Lessons learned from COVID-19: improving breast cancer care post-pandemic from the patient perspective.

BACKGROUND: Since the onset of the pandemic, breast cancer (BC) services have been disrupted in most countries. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the unmet needs, patient-priorities, and recommendations for improving BC healthcare post-pandemic for women with BC and to understand how they may vary based on social determinants of health (SDH), in particular socio-economic status (SES). METHODS: Thirty-seven women, who were purposively sampled based on SDH and previously interviewed about the impact of COVID-19 on BC, were invited to take part in follow-up semi-structured qualitative interviews in early 2023. The interviews explored their perspectives of BC care since the easing of COVID-19 government restrictions, including unmet needs, patient-priorities, and recommendations specific to BC care. Thematic analysis was conducted to synthesize each topic narratively with corresponding sub-themes. Additionally, variation by SDH was analyzed within each sub-theme. RESULTS: Twenty-eight women (mean age = 61.7 years, standard deviation (SD) = 12.3) participated in interviews (response rate = 76%). Thirty-nine percent (n = 11) of women were categorized as high-SES, while 61% (n = 17) of women were categorized as low-SES. Women expressed unmet needs in their BC care including routine care and mental and physical well-being care, as well as a lack of financial support to access BC care. Patient priorities included the following: developing cohesion between different aspects of BC care; communication with and between healthcare professionals; and patient empowerment within BC care. Recommendations moving forward post-pandemic included improving the transition from active to post-treatment, enhancing support resources, and implementing telemedicine where appropriate. Overall, women of low-SES experienced more severe unmet needs, which in turn resulted in varied patient priorities and recommendations. CONCLUSION: As health systems are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the emphasis should be on restoring access to BC care and improving the quality of BC care, with a particular consideration given to those women from low-SES, to reduce health inequalities post-pandemic.

Electrocardiographic predictors of response to sacubitril/valsartan therapy in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Sacubitril/valsartan (SV) is currently recommended as a first-line therapy in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) due to its significant clinical and prognostic benefit; however, not all patients respond to therapy and predictors of clinical response to SV remain under-studied. AIMS: To identify electrocardiographic (ECG) predictors of response to SV therapy in HFrEF patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a hospital heart failure registry was undertaken. Consecutive HFrEF patients (New York Heart Association class II-III) on maximal-dose SV were studied. Response to SV was defined as ≥10% relative improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 3-months post-maximal-dose therapy. Pre-therapy ECGs were retrospectively analyzed for axes and standard wave and interval durations. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between predictors and therapeutic response. Backward stepwise regression was employed to develop a parsimonious model. RESULTS: P-wave duration (PWD) 100-120 ms, PWD >120 ms, and QTc >460 ms were associated with response to SV on univariate analysis: OR 18.00 (4.45-122.90), 5.00 (1.47-20.42), and 3.10 (1.18-9.22), respectively. The preferred model that included the former two predictors in combination with pre-therapy creatinine, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use, and LVEF was highly selective (area under the ROC curve = 0.868). CONCLUSIONS: Prolongation of both PWD and QTc interval on baseline ECG in HFrEF patients is predictive of therapeutic response to maximal-dose SV therapy and may indicate early cardiac remodeling that is highly amenable to reversal.

Collating evidence to support the validation of a simulated laparotomy incision and closure-training model.

BACKGROUND: It is essential to evaluate the functionality of surgical simulation models, in order to determine whether they perform as intended. In this study, we assessed the use of a simulated laparotomy incision and closure-training model by collating validity evidence to determine its utility as well as pre and post-test interval data. METHOD: This was a quantitative study design, informed by Messick's unified validity framework. In total, 93 participants (surgical trainees â€‹= â€‹80, experts â€‹= â€‹13) participated in this study. Evaluation of content validity and the models' relationships with other variables was conducted, along with a pre and post-test confidence assessment. RESULTS: The model was deemed realistic and useful as a teaching tool, providing strong content validity evidence. In assessment of relationships with other variables, the expert group out-performed the novice group conclusively. Pre and post-test evaluation reported a statistically significant increase in confidence levels. CONCLUSION: We present strong validity evidence of a novel laparotomy incision and closure simulation-training model.

Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing and Potential Prescribing Omissions and Their Association with Adverse Drug Reaction-Related Hospital Admissions.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) and their association with ADR-related hospital admissions in patients aged ≥ 65 years admitted acutely to the hospital. METHODS: Information on medications and morbidities was extracted from the Adverse Drug Reactions in an Ageing Population (ADAPT) cohort (N = 798: N = 361 ADR-related admissions; 437 non-ADR-related admissions). PIP and PPOs were assessed using Beers Criteria 2019 and STOPP/START version 2. Multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratios (aOR), 95%CI) was used to examine the association between PIP, PPOs and ADR-related admissions, adjusting for covariates (age, gender, comorbidity, polypharmacy). RESULTS: In total, 715 (90%; 95% CI 87-92%) patients had ≥1 Beers Criteria, 555 (70%; 95% CI 66-73%) had ≥ 1 STOPP criteria and 666 patients (83%; 95% CI 81-86%) had ≥ 1 START criteria. Being prescribed at least one Beers (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.00-2.77), or meeting STOPP (aOR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.79-1.45) or START (aOR = 0.72; 95%CI = 0.50-1.06) criteria or the number of PIP/PPO criteria met was not significantly associated with ADR-related admissions. Patients prescribed certain drug classes (e.g., antiplatelet agents, diuretics) per individual PIP criteria were more likely to have an ADR-related admission. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence of PIP and PPOs in this cohort but no association with ADR-related admissions.

Identifying determinants of adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy following breast cancer: A systematic review of reviews.

BACKGROUND: In oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, daily oral adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for at least 5 years significantly reduces risks of recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality. However, many women are poorly adherent to ET. Development of effective adherence support requires comprehensive understanding of influences on adherence. We undertook an umbrella review to identify determinants of ET adherence. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane and PROSPERO (inception to 08/2022) to identify systematic reviews on factors influencing ET adherence. Abstracted determinants were mapped to the World Health Organization's dimensions of adherence. Reviews were quality appraised and overlap assessed. RESULTS: Of 5732 citations screened, 17 reviews were eligible (9 quantitative primary studies; 4 qualitative primary studies; 4 qualitative or quantitative studies) including 215 primary papers. All five WHO dimensions influenced ET non-adherence: The most consistently identified non-adherence determinants were patient-related factors (e.g. lower perceived ET necessity, more treatment concerns, perceptions of ET 'cons' vs. 'pros'). Healthcare system/healthcare professional-related factors (e.g. perceived lower quality health professional interaction/relationship) were also important and, to a somewhat lesser extent, socio-economic factors (e.g. lower levels of social/economic/material support). Evidence was more mixed for medication-related and condition-related factors, but several may be relevant (e.g. experiencing side-effects, cost). Potentially modifiable factors are more influential than non-modifiable/fixed factors (e.g. patient characteristics). CONCLUSIONS: The evidence-base on ET adherence determinants is extensive. Future empirical studies should focus on less well-researched areas and settings. The determinants themselves are numerous and complex in indicating that adherence support should be multifaceted, addressing multiple determinants.

