BRCA testing and outcomes in women with breast cancer.

MAIN PURPOSE: Germline BRCA mutations (BRCAm) strongly influence the risk of developing breast cancer. This study aimed to understand the role of BRCAm testing in affected individuals and to assess its impact on the outcome of BRCAm carriers compared to non-carriers (BRCAwt) with breast cancer. RESEARCH QUESTION: The research question is "Does standard of care testing for BRCAm improve survival outcomes of breast cancer patients?" METHODS: In a single institution observational cohort study, demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between breast cancer patients with and without BRCAm. Frequency of BRCA testing was assessed. Survival outcomes were assessed by initial treatment setting stratified by BRCA status. RESULTS: Of 5712 identified women with breast cancer, 14.6% (n = 835) were tested for a BRCA mutation and had a documented result. The total number and proportion of women tested for a BRCAm increased between 2000 and 2014, resulting in an increased number of BRCAm carriers identified. However, the proportion of women who underwent testing and had a BRCAm decreased during the study period from 27.5% in 2000-2004 to 13.3% in 2010-2014. Disease-free survival was similar in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment settings between BRCAm and BRCAwt patients. Progression-free survival on first line treatment and overall survival for patients with metastatic disease was also similar between BRCAm and BRCAwt patients. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of women tested and the number of BRCAm identified increased during the study period despite a decreasing proportion of positive results among women tested.

Assessing pharmacy student confidence to answer patient questions regarding herbal medicines and natural product drugs.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the change in confidence answering questions about herbal medicines and natural product drugs (HMNPD) in third year professional pharmacy students in an HMNPD course. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: A questionnaire was developed to query confidence in responding to patient questions, recommending specific products, and ability to retrieve resources regarding HMNPD. It was administered the first and last week of the semester; responses were evaluated using a Chi-squared test. FINDINGS: At baseline, 46 students (84%) were "very hesitant", "hesitant", or "neither hesitant nor confident" in responding to HMNPD questions; after the course, most students were "confident" or "very confident" (n=30, 54%) (p < .001). Confidence in finding reliable resources increased from the first week (29 students [40%] were "confident" or "very confident") to the last week (51 students [91%] were "confident" or "very confident" [p < .001]). At baseline, five students (9%) were "confident" or "very confident" in ability to recommend a specific product; after the course, 26 students (46%) were "confident" or "very confident" (p < .001). Nine students (16%) felt "very confident" or "confident" in HMNPD safety/effectiveness at baseline; the same proportion felt this way at conclusion (p = .93). Four students (7%) were confident in HMNPD efficacy at baseline and nine (16%) felt the same way at the end (p = .12). DISCUSSION: Significant increases in student confidence answering patient questions, responding to disease-specific queries, and using appropriate resources were found. There was no difference in confidence in HMNPD safety/efficacy. SUMMARY: This study supported continued HMNPD education in the pharmacy program.

Comparative effectiveness of once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists with regard to 6-month glycaemic control and weight outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes in an electronic medical record database to compare real-world, 6-month glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight outcomes for exenatide once weekly with those for dulaglutide and albiglutide. The study included 2465 patients: exenatide once weekly, n = 2133; dulaglutide, n = 201; and albiglutide, n = 131. The overall mean (standard deviation [s.d.]) age was 60 (11) years and 54% were men; neither differed among the comparison groups. The mean (s.d.) baseline HbA1c was similar in the exenatide once-weekly (8.3 [1.7]%) and dulaglutide groups (8.5 [1.5]%; P = .165), but higher in the albiglutide group (8.7 [1.7]%; P < .001). The overall mean (s.d.) HbA1c change was -0.5 (1.5)% (P < .001) and this did not differ among the comparison groups in either adjusted or unadjusted analyses. The mean (s.d.) weight change was -1.4 (4.7) kg for exenatide once weekly and -1.6 (3.7) kg for albiglutide (P = .579), but was greater for dulaglutide, at -2.7 (5.7) kg (P = .001). Outcomes were similar in subsets of insulin-naive patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.0% or ≥9.0%. All agents significantly reduced HbA1c at 6 months, with no significant differences among agents or according to baseline HbA1c in insulin-naive subgroups.

Impact of statin guidelines on statin utilization and costs in an employer-based primary care clinic.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe statin utilization and costs in an employer-based patient cohort by comparing actual practice and assumed adoption of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) or 2016 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) statin recommendations versus the guidelines described in 2001 (and supplemented in 2004) in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (ATPIII). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive cohort analysis included patients treated in an employer-based primary care clinic between January 2012 and April 2014. METHODS: ATPIII, ACC/AHA, and USPSTF recommendations were retrospectively applied at the patient level based on lipid levels and statin prescribing data collected from a health risk assessment and electronic health record. Actual statin prescribing was compared with prescribing predicted by guideline recommendations. Costs for each strategy were estimated using employer pharmacy claims data. RESULTS: The study included 555 patients, of whom 112 (20.2%) were treated with a statin at baseline. ATPIII and ACC/AHA recommended statin use in 284 (51.2%) and 279 (50.3%) patients, respectively. Within the subgroup of 479 primary prevention patients, ACC/AHA recommended statin use in 203 (42.4%) versus USPSTF, which recommended statin use in 91 (19.0%). The 90-day cost per patient was similar to baseline with implementation of ATPIII or ACC/AHA recommendations, excluding use of brand name-only high-intensity statins, and costs could be reduced slightly with implementation of USPSTF guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differences in ATPIII, ACC/AHA, and USPSTF guidelines, application of any of these statin recommendations would result in optimized statin utilization and fairly neutral effects on cost in this real-world employer-based population.

