Case-control analysis of ambulance, emergency room, or inpatient hospital events for epilepsy and antiepileptic drug formulation changes.

PURPOSE: Although antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with multisource generic alternatives are becoming more prevalent, no case-control studies have been published examining multisource medication use and epilepsy-related outcomes. This study evaluated the association between inpatient/emergency epilepsy care and the occurrence of a recent switch in AED formulation. METHODS: A case-control analysis was conducted utilizing the Ingenix LabRx Database. Eligible patients were 12-64 years of age, received >or=145 days of AEDs in the preindex period, had continuous eligibility for 6 months preindex, and no prior inpatient/emergency care. Cases received care between 7/1/2006 and 12/31/2006 in an ambulance, emergency room, or inpatient hospital with a primary epilepsy diagnosis. Controls had a primary epilepsy diagnosis in a physician's office during the same period. The index date was the earliest occurrence of care in each respective setting. Cases and controls were matched 1:3 by epilepsy diagnosis and age. Odds of a switch between "A-rated" AEDs within 6 months prior to index were calculated. RESULTS: Cases (n = 416) had 81% greater odds of having had an A-rated AED formulation switch [odds ratio (OR) = 1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25 to 2.63] relative to controls (n = 1248). There were no significant differences between groups regarding demographics or diagnosis. Significant differences were found with regard to medical coverage type (case Medicaid = 4.6%, control Medicaid = 1.8%, p = 0.002). Post hoc analysis results excluding Medicaid recipients remained significant and concordant with the original analysis. DISCUSSION: This analysis found an association between patients receiving epilepsy care in an emergency or inpatient setting and the recent occurrence of AED formulation switching involving A-rated generics.

Direct medical costs for patients seeking emergency care for losses of epilepsy control in a U.S. managed care setting.

The objective of this retrospective claims database study was to compare the costs of care from a U.S. payer perspective before and after epilepsy treatment in emergent care settings and, secondarily, to describe the frequency of toxic effects and physical injuries occurring on the date of the emergent care. Nine and four-tenths percent of patients receiving emergent care for epilepsy (114/1213) had an injury or adverse antiepileptic drug effect on the same date. The majority of incidents were superficial injuries and contusions (28%), fractures (21%), open wounds or injury to blood vessels (19%), intracranial injury (10%), and/or medication toxicity (10%). Both non-epilepsy-related (US$12,745.56) and epilepsy-related (US$2013.62) direct medical costs of care pre-index were significantly different from those post-index (US$15,274.95 and US$7087.53, respectively). The cost of care for possible reestablishment of epilepsy control and treatment of co-occurring injuries is significant when compared with that for the period prior to seizure.

An observational, retrospective analysis of retreatment with bortezomib for multiple myeloma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective chart review of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) was to describe patterns of retreatment with bortezomib-based therapy and responses to retreatment in a community-based setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively extracted from the medical records of patients treated in US Oncology-affiliated community oncology clinics who received 2 separate treatments with bortezomib-based therapy. Eligible patients had > or = 60 days between treatments and > or = 4 bortezomib doses during initial treatment. Responses were determined primarily by laboratory values. Response categories included (1) very good partial response (VGPR), > or = 90% M-protein decrease; (2) partial response (PR), 50%-89% decrease; and (3) less than PR (< PR), < 50% decrease, excluding progressive disease (PD). RESULTS: Retreatment response data were available for 82 patients; 5 (6%) had VGPR, 12 (15%) had PR, 52 (63%) had < PR, 5 (6%) had PD, and 8 (10%) died. Among 62 patients with response assessments for initial treatment and retreatment, VGPR/PR rates to retreatment were 44%, 23%, and 13% among patients with VGPR, PR, and < PR to initial treatment, respectively. Median time between bortezomib treatments was 9.7 months; 29% of patients received non-bortezomib therapy between treatments. The most common treatment pattern (58% of patients) was single-agent bortezomib at initial treatment and retreatment. Toxicity contributed to discontinuation in 38% of patients during initial treatment and 22% during retreatment; rates of neuropathy contributing to discontinuation were 18% and 6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Retreatment with bortezomib-based therapy is feasible, with predictable toxicities. This observational analysis supports bortezomib alone or in combination as a retreatment option after initial bortezomib treatment in patients with relapsed MM.