Drug-drug interactions and the risk of adverse drug reaction-related hospital admissions in the older population.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to estimate potentially clinically important drug-drug interaction (DDI) prevalence, and the average causal effect of DDI exposure on adverse drug reaction (ADR)-related hospital admission, and to examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and length of stay (LOS) per DDI exposure in an older (≥65 years) population acutely hospitalized. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 798 older individuals acutely admitted to hospital in Ireland between 2016 and 2017. Medication (current/recently discontinued/over-the-counter) and clinical data (e.g., creatinine clearance) were available. DDIs were identified using the British National Formulary (BNF) and Stockley's Drug Interactions. Causal inference models for DDI exposure on ADR-related hospital admission were developed using directed acyclic graphs. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the average causal effect. Differences in HRQoL (EQ-5D) and LOS per DDI exposure were examined non-parametrically. DDI prevalence, adjusted odds ratios (aOR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. RESULTS: A total of 782 (98.0%) individuals using two or more drugs were included. Mean age was 80.9 (SD ± 7.5) years (range: 66-105); 52.2% were female; and 45.1% (n = 353) had an ADR-related admission. At admission, 316 (40.4% [95% CI: 37.0-43.9]) patients had at least one DDI. The average causal effect of DDI exposure on ADR-related hospital admission was aOR = 1.21 [95% CI: 0.89-1.64]. This was significantly increased by exposure to: DDIs which increase bleeding risk (aOR = 2.00 [1.26-3.12]); aspirin-warfarin (aOR = 2.78 [1.37-5.65]); and esomeprazole-escitalopram (aOR = 3.22 [1.13-10.25]. DDI-exposed patients had lower HRQoL (mean EQ-5D = 0.49 [±0.39]) compared those non-DDI-exposed (mean EQ-5D = 0.57 [±0.41]), (P = .03); and greater median LOS in hospital (8 [IQR5-16]days) compared those non-DDI-exposed (7 [IQR 4-14] days),(P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Potentially clinically important DDIs carry an increased average causal effect on ADR-related admission, significantly (two-fold) by exposure to DDIs that increase bleeding risk, which should be targeted for medicine optimization.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women living with and beyond breast cancer: a qualitative study of women's experiences and how they varied by social determinants of health.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to explore the general impact of COVID-19 on the access and use of BC services and support and overall well-being in women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) and to investigate how these experiences varied by the social determinants of health (SDH). METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with women selected through stratified purposive sampling to ensure data were available on information-rich cases. Interviews were conducted in early 2021 during government restrictions due to COVID-19. Thematic analysis was conducted to obtain overall experience and variation of experience based on SDH. RESULTS: Thirty seven women participated in interviews. Three major themes, with additional subthemes, emerged from analysis: 1. breast cancer services (screening, active treatment, and routine care); 2. breast cancer support and communication (continuity of care, role of liaison, and support services); and 3. quality of life (QoL) and well-being (emotional well-being; social well-being; and functional well-being). Women's experiences within the themes varied by socio-economic status (SES) and region of residence (urban/rural) specifically for BC services and support. CONCLUSION: The pandemic impacted women living with and beyond BC, but the impact has not been the same for all women. This study highlights areas for improvement in the context of BC care in Ireland and the findings will inform further policy and practice, including standardized BC services, improved communication, and enhancement of cancer support services.

Costs associated with adverse drug reactions in an older population admitted to hospital: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study examines healthcare costs associated with adverse drug reactions (ADR) in an older population admitted acutely to an Irish tertiary hospital. METHODS: Prospective cohort study involving older persons admitted to hospital with and without an ADR. Data was collected at baseline, during hospitalisation and post-discharge. Participants provided information on healthcare resource use three months before admission (baseline) and three months after discharge (follow-up). For each healthcare resource, unit costs were derived and applied. The average cost (standard deviation (SD)) associated with the hospital admission for the ADR and non-ADR are presented. In addition, baseline and follow-up care costs were compared using difference-in-difference analysis and presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Costs by preventability and severity of ADR are also presented. RESULTS: A total of n = 230 participants were included (n = 93 ADR and n = 137 without ADR). The average cost associated with hospital admission for an ADR was €9538 (SD €10442) and €9828 (SD €11770) for non-ADR. The additional follow-up costs (difference-in-difference) associated with the ADR was estimated at €2047 (95% CI: -€889 to €4983). The mean incremental follow-up cost of definite preventable ADRs was estimated at €1648 (95% CI: -€4310 to €7605), possible preventable ADRs €2259 (95 CI: -€1194 to €5712) and unavoidable ADRs €1757 (95% CI: -€3377 to €6890). The mean incremental follow-up cost associated with moderate severe ADRs was estimated at €1922 (95% CI: -€1088 to €4932) and €3580 (95% CI: -€4898 to €12,058) for severe ADRs.  CONCLUSION: ADRs leading to hospital admission are associated with modest incremental healthcare costs during and three months after admission. Severe and possibly preventable ADRs were associated with higher costs.

