The prevalence of polypharmacy in older Europeans: A multi-national database study of general practitioner prescribing.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to measure the prevalence of polypharmacy and describe the prescribing of selected medications known for overuse in older people with polypharmacy in primary care. METHODS: This was a multinational retrospective cohort study across six countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. We used anonymized longitudinal patient-level information from general practice databases hosted by IQVIA. Patients ≥65 years were included. Polypharmacy was defined as having 5-9 and ≥10 distinct drug classes (ATC Level 3) prescribed during a 6-month period. Selected medications were: opioids, antipsychotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPI), benzodiazepines (ATC Level 5). We included country experts on the healthcare context to interpret findings. RESULTS: Age and gender distribution was similar across the six countries (mean age 75-76 years; 54-56% female). The prevalence of polypharmacy of 5-9 drugs was 22.8% (UK) to 58.3% (Germany); ≥10 drugs from 11.3% (UK) to 28.5% (Germany). In the polypharmacy population prescribed ≥5 drugs, opioid prescribing ranged from 11.5% (France) to 27.5% (Spain). Prescribing of PPI was highest with almost half of patients receiving a PPI, 42.3% (Germany) to 65.5% (Spain). Benzodiazepine prescribing showed a marked variation between countries, 2.7% (UK) to 34.9% (Spain). The healthcare context information explained possible underreporting for selected medications. CONCLUSIONS: We have found a high prevalence of polypharmacy with more than half of the older population being prescribed ≥5 drugs in four of the six countries. Whilst polypharmacy may be appropriate in many patients, worryingly high usage of PPIs and benzodiazepines supports current efforts to improve polypharmacy management across Europe.

Prescribing of valproate and oral antiepileptics for women of childbearing age and during pregnancy in Germany between 2010 and 2020.

PURPOSE: To examine prescriptions of valproate and oral antiepileptic drugs (OAED) in Germany irrespective of the indication in women in general and particularly in women of childbearing age (13-49 years) and during pregnancy between 2010 and 2020, that is, before, during and after the implementation of the EU risk minimization measures (RMMs). METHODS: Analysis of claims data. STUDY POPULATION: all women continuously insured with the AOK health insurance fund in the respective observation year (2010-2020) and the previous year. OAED were identified by ATC code N03. Period of pregnancy was calculated based on birth information in claims data. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: (i) prevalent use of valproate/OAED: number of women with at least one prescription of valproate/OAED per year divided by all women of the study population (rate per 1000 women); (ii) percentage of OAED recipients with at least one valproate prescription during pregnancy (13-49 years) in the respective observation year. RESULTS: Prevalence rate/1000 women for valproate use decreased by -31.33% across all age groups (2010-2014: -7.48%; 2014-2018: -16.47%; 2018-2020: -11,17%) with a strong reduction in women 13-49 years between 2014 and 2018 (-28.74%). The rate for OAED across all age groups rose from 33.43/1000 women in 2010 to 41.03/1000 (+22,73%). Valproate use during pregnancy of women with OAED declined from 1.29% in 2010 to 0.59% in 2020 (-54,26%) (2010-2014: -5.14%; 2014-2018: -42.31%; 2018-2020: -16.69%). CONCLUSION: Even if, due to the descriptive nature of the study, no causal relationship can be postulated between the RMMs and the strong decrease in valproate prescriptions, our results are compatible with the hypothesis that the measures have improved drug therapy safety.

Assessing the effect of a regional integrated care model over ten years using quality indicators based on claims data - the basic statistical methodology of the INTEGRAL project.

