are ill.

BACKGROUND: To understand how to reduce antibiotic use, greater knowledge is needed about the complexities of access in countries with loose regulation or enforcement. This study aimed to explore how households in Bangladesh were accessing antimicrobials for themselves and their domestic animals. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 48 households in one urban and one rural area. Households were purposively sampled from two lower income strata, prioritising those with under 5-year olds, older adults, household animals and minority groups. Households where someone was currently ill with a suspected infection (13 households) were invited for a follow-up interview. Framework analysis was used to explore access to healthcare and medicines. FINDINGS: People accessed medicines for themselves through five pathways: drugs shops, private clinics, government/charitable hospitals, community/family planning clinics, and specialised/private hospitals. Drug shops provided direct access to medicines for common, less serious and acute illnesses. For persistent or serious illnesses, the healthcare pathway may include contacts with several of these settings, but often relied on medicines provided by drug shops. In the 13 households with an unwell family member, most received at least one course of antibiotics for this illness. Multiple and incomplete dosing were common even when prescribed by a qualified doctor. Antibiotics were identified by their high cost compared to other medicines. Cost was a reported barrier to purchasing full courses of antibiotics. Few households in the urban area kept household animals. In this rural area, government animal health workers provided most care for large household animals (cows), but drug shops were also important. CONCLUSIONS: In Bangladesh, unregulated drug shops provide an essential route to medicines including those prescribed in the formal sector. Wherever licensed suppliers are scarce and expensive, regulations which prohibit this supply risk removing access entirely for many people.

Medication Overuse and Medication Overuse Headache: Risk Factors, Comorbidities, Associated Burdens and Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic Treatment Approaches.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: With a worldwide high disease burden, medication overuse headache (MOH) is an endemic and disabling neurological disorder. Because of the limitations of previous study designs, there are still debates and questions regarding the disease's nature and treatment strategy. This review will discuss the following concepts; (1) recent progress in association between medication overuse (MO) and MOH; (2) the burden, risk factors and comorbidities of MOH; (3) evidence of treatment in patients with MOH. RECENT FINDINGS: The causal relationship between MO and MOH has not been identified. Currently, the treatment policy is still mainly based on small clinical observations, some with highly specified patients. In addition to withdrawal and preventive treatment, some studies have provided evidence for nonpharmacological treatments. Well-designed studies for specific treatment strategies with enough statistical power are warranted to make more relevant, better clinical decisions.

Direct and indirect economic and health consequences related to sarcoidosis in Denmark: A national register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that primarily affects the younger population. Longitudinal studies of the economic burden of sarcoidosis are scarce. This study evaluates overall the economic burden of sarcoidosis in Denmark before and after initial diagnosis. METHODS: We identified patients with sarcoidosis in the Danish National Patient Registry (1998-2010). All controls were randomly selected and matched concerning age, gender and residence. Data on direct and indirect costs, including frequency of primary and secondary sector contacts and procedures, medication, unemployment benefits and social transfer payments were extracted from national databases for patients and controls. RESULTS: We identified 9119 patients with sarcoidosis and 36,432 matching controls. Patients with sarcoidosis had significantly higher rates of health-related contacts, higher usage of medication and more received unemployment and social payments compared with controls. The total health expenses were significantly higher in the sarcoidosis group 11 years before and 11 years after diagnosis than among controls. Income from public transfer payments was significantly higher in the sarcoidosis group five years prior of diagnosis until nine years post diagnosis. Especially women between 40 and 59 years have a lower income than their controls. CONCLUSION: Sarcoidosis has a socioeconomic impact on adults especially during their prime working and providing years and this is evident several years prior to and post diagnosis. The authors advocate that further research should focus on identifying the proportion of patients with sarcoidosis that imposes the largest economic burden. Increased focus on early diagnosis and disease management may reduce the socioeconomic burden of sarcoidosis.