Breast cancer care amidst a pandemic: a scoping review to understand the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on health services and health outcomes.

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health services for breast cancer (BC) have been disrupted. Our scoping review examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC services, health outcomes, and well-being for women. Additionally, this review identifies social inequalities specific to BC during the pandemic. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines, the literature search was conducted using scientific databases starting from March 2020 through November 2021. Studies were identified and selected by two researchers based on inclusion criteria, and the relevant data were extracted and charted to summarize the findings. Ninety-three articles were included in this review. Main themes included are as follows: (i) the impact of COVID-19 on BC services; (ii) the impact of COVID-19 on health outcomes and well-being in women with BC; and (iii) any variation in the impact of COVID-19 on BC by social determinants of health. There were apparent disruptions to BC services across the cancer continuum, especially screening services. Clinical repercussions were a result of such disruptions, and women with BC experienced worsened quality of life and psychosocial well-being. Finally, there were social inequalities dependent on social determinants of health such as age, race, insurance status, and region. Due to the disruption of BC services during the COVID-19 pandemic, women were impacted on their health and overall well-being. The variation in impact demonstrates how health inequities have been exacerbated during the pandemic. This comprehensive review will inform timely health-care changes to minimize long-term impacts of the pandemic and improve evidence-based multidisciplinary needs.

Impact of COVID-19 on health care and quality of life in women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to explore the impact of COVID-19 on health-care services and quality of life (QoL) in women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) in Ireland and whether the impact varied by social determinants of health (SDH). METHODS: Women diagnosed with BC completed a questionnaire measuring the impact of COVID-19, disruption to BC services, QoL, SDH, and clinical covariates during COVID-19 restrictions. The association between COVID-19 impact and disruption to BC services and QoL was assessed using multivariable regression with adjustment for SDH and clinical covariates. An interaction between COVID-19 impact and health insurance status was assessed within the regression models. RESULTS: A total of 30.5% (n = 109) of women reported high COVID-19 impact, and these women experienced more disruption in BC services (odds ratio = 4.95, 95% confidence interval = 2.28 to 10.7, P < .001) and lower QoL (ß = -12.01, SE = 3.37, P < .001) compared with women who reported low COVID-19 impact. Health insurance status moderated the effect of COVID-19 on disruption to BC services and QoL. Women who reported high COVID-19 impact experienced more disruption to BC services and lower QoL compared with women with low COVID-19 impact; however, the magnitude of these unfavorable effects differed by insurance status (Pinteraction < .05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a large disruption to BC services and decrease in QoL for women with BC in Ireland during the pandemic. However, the impact was not the same for all women. It is important that women with BC are reintegrated into proper care and QoL is addressed through multidisciplinary support services.

Informing interventions to improve uptake of adjuvant endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer: a theoretical-based examination of modifiable influences on non-adherence.

PURPOSE: To inform intervention development, we measured the modifiable determinants of endocrine therapy (ET) non-adherence in women with breast cancer, using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and examined inter-relationships between these determinants and non-adherence using the Perceptions and Practicalities Approach (PAPA). METHODS: Women with stages I-III breast cancer prescribed ET were identified from the National Cancer Registry Ireland (N = 2423) and invited to complete a questionnaire. A theoretically based model of non-adherence was developed using PAPA to examine inter-relationships between the 14 TDF domains of behaviour change and self-reported non-adherence. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the model. RESULTS: A total of 1606 women participated (response rate = 66%) of whom 395 (25%) were non-adherent. The final SEM with three mediating latent variables (LVs) (PAPA Perceptions: TDF domains, Beliefs about Capabilities, Beliefs about Consequences; PAPA Practicalities: TDF domain, Memory, Attention, Decision Processes and Environment) and four independent LVs (PAPA Perceptions: Illness intrusiveness; PAPA Practicalities: TDF domains, Knowledge, Behaviour Regulation; PAPA External Factors: TDF domain, Social Identity) explained 59% of the variance in non-adherence and had an acceptable fit (χ2(334) = 1002, p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.03; CFI = 0.96 and SRMR = 0.07) Knowledge had a significant mediating effect on non-adherence through Beliefs about Consequences and Beliefs about Capabilities. Illness intrusiveness had a significant mediating effect on non-adherence through Beliefs about Consequences. Beliefs about Consequences had a significant mediating effect on non-adherence through Memory, Attention, Decision Processesg and Environment. CONCLUSIONS: By underpinning future interventions, this model has the potential to improve ET adherence and, hence, reduce recurrence and improve survival in breast cancer.