BACKGROUND: The regional integrated health care model "Healthy Kinzigtal" started in 2006 with the goal of optimizing health care and economic efficiency. The INTEGRAL project aimed at evaluating the effect of this model on the quality of care over the first 10 years. METHODS: This methodological protocol supplements the study protocol and the main publication of the project. Comparing quality indicators based on claims data between the intervention region and 13 structurally similar control regions constitutes the basic scientific approach. Methodological key issues in performing such a comparison are identified and solutions are presented. RESULTS: A key step in the analysis is the assessment of a potential trend in prevalence for a single quality indicator over time in the intervention region compared to the corresponding trends in the control regions. This step has to take into account that there may be a common - not necessarily linear - trend in the indicator over time and that trends can also appear by chance. Conceptual and statistical approaches were developed to handle this key step and to assess in addition the overall evidence for an intervention effect across all indicators. The methodology can be extended in several directions of interest. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that our approach can handle the major statistical challenges: population differences are addressed by standardization; we offer transparency with respect to the derivation of the key figures; global time trends and structural changes do not invalidate the analyses; the regional variation in time trends is taken into account. Overall, the project demanded substantial efforts to ensure adequateness, validity and transparency.

Mental disorders and utilization of mental health services in newly diagnosed cancer patients: An analysis of German health insurance claims data.

OBJECTIVE: People with cancer are often confronted not only with the burdens of medical treatment but also with psychological strain, which can lead to mental disorders (MD). To date, the prevalence of MD in newly diagnosed cancer patients and their utilization of mental health services (MHS) are mainly estimated through data of primary studies than considering healthcare-related claims data. METHODS: Statutory health insurance claims data of the AOK/KV Hesse from 2011 to 2014 was analyzed. The number of incident cancer patients with MD and the utilization of MHS within the period of the quarter of incident cancer diagnosis and three subsequent quarters were determined. For incident cancer patients with an incident MD, the predictive values of sex, age group, and tumor entity on the documentation of MD diagnosis and utilization were investigated. RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of MD in incident cancer patients was 31.1% for depression, 11.2% for anxiety disorders, and 9.2% for post-traumatic stress/adjustment disorder (PTSD/AD). Of these, 65.9% received outpatient psychotherapy and 43.0% at least one psychopharmacological drug prescription. Men had a significantly lower chance of receiving an MD diagnosis following cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MD observed was higher for depression and lower for PTSD/AD compared to meta-analyses of clinical trials. Male cancer patients had a lower chance of receiving an MD diagnosis than females, which coincides with existing results.

[Operationalization of Quality Indicators with Routine Data Using the Example of the Evaluation of "Integrated Care Healthy Kinzigtal"]. / Operationalisierung von Qualitätsindikatoren mittels Routinedaten am Beispiel der Evaluation der "Integrierten Versorgung Gesundes Kinzigtal".

AIM: As part of the 10-year evaluation of Gesundes Kinzigtal Integrated Care (IVGK, Innovation Fund Project 01VSF16002), a multidisciplinary group of experts agreed on 101 quality indicators (QI) to evaluate the quality of regionally integrated care with its focus on health and prevention programs. One criterion was that the selected QI should in principle be suitable for mapping using routine data. The aim of the study was to investigate how many and in what way the QI developed can actually be mapped in Germany with routine data and for what reasons operationalization was restricted or not possible. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The operationalization of the QIs was performed using pseudonymized billing data of the AOK Baden-Württemberg from 2006 to 2015, which the Scientific Institute of the AOK (WIdO) provided to the evaluation team. All operationalized indicators were binary coded (criterion fulfilled yes/no). The diagnoses, procedures, or drugs named in the numerator and denominator definitions were operationalized using ICD-10 codes (inclusion and exclusion diagnoses), EBM codes, OPS codes, ATC codes. Indicator prevalences were examined over time to check for abnormalities as an indication of possible misscoding. RESULTS: Ninety of the 101 indicators were operationalizable with routine data. Fourteen of the 90 indicators could only be operationalized with restrictions, as corresponding service codes were only introduced or existing codes were changed during the observation period. Seventy-six of 90 indicators could be operationalized without restrictions. In this context, 15 of these 76 indicators required pre- and follow-up periods, which meant that they could not be presented for all years. Eleven of 101 QIs could not be operationalized because EBM codes were only introduced after 2015 or were not recorded as individual services for all physician groups (e. g., spirometry and long-term ECG). Striking trends in indicator prevalences could be explained. CONCLUSION: Routine data enable resource-saving quality monitoring. A change in the data basis during the observation period, for example through the introduction or deletion of billing codes, makes the longitudinal, routine data-based quality assessment more difficult, but enables further or new indicators to be operationalized for later periods.

