Adequate Duration Of Treatment Research Articles

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Review

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be the most common liver disease in the world, with a high prevalence in the obese, type 2 diabetic populations, and it is probably underestimated as a cause for cirrhosis. Clinicopathologically, it represents a wide spectrum of histologic abnormalities and clinical outcomes, ranging from benign hepatic steatosis to cirrhosis. Pathophysiologically, insulin resistance is thought to be pivotal in the development of steatosis, after which a second oxidative stressor produces lipid peroxidation and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis and prognosis. The need for an effective treatment is both clear and urgent, yet in the absence of proven therapies, treatment is directed toward weight loss and comorbidity management. For patients with NAFLD at risk of disease progression, there is a lack of large, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of adequate treatment duration, with baseline stratification according to histologic severity. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/birdem.v2i1.12360 Birdem Med J 2012; 2(1) 33-43

Case Study: Calf Pneumonia

ABSTRACT:This article describes the investigation of a calf pneumonia outbreak in a dairy herd and the practical steps taken to treat sick animals, as well as improve overall calf management. High levels of morbidity meant a blanket treatment approach with antibiotics and NSAIDs was taken for all calves. Key management changes were made in calving pens, colostrum management was improved, changes to ventilation in calf sheds were made, and a protocol for feeding calves was drawn up.

Adequacy to the recommendations in urinary tract infections: a multicenter transversal survey in hospitalized patients aged over 75years

French diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations about UI were built-up in 2008. We studied clinician's practices and evaluated the adequacy to the recommendations in hospitalized patients aged over 75 years. Multicenter survey in acute care of geriatric, internal medicine and infectious disease wards. During one week, all positive urine cultures of patients over 75 were reported to the local investigator who had to fill out a questionnaire. The data specified the final diagnosis: cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, or colonization, the antibiotic treatment, the re-evaluation after 72 hours of treatment, the association with another infectious diagnosis and the radiological examinations performed. 241 questionnaires were collected from 48 wards. Colonization, cystitis, pyelonephritis and prostatitis were diagnosed respectively in 42, 27, 20 and 11% of urine cultures. In 48% of cystitis cases, the duration of treatment was inadequate. In 77% cases of pyelonephritis, the antibiotic was adapted to the recommendations, but 44% of patients had no further radiological examination. In cases of prostatitis antibiotic therapy was adequate in 74% of cases but often with a non-conform duration of treatment (56%) and absence of further radiographic examination (70%). The reassessment of the treatment at day 3 ranged from 63 to 88%. In 26% of UI diagnosis, another associated infection was described, mainly bronchopneumonia (56%). Progress is needed to optimize treatment revaluation at 72 hours and adequate duration of treatment. The association of UI and bronchopneumonia is questionable. More specific recommendations would probably be useful to optimize the management of UI in the elderly.

Antimikrobielle Therapie bei Patienten nach Verbrennungstrauma

Infections are a great diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in intensive care patients with burn injuries. The major problems are due to bacteria with hospital-acquired multiresistance to antibiotics but fungal and viral infections may also be life-threatening. The main key points addressing pharmacotherapy with antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral agents in this special setting are exact diagnosis, early therapy with suitable drugs, adequate duration of treatment and adequate doses based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of these compounds. The latter parameters are significantly altered in burn patients and show a wide interindividual and intraindividual variation in drug response as a result of the characteristic phases of burn injury. Drug concentration analysis may help to avoid inadequate dosing. In this review the main characteristics of burn injuries and the pharmacology of antibiotics, antifungal and antiviral agents in these patients are presented.

Hemostatic Outcomes of Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Surgery in Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) Patients: A Single Center Study