Prevalence of Drug-Drug Interactions in Older Community-Dwelling Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can lead to medication-related harm, and the older population is at greatest risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate DDI prevalence and identify common DDIs in older community-dwelling adults. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched for observational studies published between 01/01/2010 and 10/05/2021 reporting DDI prevalence in community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years. Nursing home and inpatient hospital studies were excluded. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model with logit transformation. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q and I2. DDI prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) are presented. All analyses were performed in R (version 4.1.2). RESULTS: There were 5144 unique articles identified. Thirty-three studies involving 17,011,291 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years met inclusion criteria. Thirty-one studies reported DDI prevalence at the study-participant level, estimates ranged from 0.8% to 90.6%. The pooled DDI prevalence was 28.8% (95% CI 19.3-40.7), with significant heterogeneity (p < 0.10; I2 = 100%; tau2 = 2.13) largely explained by the different DDI identification methods. Therefore, 26 studies were qualitatively synthesised and seven studies were eligible for separate meta-analyses. In a meta-analysis of three studies (N = 1122) using Micromedex®, pooled DDI prevalence was 57.8% (95% CI 52.2-63.2; I2 = 69.6%, p < 0.01). In a meta-analysis of two studies (N = 809,113) using Lexi-Interact®, pooled DDI prevalence was 30.3% (95% CI 30.2-30.4; I2 = 6.8%). In a meta-analysis of two studies (N = 947) using the 2015 American Geriatrics Society Beers criteria®, pooled DDI prevalence was 16.6% (95% CI 5.6-40.2; I2 = 97.5%, p < 0.01). Common DDIs frequently involved cardiovascular drugs, including ACE inhibitor-potassium-sparing diuretic; amiodarone-digoxin; and amiodarone-warfarin. CONCLUSIONS: DDIs are prevalent among older community-dwelling individuals; however, the methodology used to estimate these events varies considerably. A standardised methodology is needed to allow meaningful measurement and comparison of DDI prevalence.

Adverse drug reactions in an ageing PopulaTion (ADAPT) study: Prevalence and risk factors associated with adverse drug reaction-related hospital admissions in older patients.

Background: Older people experience greater morbidity with a corresponding increase in medication use resulting in a potentially higher risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Objectives: The aim of this study was to; 1) determine the prevalence and characteristics of ADR-related hospital admissions among older patients (≥65 years) in Ireland; and 2) identify the risk factors associated with ADR-related hospital admissions. Methods: A cross-sectional study of ADR prevalence in patients aged ≥65 years admitted acutely to hospital in Ireland over a 8 month period (November 2016- June 2017). A multifaceted review of each hospital admission was undertaken to assess the likelihood of an ADR being a reason for admission (cause of admission or contributing to admission) in the context of the patient's medication, clinical conditions, comorbidities and investigations. A number of decision aids were applied by two independent reviewers to assess ADR causality, avoidability and severity. A random sample of patients, determined not to have a suspected ADR on screening, were assigned to a non-ADR control group. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between potential risk factors for ADR-related admissions compared with non-ADR-related admissions. Results: In total, 3,760 hospital admission episodes (in 3,091 patients) were screened and 377 admissions were considered ADR-related (10.0%, 95% CI 9.1%, 11.0%). 219 (58.1%) ADR-related admissions were caused by an ADR, while ADRs contributed to 158 (41.9%) admissions. 268 (71.1%) of all ADR-related admissions were deemed definitely or possibly preventable/avoidable. 350 (92.8%) ADRs were classified as being of moderate severity, with 27 (7.2%) classified as severe. Antithrombotic agents, mainly aspirin and warfarin, were the drugs most frequently associated with ADR-related admissions (gastrointestinal and vascular haemorrhagic disorders). In multivariable analysis, immobility, frailty, having delirium or ulcer disease and taking anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication on admission were significantly associated with an ADR-related hospital admission. Conclusion: One in ten hospital admissions, among those aged 65 + years, were considered ADR-related, with approximately 70% potentially avoidable. Reliable and validated ADR detection and prediction tools are needed to develop prevention strategies.