New use of psychotropic medication after hospitalization among people with dementia.

OBJECTIVES: Psychotropic medication is commonly used among people with dementia (PWD), but it shows modest efficacy and it has been associated with severe adverse events. Hospitalizations are an opportunity for medication management as well as treatment recommendations for outpatient physicians. The aim of this study was to asses factors associated with new use of psychotropic medication after hospitalization among PWD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective dynamic cohort study from 2004 to 2015 using claims data from a German health insurance company. PWD were identified by an algorithm that included ICD-10 diagnosis and diagnostic measures. The medication classes included were antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics or hypnotics/sedatives, and Alzheimer's medication. The assessment period was up to 30 days after discharge from the hospital across four hospitalizations. RESULTS: The main predictors for new use of psychotropic medication were similar across medication classes. Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and the need of care were associated with higher odds of new use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytics or hypnotics/sedatives. A hospital stay due to dementia was an independent predictor for new use across medication classes as well. Delirium increased the odds for new use of antipsychotics and anxiolytics or hypnotics/sedatives. CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with new use of psychotropic medication included delirium, NPS, and the need of care in PWD. The findings highlight the need for preventive interventions and non-medical treatment options in regards to delirium and NPS as well as for a more intensive use of screening tools for inappropriate medication use among PWD. Key points The percentage of new users was 1.8%, 7.1%, 2.1%, and 2.5% across hospitalizations for antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics or hypnotics/sedatives, and Alzheimer's medication, respectively. 83.0%, 61.9%, 56.9%, and 88.1% of new users received antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics or hypnotics/sedatives, and Alzheimer's medication for more than 6 weeks. Delirium and neuropsychiatric symptoms were associated with significantly increased odds of new psychotropic medication use. Hospital stays due to dementia and the need of care were predictors for new use of psychotropic medication.

[Cancer Patients and the Last Year of Life: Palliative Care, Hospitalization and Place of Death]. / Krebserkrankung und das letzte Lebensjahr: Palliative Leistungen, Krankenhausaufenthalte und Sterbeort.

INTRODUCTION: Palliative care patients frequently suffer from cancer diagnoses. Specialised palliative home care (German acronym 'SAPV') enables patients with complex symptoms and intensive care needs to receive home care until death. In the German Federal State of Hesse, the first SAPV teams were set up in 2009. Against this background, the aim of this study was (i) to investigate the utilization of SAPV and specialised inpatient palliative care in the last year of life of cancer patients, (ii) to detect the medical professions prescribing SAPV and (iii) to analyse the place of death and the hospitalization rate in the last 91 days of life. METHODS: A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted. Routine data from the statutory health insurance company AOK Hesse in Germany for 2009-2014 were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The study population comprised breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients who died in the year of observation (2010-2014) and who were fully insured 360 days before death. RESULTS: Depending on the year of observation, 492-545 breast, 546-625 prostate, and 709-752 colorectal cancer patients were included in the study. The analysis showed an increase of cancer patients receiving palliative care from 2010 to 2014. A higher proportion of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients received SAPV as compared to services from palliative care units or inpatient hospices. All in all, over 90% of the SAPV prescriptions were issued by family doctors. The hospitalization rate of cancer patients in the last 91 days of life as well as the share of those dying in hospital decreased between 2010 and 2014. CONCLUSION: The results must be assessed in the context of the implementation of SAPV in the state of Hesse. The increase of SAPV services and the reduction of hospitalizations at the end of life indicate a successful introduction of SAPV in the state of Hesse.