Abstract▪2279▪This icon denotes a clinically relevant abstractSurgery for patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) is increasingly common, however there is a paucity of data on hemostatic outcomes for VWD patients undergoing joint replacement surgery when compared to patients without bleeding disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate hemostatic prophylaxis and outcomes in VWD patients who underwent hip or knee joint replacement, with comparison to matched case control patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of VWD patients who underwent total hip (THA) or total knee (TKA) arthroplasty between February 1993 and January 2011 at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Outcomes for each VWD patient were compared with two case controls matched for age, gender, surgeon and surgery. For VWD patients the hemostatic prophylaxis regimen during and following surgical procedures was evaluated including results of serial monitoring of plasma levels of VWF:RCo, VWF:Ag and FVIII:C. We compared VWD and control cases for bleeding complications (major and minor), transfusion requirements, DVT (deep vein thrombosis) prophylaxis and occurrence, duration of hospitalization, and other complications. Results: Twelve VWD patients (7 female) underwent 12 TKA and 7 THA surgeries; the median age was 62 (range 42–76) years. Seven had Type 1 VWD, one had Type 3 and four had Types 2A, 2B or 2M VWD. The 19 surgical episodes were matched to 38 control surgeries. Indications for arthroplasties were mainly degenerative joint disease in both subject groups. The median BMI was 30 (range 21–45) in the VWD patients and 31.9 (20–53) in controls. Three patients with mild Type 1 VWD received during 5 surgeries only one preoperative dose of DDAVP (desmopressin 0.3μg/kg body weight). Infusions of VWF/FVIII concentrates (Humate-P or occasionally Koate-DVI) were prescribed for twelve procedures, with median preoperative dose 52 IU/kg (range 19–71). Postoperative maintenance doses were infused once or twice daily usually for up to 7 days (more than 7 days only for one Type 3 and one Type 2A VWD patient), with median ranges 22 to 38 IU/kg, and highest dose 90 IU/kg and lowest dose 11 IU/kg (typically when treatment was administrated twice daily). These substantial ranges may be explained by dose adjustments based on monitoring postoperative plasma levels of VWF:RCo and FVIII:C. The median number of infusions per procedure was 5.5 (range 1–13). One hour after the preoperative dose the median of all factors was more than 110 IU/dL, specifically VWF:RCo 154 UI/dL (range 72–277), VWF:Ag 178 IU/dL (range 101–307), and FVIII:C 114 IU/dL (range 64–290). The lowest factor levels measured during daily postoperative follow-up are represented in Figure 1. Assessment of red blood cell transfusion requirements showed no difference between baseline and D1 blood hemoglobin levels for VWD and control groups (decline of 3.0 g/dL). During follow-up, hemoglobin levels and total blood losses were also not different between both groups. However, the number of patients transfused was twice as high for the VWD group (63% vs 32% for controls, respectively), and the mean number of RBC units transfused was higher in VWD patients than in controls (1.5 vs. 0.6 units, respectively). DVT prophylaxis (low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) injections or warfarin), was administrated to 58% of VWD patients vs. 97% of controls. No postoperative thrombotic events were identified in either group. Finally, the median duration of hospitalization for VWD patients and controls was not different: 5 days (range 3–13) and 5 days (range 3–7) respectively. Conclusions: Few data are available in published literature analyzing treatment regimens and hemostatic outcomes for patients with VWD undergoing THA or TKA, a relatively common treatment for advanced degenerative joint disease. This is the first large retrospective study which reports the effectiveness of prophylactic regimens specifically in joint replacement for patients with VWD. Our results support that, as recommended in the 2008 NHLBI/NIH treatment guidelines, monitoring of plasma VWF and FVIII levels at least once daily allows for efficient and relatively low dose maintenance administration. Further, our study helps identify an adequate duration of treatment for these major surgeries, without substantively increased blood loss for VWD patients compared with controls. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Calf health from birth to weaning. III. housing and management of calf pneumonia.

Calfhood diseases have a major impact on the economic viability of cattle operations. A three part review series has been developed focusing on calf health from birth to weaning. In this paper, the last of the three part series, we review disease prevention and management with particular reference to pneumonia, focusing primarily on the pre-weaned calf. Pneumonia in recently weaned suckler calves is also considered, where the key risk factors are related to the time of weaning. Weaning of the suckler calf is often combined with additional stressors including a change in nutrition, environmental change, transport and painful husbandry procedures (castration, dehorning). The reduction of the cumulative effects of these multiple stressors around the time of weaning together with vaccination programmes (preconditioning) can reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality in the feedlot. In most studies, calves housed individually and calves housed outdoors with shelter, are associated with decreased risk of disease. Even though it poses greater management challenges, successful group housing of calves is possible. Special emphasis should be given to equal age groups and to keeping groups stable once they are formed. The management of pneumonia in calves is reliant on a sound understanding of aetiology, relevant risk factors, and of effective approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Early signs of pneumonia include increased respiratory rate and fever, followed by depression. The single most important factor determining the success of therapy in calves with pneumonia is early onset of treatment, and subsequent adequate duration of treatment. The efficacy and economical viability of vaccination against respiratory disease in calves remains unclear.