Contexts and mechanisms relevant to General Practitioner (GP) based interventions to reduce adverse drug events (ADE) in community dwelling older adults: a rapid realist review.

Background: Older adults in Ireland are at increased risk of adverse drug events (ADE) due, in part, to increasing rates of polypharmacy. Interventions to reduce ADE in community dwelling older adults (CDOA) have had limited success, therefore, new approaches are required.A realist review uses a different lens to examine why and how interventions were supposed to work rather than if, they worked. A rapid realist review (RRR) is a more focused and accelerated version.The aim of this RRR is to identify and examine the contexts and mechanisms that play a role in the outcomes relevant to reducing ADE in CDOA in the GP setting that could inform the development of interventions in Ireland. Methods: Six candidate theories (CT) were developed, based on knowledge of the field and recent literature, in relation to how interventions are expected to work. These formed the search strategy. Eighty full texts from 633 abstracts were reviewed, of which 27 were included. Snowballing added a further five articles, relevant policy documents increased the total number to 45. Data were extracted relevant to the theories under iteratively developed sub-themes using NVivo software. Results: Of the six theories, three theories, relating to GP engagement in interventions, relevance of health policy documents for older adults, and shared decision-making, provided data to guide future interventions to reduce ADEs for CDOA in an Irish setting. There was insufficient data for two theories, a third was rejected as existing barriers in the Irish setting made it impractical to use. Conclusions: To improve the success of Irish GP based interventions to reduce ADEs for CDOA, interventions must be relevant and easily applied in practice, supported by national policy and be adequately resourced. Future research is required to test our theories within a newly developed intervention.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Older Community-Dwelling Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Older patients are at increased risk of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) due to polypharmacy. Cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) drugs are commonly implicated in serious DDIs. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with potential 'severe' cardiovascular and CNS DDIs among older (≥ 70 years) community-dwellers. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study using linked data from a national pharmacy claims database and waves 1 and 2 of The Irish LongituDinal study on Ageing (TILDA). 'Severe' cardiovascular and CNS DDIs were identified using the British National Formulary 77 and Stockley's Drug Interactions. The prevalence of 'severe' DDIs (any DDI vs. none) was calculated. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between sociodemographic, functional ability, and medication-related factors and the risk of DDI exposure between waves 1 and 2. RESULTS: A total of 1466 patients were included [mean age (standard deviation) = 78 (5.5) years; female n = 795, 54.2%]. In total, 332 community-dwellers aged ≥ 70 years [22.65%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 20.58-24.86] were potentially exposed to at least one 'severe' cardiovascular or CNS DDI, with more than half (54.82%) of this cohort dispensed the same DDI for a prolonged time (≥ 3 consecutive claims). Aspirin-warfarin was the most frequently dispensed (co-prescribed) DDI (n = 34, 10.24%, 95% CI 7.39-14.00), followed by atorvastatin-clarithromycin (n = 19, 5.72%, 95% CI 3.64-8.81). Polypharmacy [≥ 10 vs. < 5 drugs, odds ratio (OR) 13.40, 95% CI 8.22-21.85] and depression (depressed vs. not, OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.34-3.34) were significantly associated with these DDIs, after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSION: 'Severe' cardiovascular and CNS DDIs are prevalent in older community-dwellers in Ireland, and those with polypharmacy and depression are at a significantly increased risk.

