Descriptive analysis of poisoning cases involving attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medications in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: The number of poisoning cases involving attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications has reportedly risen with their increased use. However, there is limited relevant evidence from Asia. We analysed the characteristics of poisoning events involving these medications in Hong Kong. METHODS: We retrieved data regarding ADHD medication-related poisoning cases from the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre and conducted a descriptive analysis of the demographic information and poisoning information including sources of cases, exposure reason, exposure location, and outcome. The HKPIC data were linked with the Hospital Authority Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) via de-identified Accident and Emergency numbers of public hospitals to investigate clinical characteristics. We also retrieved ADHD medication prescription records from the CDARS, then compared trends between poisoning cases and ADHD medication use. RESULTS: We identified 72 poisoning cases involving ADHD medications between 2009 and 2019, of which approximately 70% occurred in the affected individual's residence; most were intentional poisoning events (65.3%). No statistically significant association was observed between ADHD medication prescription trends and poisoning events involving ADHD medications. Of the 66 cases (91.7%) successfully linked to CDARS, 40 (60.6%) occurred in individuals with ADHD (median age: 14 years); 26 (39.4%) occurred in individuals who lacked ADHD (median age: 33 years) but displayed higher rates of other mental disorders including depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: No significant correlation was evident between ADHD medication prescriptions and poisoning events involving ADHD medications. However, medication management and caregiver education must be emphasised to prevent potential poisoning events.

Long-term methylphenidate exposure and 24-hours blood pressure and left ventricular mass in adolescents and young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are now being treated with psychostimulant medication for longer than was previously the case and are increasingly likely to remain on methylphenidate into adolescence and adulthood. This study was designed to determine whether the long-term use of methylphenidate (MPH, immediate release or extended release) increases blood pressure and left ventricular mass (LVM) identified by echocardiography in adolescents and young adults with ADHD aged 12-25 years. In a five-site cross-sectional design two groups were compared for 24- hour blood pressure and heart rate (HR) registrations and LVM: 1) adolescents and young adults with ADHD who had been treated with MPH for > 2 years (N=162, age mean (SD) 15.6 (3.0)), and 2) adolescents and young adults with ADHD who had never been treated with methylphenidate (N=71, age mean 17.4 (4.2)). The analyses were controlled for propensity scores derived from age, sex, height, weight, and 19 relevant background variables. A blood pressure indicative of hypertension (>95th percentile) was observed in 12.2% (95% confidence interval 7.3 - 18.9%) of the participants in the MPH treated group and in 9.6% (95%CI 3.2 - 21.0%) of the MPH naïve group, with overlapping intervals. The 24-hour recorded systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR were significantly higher during daytime in medicated individuals with ADHD than in those with unmedicated ADHD, but were similar in both groups during the night. 24-hour diastolic blood pressure (DBP) did not differ between both groups during either daytime or at night. LVM, corrected for body-surface area (LVMBSA), also did not differ between the two groups (p=0.20, controlling for confounders). Further, MPH daily dose and duration of treatment were unrelated to LVMBSA, SBP, and DBP. Long-term MPH use in adolescents and young adults with ADHD is associated with small but significant increases of SBP and HR during daytime. Given the current sample size, the proportions of hypertension do not differ significantly between MPH treated and MPH-naïve individuals with ADHD. Future studies with larger samples, longer treatment duration, and/or with within-subject designs are necessary. The results do, however, further support recommendations that highlight the importance of monitoring blood pressure and HR during MPH treatment.

The use of antipsychotic agents during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found contradicting results with regard to the use of antipsychotics during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We aimed to evaluate the association between antipsychotic use in pregnancy and GDM. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library databases up to March 2019, for data from observational studies assessing the association between gestational antipsychotic use and GDM. Non-English studies, animal studies, case reports, conference abstracts, book chapters, reviews and summaries were excluded. The primary outcome was GDM. Estimates were pooled using a random effect model, with the I2 statistic used to estimate heterogeneity of results. Our study protocol was registered with PROSPERO number: CRD42018095014. RESULTS: In total 10 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria in our systematic review with 6642 exposed and 1 860 290 unexposed pregnancies. Six studies were included in the meta-analysis with a pooled adjusted relative risk of 1.24 overall [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.42]. The I2 result suggested low heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 6.7%, p = 0.373). CONCLUSION: We found that the use of antipsychotic medications during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of GDM in mothers. However, the evidence is still insufficient, especially for specific drug classes. We recommend more studies to investigate this association for specific drug classes, dosages and comorbidities to help clinicians to manage the risk of GDM if initiation or continuation of antipsychotic prescriptions during pregnancy is needed.

