Immediate release fentanyl. Real world data on abuse and dependence in Spain / Fentanilo de liberación inmediata. Datos de vida real de abuso y dependencia en España

Purpose: A substantial increase in the prescription of immediate release fentanyl (IRF) outside hospitals was observed in previous studies between 2012 and 2017, however it remains unknown the extent of immediate release fentanyl use disorders (IRFUD). This study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk factors of IRFUD, such us abuse and dependence, in Spain during this period. Methods: Retrospective cohort study performed in a Spanish electronic primary care healthcare records database (BIFAP). The incidence rate of IRFUD was calculated by dividing the number of incident cases by the total patient-years (p-y) of exposure. Demographic data, lifestyle, cancer diagnosis, comorbidities and concomitant medication were described and analyzed overall and in patients developing IRFUD using Cox regression models. Effect of the type of treatment (continuous/discontinuous) and duration were also evaluated. Results: The incidence of IRFUD in the 12,267 patients analyzed was 1.8 cases per 100 p-y of exposure. Baseline analysis showed higher frequencies of IRFUD for smokers, patients with a history of substance abuse, non-oncology indication and diagnosis of depression and anxiety, respect to non-IRFUD patients. Patients aged ≥ 80 were less likely to develop IRFUD abuse/dependence. Significant differences were for concomitant use of other treatments with potential for dependence and abuse, such as benzodiazepines. The risk of IRFUD increased with treatment duration, being the highest for treatments lasting 180 days and longer. Conclusion: Incidence of IRFUD is difficult to contrast due to the lack of similar studies. It could be considered not too higher outside hospitals but possible in cancer and non-cancer patients... (AU)

En estudios previos se ha observado un aumento considerable en la prescripción de fentanilo de liberación inmediata en el ámbito extrahospitalario entre 2012 y 2017. Sin embargo, aún se desconoce la magnitud de dependencia y abuso derivada de su uso. Este estudio tiene como objetivo estimar la incidencia y los factores de riesgo de los trastornos derivados del uso de fentanilo de liberación inmediata en España, tales como el abuso y la dependencia durante este período. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo realizado en España en la base de datos de historias clínicas electrónicas de atención primaria (BIFAP). La tasa incidencia de trastornos por el uso de fentanilo, se calculó dividiendo el número de casos incidentes entre el total de personas-año de exposición. Se analizaron datos demográficos, estilo de vida, diagnóstico de cáncer, comorbilidades y medicación concomitante. Para el análisis se utilizaron modelos de regresión de Cox. También se evaluó el efecto del tipo de tratamiento (continuo/discontinuo) y la duración de tratamiento. Resultados:La incidencia de trastornos por el uso de fentanilo en los 12,267 pacientes analizados fue de 1.8 casos por 100 personas-año de exposición. Se observó una frecuencia más elevada en aquellos pacientes que al inicio del tratamiento eran fumadores, pacientes con antecedentes de abuso de sustancias, con indicaciones no oncológicas y en pacientes con diagnóstico de depresión y ansiedad en comparación con los pacientes que no desarrollaron el evento. Los pacientes mayores de 80 años presentaron menos probabilidades de desarrollar estos trastornos. Se observaron diferencias significativas en el uso concomitante con otros tratamientos con potencial de desarrollar dependencia y abuso, como las benzodiacepinas. El riesgo aumentó con la duración del tratamiento, siendo más elevado para aquellos tratamientos que duraban 180 días o más... (AU)

Quantity is not enough: completeness of suspected adverse drug reaction reports in Spain-differences between regional pharmacovigilance centres and pharmaceutical industry.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the completeness of relevant structured fields such as age, sex, drug and reaction start dates, time to onset, outcome and drug indication, in serious spontaneous cases reported in Spain depending on whether they have been collected by regional pharmacovigilance centres or by the marketing authorization holders. METHODS: We analyzed the completeness of key variables for causality assessment related to the patient, the reaction and the suspected drug in all serious cases spontaneously reported and registered in the Spanish Pharmacovilance database, called FEDRA, from 1 January 2011 until 31 December 2018. The completeness scores were calculated according to the type of field and taking into account the VigiGrade tool. Cases were classified according to the reporting pathway, that is whether they were received and transmitted by marketing authorization holder or by regional pharmacovigilance centres. RESULTS: The completeness score of cases collected by regional pharmacovigilance centres was higher in all the studied variables. The main differences were found in drug and reaction start date, and time to onset. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a high completeness score in cases of suspected adverse reactions reported to the regional pharmacovigilance centres with regard to key elements for causality assessment, signal and duplicate detection. In contrast, marketing authorization holder cases show a low completeness score and a decreasing tendency in all the studied variables over the studied period.

Standard and intensive lipid-lowering therapy with statins for the primary prevention of vascular diseases: a population-based study.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical profile of the patients that initiate statin therapy for the primary prevention of vascular diseases and to investigate the extent to which clinicians use intensive vs. standard regimens. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of nationwide individual data regarding individuals ≥ 11 years with a first prescription of statin, recorded between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2011. Subjects were defined as intensive therapy initiators if a statin dose superior to simvastatin 40 mg (or equivalent dose if different statin) was first prescribed. Multivariable logistic regression models were built for dependent summary variables to evaluate the strength of the association between them and the use of intensive therapy. RESULTS: Overall, 69,737 patients receiving a first prescription of statin for the primary prevention of vascular diseases were identified. Predictors for intensive therapy initiation were male gender (adjusted OR: 1.28; 95%CI: 1.10-1.48), history of hypothyroidism (1.47; 1.17-1.85), current treatment of diabetes (1.18; 1.00-1.41), proteinuria (1.87; 1.12-3.12), age, and year of statin prescription. Modifiable risk factors associated with intensive therapy were elevated tryglicerides (1.63; 1.39-1.91), elevated LDL-C (1.96; 1.69-2.28), obesity (1.25; 1.07-1.47), smoking (1.32; 1.14-1.55), comedication with ezetimibe (3.76; 1.87-7.55), fibrates (1.96; 1.43-2.70) and calcium antagonists in women (1.42; 1.02-1.98). CONCLUSIONS: The use of intensive therapy with statins in primary prevention was not very high in absolute terms, but is increasing considerably. The association between intensive therapy and previous hypothyroidism or its combination with fibrates may raise additional safety and tolerability concerns.