Persistence as a Robust Indicator of Medication Adherence-Related Quality and Performance.

Medication adherence is a priority for health systems worldwide and is widely recognised as a key component of quality of care for disease management. Adherence-related indicators were rarely explicitly included in national health policy agendas. One barrier is the lack of standardised adherence terminology and of routine measures of adherence in clinical practice. This paper discusses the possibility of developing adherence-related performance indicators highlighting the value of measuring persistence as a robust indicator of quality of care. To standardise adherence and persistence-related terminology allowing for benchmarking of adherence strategies, the European Ascertaining Barriers for Compliance (ABC) project proposed a Taxonomy of Adherence in 2012 consisting of three components: initiation, implementation, discontinuation. Persistence, which immediately precedes discontinuation, is a key element of taxonomy, which could capture adherence chronology allowing the examination of patterns of medication-taking behaviour. Advances in eHealth and Information Communication Technology (ICT) could play a major role in providing necessary structures to develop persistence indicators. We propose measuring persistence as an informative and pragmatic measure of medication-taking behaviour. Our view is to develop quality and performance indicators of persistence, which requires investing in ICT solutions enabling healthcare providers to review complete information on patients' medication-taking patterns, as well as clinical and health outcomes.

Longitudinal Medication Adherence in Older Adults With Multimorbidity and Association With Health Care Utilization: Results From the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing.

BACKGROUND: The association between objectively measured nonadherence and health care utilization in multimorbid older people is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To measure medication adherence across multiple chronic conditions, identify adherence patterns, and estimate the association between adherence and self-reported health care utilization. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of multimorbid participants aged ≥70 years in the Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Eligible participants had linked pharmacy claims data and completed TILDA wave 2 (2 years after wave 1). The RxRisk-V tool was used to identify multimorbidity. Average adherence (AA) across RxRisk-V conditions was estimated using the CMA7 function (AdhereR). Group-based trajectory models (GBTMs) identified adherence patterns in the 12 months following wave 1. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the association between adherence and the rate of subsequent self-reported general practitioner [GP] visits, emergency department (ED) visits, outpatient visits, and hospitalizations in the 12 months following adherence measurement (reported at wave 2). Adjusted Incident Rate Ratios (aIRR) and 95% CIs are presented. RESULTS: Higher AA (CMA7) was associated with a small significant decrease in GP visit rate (aIRR = 0.70; CI = 0.53-0.94) and outpatient visit rate (aIRR = 0.44; CI = 0.23-0.81). GBTM identified 6 adherence groups (n = 1050). Compared with high adherers, group 1 (rapid decline, modest increase) membership (aIRR = 1.72; CI = 1.09-2.73) and group 4 (high adherence, delayed decline) membership (aIRR = 1.92; CI = 1.19-3.05) significantly increased ED visit rate. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Suboptimal medication adherence in multimorbid older adults is associated with increased health care utilization. Identification of suboptimal adherence groups for medication management interventions may help decrease the health system burden and health care costs.

The psychosocial determinants of quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer care today involves state-of-the-art biomedical treatment but can fail to address the broader psychosocial and quality-of-life (QoL) issues associated with the transition to breast cancer survivorship. This scoping review examines the evidence on the influence of psychosocial determinants on QoL in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Scoping review methodology was used to: (1) identify the research question(s); (2) identify relevant studies; (3) undertake study selection; (4) extract data; (5) collate, summarise and report the results. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies were conducted in the US (n = 22, 67%) and were mainly cross-sectional (n = 26, 79%). Sixteen psychosocial determinants of QoL were identified. Social support (n = 14, 42%), depression (n = 7, 21%) and future appraisal and perspective (n = 7, 21%) were the most frequently investigated determinants. Twelve different QoL measures were used. A range of different measurement tools were also used per psychosocial determinant (weighted average = 6). The 14 studies that measured the influence of social support on QoL employed 10 different measures of social support and 7 different measures of QoL. In general, across all 33 studies, a higher level of a positive influence and a lower level of a negative influence of a psychosocial determinant was associated with a better QoL e.g. higher social support and lower levels of depression were associated with a higher/better QoL. For some determinants such as spirituality and coping skills the influence on QoL varied, but these determinants were less commonly investigated. CONCLUSION: Consensus around measures of QoL and psychological determinants would be valuable and would enable research to determine the influence of psychosocial determinants on QoL adequately. Research in other healthcare settings beyond the US is required, in order to understand the influence of organisation and follow-up clinical and supportive care on psychosocial determinants and QoL and to improve the quality of care in breast cancer survivors.