SGLT2i as fourth-line therapy and risk of mortality, end-stage renal diseases and cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: Current guideline recommends insulin as fourth-line glucose-lowering medications. However, treatment effects of sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on the risk of complications are uncertain. This study examines risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients on triple oral glucose-lowering medications initiating SGLT2i, insulin or other oral medications. METHODS: A population-based retrospective cohort of patients with T2DM between 2006-2017 was extracted from Hong Kong Hospital Authority database. Patients who were initiated a fourth-line therapy with SGLT2i, insulin or other oral medications were included. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality, CVD and ESRD were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up period of 18.5 months with 63,122 person-years, SGLT2i and insulin group had the lowest and highest incidence rate of all-cause mortality, CVD and ESRD (1.06, 0.65 and 0.61 vs 4.25, 5.58 and 4.39/100 person-years), respectively. Initiating SGLT2i as fourth-line medication had more benefits on CVD, in particular coronary heart disease and stroke. Insulin users had higher risks of CVD (HR=8.04, 95%CI=3.06-21.12) than SGLT2i users. SGLT2i was associated with insignificant reduction in ESRD (HR=4.62, 95%CI=0.73-29.09) and all-cause mortality (HR=3.06, 95%CI=0.75-12.45), and HF (HR=2.99, 95%CI=0.37-24.42) among patients without established HF. CONCLUSION: Among T2DM patients initiating fourth-line therapy, SGLT2i users had significant benefits in lowering risk of CVD, and potential benefits in lowering risks of ESRD and all-cause mortality. SGLT2i was the preferred fourth-line glucose-lowering medication least likely to be associated with complication risks.

Short- and potential long-term adverse health outcomes of COVID-19: a rapid review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in millions of patients infected worldwide and indirectly affecting even more individuals through disruption of daily living. Long-term adverse outcomes have been reported with similar diseases from other coronaviruses, namely Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 adversely affects different systems in the human body. This review summarizes the current evidence on the short-term adverse health outcomes and assesses the risk of potential long-term adverse outcomes of COVID-19. Major adverse outcomes were found to affect different body systems: immune system (including but not limited to Guillain-Barré syndrome and paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome), respiratory system (lung fibrosis and pulmonary thromboembolism), cardiovascular system (cardiomyopathy and coagulopathy), neurological system (sensory dysfunction and stroke), as well as cutaneous and gastrointestinal manifestations, impaired hepatic and renal function. Mental health in patients with COVID-19 was also found to be adversely affected. The burden of caring for COVID-19 survivors is likely to be huge. Therefore, it is important for policy makers to develop comprehensive strategies in providing resources and capacity in the healthcare system. Future epidemiological studies are needed to further investigate the long-term impact on COVID-19 survivors.

Bleeding-related hospital admissions and 30-day readmissions in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation treated with dabigatran versus warfarin.

Essentials Bleeding is a common cause of hospital admission and readmission in oral anticoagulant users. Patients with dabigatran and warfarin were included to assess hospital admission risk. Dabigatran users had a higher risk of 30-day readmission with bleeding than warfarin users. Close monitoring following hospital discharge for dabigatran-related bleeding is warranted. SUMMARY: Background Reducing 30-day hospital readmission is a policy priority worldwide. Warfarin-related bleeding is among the most common cause of hospital admissions as a result of adverse drug events. Compared with warfarin, dabigatran achieves a full anticoagulation effect more quickly following its initiation; hence it may lead to early-onset bleeds. Objectives To compare the incidence of bleeding-related hospital admissions and 30-day readmissions with dabigatran vs. warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using a population-wide database managed by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority. Patients newly diagnosed with NVAF from 2010 through to 2014 and prescribed dabigatran or warfarin were 1:1 matched by propensity score. The incidence rate of hospital admission with bleeding (a composite of gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage and bleeding at other sites) was assessed. Results Among the 51 946 patients with NVAF, 8309 users of dabigatran or warfarin were identified, with 5160 patients matched by propensity score. The incidence of first hospitalized bleeding did not differ significantly between groups (incidence rate ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-1.28). Among patients who were continuously prescribed their initial anticoagulants upon discharge, dabigatran use was associated with a higher risk of 30-day readmission with bleeding over warfarin (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.87; 95%CI, 1.10-7.43). Conclusion When compared with warfarin, dabigatran was associated with a comparable incidence of first hospital admission but a higher risk of 30-day redmission with respect to bleeding. Close early monitoring of patients initiated on dabigatran following hospital discharge for bleeding is warranted.

Methylphenidate and the risk of psychotic disorders and hallucinations in children and adolescents in a large health system.

Previous studies have suggested that risk of psychotic events may be increased in children exposed to methylphenidate (MPH). However, this risk has not been fully examined, and the possibility of confounding factors has not been excluded. Patients aged 6-19 years who received at least one MPH prescription were identified using Hong Kong population-based electronic medical records on the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (2001-2014). Using the self-controlled case series design, relative incidence of psychotic events was calculated comparing periods when patients were exposed to MPH with non-exposed periods. Of 20,586 patients prescribed MPH, 103 had an incident psychotic event; 72 (69.9%) were male and 31 (30.1%) female. The mean age at commencement of observation was 6.95 years and the mean follow-up per participant was 10.16 years. On average, each participant was exposed to MPH for 2.17 years. The overall incidence of psychotic events during the MPH exposure period was 6.14 per 10,000 patient-years. No increased risk was found during MPH-exposed compared with non-exposed periods (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.02 (0.53-1.97)). However, an increased risk was found during the pre-exposure period (IRR 4.64 (2.17-9.92)). Results were consistent across all sensitivity analyses. This study does not support the hypothesis that MPH increases risk of incident psychotic events. It does indicate an increased risk of psychotic events before the first prescription of MPH, which may be because of an association between psychotic events and the behavioural and attentional symptoms that led to psychiatric assessment and initiation of MPH treatment.