Current Knowledge on Correlations Between Highly Prevalent Dental Conditions and Chronic Diseases: An Umbrella Review.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have investigated the relationships between chronic systemic and dental conditions, but it remains unclear how such knowledge can be used in clinical practice. In this article, we provide an overview of existing systematic reviews, identifying and evaluating the most frequently reported dental-chronic disease correlations and common risk factors. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of existing systematic reviews (umbrella review) published between 1995 and 2017 and indexed in 4 databases. We focused on the 3 most prevalent dental conditions and 10 chronic systemic diseases with the highest burden of disease in Germany. Two independent reviewers assessed all articles for eligibility and methodologic quality using the AMSTAR criteria and extracted data from the included studies. RESULTS: Of the initially identified 1,249 systematic reviews, 32 were included for qualitative synthesis. The dental condition with most frequently observed correlations to chronic systemic diseases was periodontitis. The chronic systemic disease with the most frequently observed correlations with a dental condition was type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Most dental-chronic disease correlations were found between periodontitis and T2DM and periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Frequently reported common risk factors were smoking, age, sex, and overweight. Using the AMSTAR criteria, 2 studies were assessed as low quality, 26 studies as moderate quality, and 4 studies as high quality. CONCLUSION: The quality of included systematic reviews was heterogeneous. The most frequently reported correlations were found for periodontitis with T2DM and for periodontitis with cardiovascular disease. However, the strength of evidence for these and other disease correlations is limited, and the evidence to assess the causality of these disease correlations remains unclear. Future research should focus on the causality of disease links in order to provide more decisive evidence with respect to the design of intersectoral care processes.

In search of a standard when analyzing medication adherence in patients with heart failure using claims data: a systematic review.

To determine and address medication non-adherence is important and may improve patient outcomes. Our aim was to perform a systematic review on the operationalization of adherence measures in patients with heart failure using claims data. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. A quality check of the full-text articles was performed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool. We included 28 studies. Eleven studies used the medication possession ratio, 15 the proportion of days covered, and six studies used own methods to calculate medication adherence. Almost all studies used an observation period of 1 year. Twenty-one studies considered angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, 17 beta-blockers, 11 diuretics, eight mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, six digitalis-glycosides, and six statins. Eight studies looked at single substance classes; 18 studies analyzed more than one drug class. Different assumptions for the dosage were used. In seven studies, switching within therapeutic classes was allowed. Three studies allowed stockpiling, nine studies censored hospital stays, and four studies censored death. Seventeen studies dichotomized the results, applying the cutoff ≥ 0.8 to define a patient as adherent. Eight studies analyzed adherence as a continuous value. The reporting quality of the methodology applied varied widely between studies. A gold standard is currently not available for the quantification of medication adherence in patients with chronic heart failure via claims data. To assess the methodology, the following parameters should be described: method of measurements, observation period, substances, dosing, switches, stockpiling, truncations, statistical analysis, and cutoff for adherence.