Mapping the use of Group-Based Trajectory Modelling in medication adherence research: A scoping review protocol.

The use of group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) within the medication adherence literature is rapidly growing. Researchers are adopting enhanced methods to analyse and visualise dynamic behaviours, such as medication adherence, within 'real-world' populations. Application of GBTM based on longitudinal adherence behaviour allows for the identification of adherence trajectories or groups.  A group is conceptually thought of a collection of individuals who follow a similar pattern of adherence behaviour over a period of time. A common obstacle faced by researchers when implementing GBTM is deciding on the number of trajectory groups that may exist within a population. Decision-making can introduce subjectivity, as there is no 'gold standard' for model selection criteria. This study aims to examine the extent and nature of existing evidence on the application of GBTM for medication adherence assessment, providing an overview of the different GBTM techniques used in the literature. The methodological framework will consist of five stages: i) identify the research question(s); ii) identify relevant studies; iii) select studies; iv) chart the data and finally, v) collate, summarise and report the results. Original peer-reviewed articles, published in English, describing observational and interventional studies including both concepts and/or sub-concepts of GBTM and medication adherence or any other similar terms, will be included. The following databases will be queried: PubMed/MEDLINE; Embase (Ovid); SCOPUS; ISI Web of Science and PsychInfo. This scoping review will utilise the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) tool to report results. This scoping review will collect and schematise different techniques in the application of GBTM for medication adherence assessment available in the literature to date, identifying research and knowledge gaps in this area. This review can represent an important tool for future research, providing methodological support to researchers carrying out a group-based trajectory analysis to assess medication adherence in a real-world context.

Identifying Adherence Patterns Across Multiple Medications and Their Association With Health Outcomes in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Multimorbidity.

OBJECTIVES: To classify older people with multimorbidity according to their adherence patterns and to examine the association between medication adherence and health outcomes. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a cohort study. Community-dwelling adults aged ≥70 years were recruited from 15 general practices in Ireland in 2010 (wave 1) and followed up 2 years later (wave 2). Participants had ≥2 RxRisk-V multimorbidity conditions at wave 1 and had ≥2 dispensations of RxRisk-V medications (wave 1-wave 2). Average adherence across RxRisk-V conditions was estimated based on continuous multiple-interval measure of medication availability (CMA7 function in AdhereR). Group-based trajectory models were used to group participants' adherence patterns for RxRisk-V medications. Multilevel regression was used to examine the association between adherence and (1) EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D) utility (linear) and (2) vulnerability, using the Vulnerable Elders Survey (≥3 defined as vulnerable; logistic) at wave 2, controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Average adherence (CMA7) was 77% across 501 participants. Group-based trajectory models identified 5 adherence groups: (1) initial low adherers, gradual increase; (2) high adherers, sharp decline; (3) steady adherers, gradual decline; (4) consistent high adherers; and (5) consistent nonadherers. Higher average adherence was associated with a significant increase in EQ-5D utility (adjusted ß = 0.11, robust standard error 0.04). Group 5 was associated with significantly increased vulnerability compared to group 4 (adjusted odds ratio = 1.88; 95% confidence interval 1.01-3.50). CONCLUSION: Increased average adherence was associated with higher EQ-5D utility. Adherence grouping did not significantly impact utility. Suboptimal adherence to multiple medications in older adults with multimorbidity was associated with vulnerability.