Real-World Glycemic Control from GLP-1RA Therapy with and Without Concurrent Insulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are recommended as add-on therapy in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D), with no specific guidance as to timing versus insulin. Furthermore, real-world data assessing GLP-1RA outcomes with or without concurrent insulin therapy are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To identify glycemic response with GLP-1RAs by insulin use in patients with T2D at 1-year follow-up to inform decisions regarding GLP-1RA use with or without insulin. METHODS: This uncontrolled retrospective cohort study included adults with T2D in the Quintiles Electronic Medical Records Database who were newly prescribed GLP-1RA therapy with exenatide once weekly or liraglutide once daily between February 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013 (index period). Primary outcomes were change in hemoglobin A1c (A1c) at 1 year and attainment of A1c < 7%, < 8%, and < 9%. Results were stratified by baseline insulin use, which was defined as no insulin use at baseline, insulin initiated with a GLP-1RA on index date, and insulin prescribed before starting GLP-1RA therapy. Secondary outcomes included 1-year weight, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood pressure outcomes for the study population. Adjusted mean (marginal) change in A1c at 1 year was estimated using multivariate linear regression, and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of patients attaining A1c < 7% at follow-up, controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: This study included 5,141 patients with a mean (SD) age of 57.0 (10.9) years, 53.5% of whom were females, and with a mean baseline A1c of 8.4% (1.6). Overall, 35.4% had no baseline insulin use, 42.9% were prescribed insulin before starting GLP-1RA therapy, and 21.7% were started on insulin with a GLP-1RA. The adjusted mean A1c reduction at 1 year was 0.75% (95% CI = -0.86 to -0.63) for patients initiating insulin on index date, 0.61% (95% CI = -0.70 to -0.51) for patients with no baseline insulin use, and 0.23% (95% CI = -0.33 to -0.13) for patients prescribed insulin before GLP-1RA therapy. Patients with no baseline insulin or who coinitiated insulin and a GLP-1RA were more likely to attain A1c < 7% at follow-up versus patients prescribed insulin before initiating GLP-1RA therapy (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.08 to 2.09 and OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.30 to 2.62, respectively). At 1-year follow-up, significant improvements in weight, LDL-C, and blood pressures were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: GLP-1RA therapy was associated with significant improvements in glycemic control when used with or without insulin, as well as reductions in weight and LDL-C overall. However, greater A1c reductions and a higher likelihood of attaining A1c goal levels were observed when a GLP-1RA was initiated alone or with insulin than when a GLP-1RA was added to a regimen that included insulin. GLP-1RA therapy is an effective treatment option when used with or without insulin and may be considered in patients with uncontrolled glycemia. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by a collaborative research grant from AstraZeneca. Employees of AstraZeneca participated in most aspects of the study and in manuscript preparation. Nguyen and Hurd are employed by, and hold stock in, AstraZeneca. McAdam-Marx reports participation in the AMCP Diabetes Partnership and has stock ownership in GlaxoSmithKline. Study concept and design were contributed by Nguyen, McAdam-Marx, and Singhal, along with Unni and Schauerhamer. Singhal, Unni, Nguyen, and McAdam-Marx collected the data, with assistance from Schauerhamer and Hurd, and data interpretation was performed by Unni, Hurd, McAdam-Marx, Singhal, Nguyen, and Schauerhamer. The manuscript was written by Singhal, Schauerhamer, Unni, and McAdam-Marx, along with Nguyen and Hurd, and revised by McAdam-Marx, Singhal, Unni, and Nguyen, along with Schauerhamer and Hurd.

Glycemic Control and Weight Outcomes for Exenatide Once Weekly Versus Liraglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A 1-Year Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