Comparative risks of bleeding, ischemic stroke and mortality with direct oral anticoagulants versus phenprocoumon in patients with atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: The pivotal trials for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) compared rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and apixaban with warfarin, as did most claims-based studies. Comparisons with phenprocoumon, the most frequently used vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in Germany, are scarce. METHODS: Risk of bleeding, ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality in patients with NVAF were analyzed using data for 2010 to 2014 from a large German claims database. New users of oral anticoagulants from January 2012 to December 2013 were included and observed over 1 year. Baseline characteristics were adjusted using propensity score matching and logistic regression. Several sensitivity analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Fifty-nine thousand four hundred forty-nine rivaroxaban, 23,654 dabigatran, 4894 apixaban, and 87,997 matched phenprocoumon users were included. Adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) compared with phenprocoumon were as follows: hospitalized bleedings: rivaroxaban 1.04 (0.97; 1.11), dabigatran 0.87 (0.77; 0.98), and apixaban 0.65 (0.50; 0.86); ischemic stroke: rivaroxaban 1.05 (0.94; 1.17), dabigatran 1.14 (0.96; 1.35), and apixaban 1.84 (1.20; 2.84); all-cause mortality: rivaroxaban 1.17 (1.11; 1.22), dabigatran 1.04 (0.95; 1.13), and apixaban 1.14 (0.97; 1.34). CONCLUSIONS: With rivaroxaban, no significant differences were observed compared to phenprocoumon with regard to hospitalized bleedings or ischemic strokes. Dabigatran was associated with fewer bleedings and a similar risk of ischemic strokes compared to phenprocoumon. Apixaban was also associated with fewer bleedings but was unexpectedly associated with more ischemic strokes, possibly reflecting selective prescribing. The association of rivaroxaban with higher all-cause mortality unrelated to bleedings or strokes has been described previously but remains to be explained.

[Prevalence of dementia of insured persons with and without German citizenship : A study based on statuatory health insurance data]. / Prävalenz von Demenz bei Versicherten mit und ohne deutsche Staatsangehörigkeit : Eine Studie auf Basis von Daten der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung.

BACKGROUND: Elderly people with a non-German background are a fast growing population in Germany. OBJECTIVES: Is administrative prevalence of dementia and uptake of nursing-home care similar in the German and non-German insured? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on routine data, administrative prevalence rates for dementia were calculated for 2013 from a full census of data from one large sickness fund. Patients with dementia (PWD) were identified via ICD-10 codes (F00; F01; F03; F05; G30). RESULTS: Administrative prevalence of dementia was 2.67% in the study population; 3.06% in Germans, and 0.96% in non-Germans (p value <0.001). Age and sex adjusted prevalence was comparable in the insured with and without German citizenship, except in women aged 80-84 (17.2 vs. 15.4) and for men in the age groups 80-84 (16.5 vs. 14.2), 85-89 years (23.4 vs. 21.5), and above 90 years of age (32.3 vs. 26.3). Standardized to the population of all investigated insured, 31.4% of all Germans with dementia had no longterm care entitlement vs. 35.5% of all patients without German citizenship. Of German patients, 55.1% were institutionalized vs. 39.5% of all patients without German citizenship. CONCLUSIONS: There was a higher prevalence of dementia in the very old insured without German citizenship compared to those with German citizenship, especially in men. Non-Germans showed lower uptake of nursing home care compared to Germans. Additionally, Germans had slightly higher nursing care entitlements. It should be investigated further how much of the difference is due to underdiagnosis, cultural differences, or lack of adequate diagnostic work-up.

Heterogeneous Effects of a Nonlinear Price Schedule for Outpatient Care.

Nonlinear price schedules generally have heterogeneous effects on health-care demand. We develop and apply a finite mixture bivariate probit model to analyze whether there are heterogeneous reactions to the introduction of a nonlinear price schedule in the German statutory health insurance system. In administrative insurance claims data from the largest German health insurance plan, we find that some individuals strongly react to the new price schedule while a second group of individuals does not react. Post-estimation analyses reveal that the group of the individuals who do not react to the reform includes the relatively sick. These results are in line with forward-looking behavior: Individuals who are already sick expect that they will hit the kink in the price schedule and thus are less sensitive to the co-payment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Predictors of non-drug psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment in children and adolescents with mental or behavioural disorders.

Children and adolescents with mental health problems need effective and safe therapies to support their emotional and social development and to avoid functional impairment and progress of social deficits. Though psychotropic drugs seem to be the preferential treatment, psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions are essential in mental health care. For Germany, current data on the utilization of psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions in children with mental health problems is lacking. To analyse why certain children and adolescents with mental or behavioural disorders do and others do not receive non-drug treatment, we assessed predictors associated with specific non-drug psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment including psychosocial interventions, psychotherapy and other non-drug treatments. The study is based on data of two large German health insurance funds, AOK and TK, comprising 30 % of the German child and adolescent population. Predictors of non-drug psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment were analysed for 23,795 cases and two controls for every case of the same age and sex in children aged 0-17 years following a new diagnosis of mental or behavioural disorder in 2010. Predictors were divided according to Andersen's behavioural model into predisposing, need and enabling factors. The most prominent and significant predictors positively associated with non-drug psychiatric/psychotherapeutic treatment were the residential region as predisposing factor; specific, both ex- and internalizing, mental and behavioural disorders, psychiatric co-morbidity and psychotropic drug use as need factors; and low area deprivation and high accessibility to outpatient physicians and inpatient institutions with non-drug psychiatric/psychotherapeutic department as enabling factors. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the residential region as proxy for supply of therapist and socioeconomic situation is an influencing factor for the use of psychotherapy. The analysis sheds further light on predisposing, need and enabling factors as predictors of non-drug psychotherapeutic/psychiatric treatment in children and adolescents with mental or behavioural health disorders in Germany. More research is needed to further understand the factors promoting the gap between the need and utilization of mental health care.

[Time Trends in the Frequencies of ADHD and Stimulant Medication]. / Zeitliche Trends bei den Häufigkeiten für Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörungen (ADHS) und Stimulanzienbehandlung.

Time-trends in the frequencies of mental disorders represent specific challenges for the planning of services. The present review addresses the specific question whether or not there are time changes in terms of an increase of prevalence and incidence rates of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) based on findings from international epidemiological studies from several decades. While there is no evidence that prevalence rates of ADHD have systematically increased, various national and international incidence studies on ADHD but also prevalence and incidence studies on prescribed medication indicate that the number of treated people with ADHD has increased significantly in the recent past. This increase remains even after adjusting for the general increase in the number of persons admitted to psychiatry for any disorder. Thus, the gap between those in need of treatment and those who actually receive treatment for ADHD has narrowed over time. However, after years of an increase, in recent years German studies dealing with prescriptions of medications have shown also a declining trend.

Risk of hyperkalemia and combined use of spironolactone and long-term ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker therapy in heart failure using real-life data: a population- and insurance-based cohort.

PURPOSE: Clinical trials and few observational studies report increased hyperkalemia risks in heart failure patients receiving aldosterone blockers in addition to standard therapy. The aim of this study is to assess the hyperkalemia risk and combined use of spironolactone and long-term ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy for heart failure in a real-life setting of a heterogeneous population. METHODS: Using claims data of the statutory health insurance fund AOK, covering 30% of the German population, we performed a nested case-control study in a cohort of heart failure patients receiving continuous ACE/ARB therapy (n = 1,491,894). Hyperkalemia risk associated with concurrent use of spironolactone and ACE/ARB was calculated by conditional logistic regression in 1062 cases and 10,620 risk-set-sampling-matched controls. RESULTS: Risk of hyperkalemia in heart failure patients was significantly associated with spironolactone use (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 13.59 (11.63-15.88) in all and 11.05 (8.67-14.08) in those with information on New York Heart Association (NYHA) stage of disease). In the NYHA subpopulation, higher risk estimates were observed in short-term as compared with long-term users (OR (95%CI) = 13.00 (9.82-17.21) and 9.12 (6.78-12.26), respectively). Moreover, the association was stronger in older (≥70 years of age) as compared with younger patients (<70 years of age) (OR (95%CI) = 12.32 (9.35-16.23) and 8.73 (5.05-15.08), respectively), although interaction was not significant (pinteraction = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperkalemia risk associated with combined use of spironolactone and ACE/ARB is much stronger in real-life practice than observed in clinical trials. Careful potassium level monitoring in concomitant users of spironolactone and ACE/ARB is necessary.