PURPOSE: Data comparing real-world effectiveness of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) exenatide once weekly (QW) and liraglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) are limited. Furthermore, there is limited information on exenatide QW or liraglutide response by glycemic control and insulin use status. This study identifies 1-year glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight outcomes with exenatide QW and liraglutide in the real-world setting overall and in insulin-naive patients with uncontrolled T2D. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study using national electronic medical record data compared 1-year HbA1c and weight outcomes in patients with T2D prescribed exenatide QW or liraglutide. Included patients were adults (≥18 years old) with T2D who were GLP-1RA naive when newly prescribed exenatide QW or liraglutide between January 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013 (index date). Outcomes were reported descriptively overall and in subsets of insulin-naive patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.0% or ≥9.0%. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to estimate adjusted change in HbA1c and weight. FINDINGS: The study included 808 exenatide QW and 4333 liraglutide patients. Mean (SD) age was 57 (11) years in both groups. Mean baseline HbA1c was 8.3% (1.5%) in exenatide QW patients and 8.4% (1.6%) in liraglutide patients (P = 0.66); 16 (2%) of the exenatide QW and 1099 (25.4%) of the liraglutide patients were newly prescribed insulin on the index date (P < 0.001). Adjusted mean HbA1c change at 1 year was -0.37% (95% CI, -0.53% to -0.21%) for exenatide QW and -0.37% (95% CI, -0.55% to -0.18%) for liraglutide. Adjusted HbA1c reduction was more pronounced in insulin-naive patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.0% (-0.71% and -0.80% for the exenatide QW and liraglutide patients, respectively, P > 0.05) and ≥9.0% (-1.73% and -1.57% for exenatide QW and liraglutide patients, respectively, P > 0.05). Mean (adjusted) weight loss was -2.22 kg (95% CI, -3.06 to -1.37 kg) with exenatide QW and -2.21 kg (95% CI, -3.18 to -1.23 kg) with liraglutide. IMPLICATIONS: Exenatide QW and liraglutide lead to similar HbA1c and weight reductions at 1 year in the real-world setting. Greater HbA1c reductions occurred in insulin-naive patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.0%. Both agents are appropriate options for patients needing antidiabetes therapy to lower HbA1c while promoting weight loss.

BRCA testing, treatment patterns and survival in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer - an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer associated (BRCA) genes are critical for DNA repair. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCAm) result in loss of these repair mechanisms and potential carcinogenesis. Germline BRCAm are common in ovarian carcinomas, particularly in platinum-sensitive disease. The increased prevalence of BRCAm in platinum-sensitive disease is likely due to enhanced responsiveness to platinum chemotherapy from homologous recombination repair deficiency. The purpose of this study was to explore BRCA testing, treatment patterns and survival in platinum-sensitive recurrent (PSR) ovarian cancer. METHODS: This was an observational cohort analysis of PSR ovarian cancer treated at the Huntsman Cancer Institute from 1995 to 2012. Germline BRCA status was ascertained through chart review and categorized as BRCAm (BRCA1/2 positive), BRCAwt (BRCA wild type or variant of uncertain significance), and untested. Treatment patterns and survival were assessed from recurrence until death or last follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate survival from recurrence by BRCA status. Logistic regression and COX proportional hazard model was used to estimate predictors of BRCA testing and survival, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 168 PSR patients, 15 (9 %) were BRCAm, 25 (15 %) were BRCAwt, and 128 (76 %) were untested. Median age at PSR was 56 years for BRCAm and BRCAwt (p = 0.90) and 63 years for those untested (p = 0.033 vs BRCAm). Overall survival was similar between BRCAm and BRCAwt (median 50.4 vs 67.5 months, p = 0.86) and was 24.9 months in untested patients. Significant predictors for the likelihood of BRCA testing were age (OR = 0.93, 95 % CI 0.89, 0.97, p = 0.002), family history of breast or ovarian cancer (OR = 8.33, 95 % CI: 3.08, 22.59, p < 0.001), and cancer diagnosis year (OR = 10.02, 95 % CI: 3.22, 31.21, p < 0.001). BRCA-tested patients had a lower risk of death versus untested (HR 0.35, 95 % CI 0.17, 0.68, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: BRCAwt patients had similar outcomes to BRCAm patients, potentially owing to similar age at diagnosis, representing a BRCA testing channeling bias. Younger patients, those with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, and those diagnosed more recently were more likely to be BRCA tested. BRCA tested patients had a lower risk of death.

A review of the clinical utility of duloxetine in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

Diabetes mellitus is a world-wide epidemic with many long-term complications, with neuropathy being the most common. In particular, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), can be one of the most distressing complications associated with diabetes, leading to decreases in physical and mental quality of life. Despite the availability of many efficient medications, DPNP remains a challenge to treat, and the optimal sequencing of pharmacotherapy remains unknown. Currently, there are only three medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically for the management of DPNP. Duloxetine (DUL), a selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is one of these. With the goal of optimizing pharmacotherapy use in DPNP population, a review of current literature was conducted, and the clinical utility of DUL described. Along with early clinical trials, recently published observational studies and pharmacoeconomic models may be useful in guiding decision making by clinicians and managed care organizations. In real-world practice settings, DUL is associated with decreased or similar opioid utilization, increased medication adherence, and similar health care costs compared with current standard of care. DUL has consistently been found to be a cost-effective option over short time-horizons. Currently, the long-term cost-effectiveness of DUL is unknown. Evidence derived from randomized clinical trials, real-world observations, and economic models support the use of DUL as a first-line treatment option from the perspective of the patient, clinician, and managed care payer.

Once-weekly exenatide as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a progressive disease that requires pharmacologic treatment to prevent microvascular and macrovascular complications. As the disease progresses, most patients require combination therapy to achieve glucose control targets. Exenatide once weekly (EQW) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States in 2012 for use as a second-line agent to treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus. EQW has shown reductions in HbA1c and weight without causing an increased risk of hypoglycemia. This review will summarize the current clinical trial, observational study, and pharmacoeconomic analyses evaluating EQW and its impact on HbA1c and weight.