Is customization in antidepressant prescribing associated with acute-phase treatment adherence?

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to explore whether prescribing variation is associated with duration of antidepressant use during the acute phase of treatment. Improving quality of care and increasing the extent to which treatment is patient-centered and customized are interrelated goals. Prescribing variation may be considered a marker of customization, and could be associated with better antidepressant treatment adherence. METHODS: A cross-sectional secondary data analysis examining the association between providers' antidepressant prescribing variation and patient continuity of antidepressant treatment. The data source was two states' Medicaid claims for dual-eligible Medicaid/Medicare patients. The sample included 383 patients with new episodes of antidepressant treatment, representing 70 providers with at least four patients in the sample. We tested two alternate measures of prescribing concentration: 1) share of prescriber's initial antidepressant prescribing accounted for by the two most common regimens, and 2) Herfindahl index. The HEDIS performance measure of effective acute-phase treatment (at least 84 out of 114 days with antidepressant) was the dependent variable. KEY FINDINGS: In multivariate analyses, the concentration measure based on the top two regimens was significant and inversely related to duration adequacy (p <.05). The Herfindahl index measure showed a trend towards a similar inverse relationship (p<.10). CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide some support for the hypothesized relationship between prescribing variation and adequate antidepressant treatment duration during the acute phase of treatment. Future work with more detailed, clinical longitudinal data could extend this inquiry to better understand the causal mechanisms using a more direct measure of customized care.

Personality predictors of antiaggressive response to fluoxetine

Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are generally effective in reducing impulsive aggression in individuals with intermittent explosive disorder, a large proportion of intermittent explosive disorder patients fail to achieve full remission despite adequate dosage and duration of treatment. Temperament, specifically those associated with negative emotionality (neuroticism, harm avoidance) may predict response to SSRI treatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether baseline neuroticism and harm avoidance scores would be associated with reduced aggression (as measured by the Overt Aggression Scale-Modified [OAS-M] aggression scores) after SSRI treatment. Participants participating in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of fluoxetine completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (n=57) and the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (n=38) before entering the treatment trial. Multiple regression analyses (accounting for baseline OAS-M aggression scores) revealed that pretreatment eysenck personality questionnaire neuroticism and tridimensional personality questionnaire harm avoidance independently and uniquely predicted OAS-M aggression scores at endpoint in the fluoxetine, but not placebo, treated group. These preliminary findings are the first from a placebo-controlled clinical trial to suggest that temperamental factors such as neuroticism and harm avoidance can partly explain the observed variability in treatment response in SSRI treated individuals with impulsive aggression and prompt future prospective studies examining personality dimensions as predictors of outcomes in clinical trials.

Factors Associated with Antidepressant Adherence for Medicaid-Enrolled Children and Adolescents

Antidepressants have been shown to be efficacious for the treatment of pediatric depression. However, many youths do not receive an adequate duration of treatment, and factors associated with nonadherence in this population remain poorly understood. To examine rates of antidepressant adherence for depressed youth and identify factors associated with adherence during the acute and continuation phases of treatment. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using claims data from a state Medicaid-enrolled population of 1650 youths (aged 5-17 years) with new episodes of depression between January 1, 2005, and December 30, 2007. These patients were treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or newer antidepressants and followed for 6 months from the first prescription fill date. Adherence measures were derived from the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality indicators on antidepressant management (3 months of continuous treatment for the acute phase and 6 months for the continuation phase) and assessed using the medication possession ratio. Multivariate logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between demographic, clinical, medication, and treatment factors, and adherence. About half (49.5%) of the youths were adherent to antidepressant medication during the acute phase, and 42% of these were adherent during the continuation phase; 21% were adherent across both treatment phases. Optimal follow-up visits and adequate antidepressant dosing was associated with better adherence during both treatment phases, as was use of other psychotropic medications. Youths prescribed trazodone for sleep had higher adherence rates during the acute phase. Minority youths and adolescents had lower adherence rates during the acute phase. Youths in foster care had higher adherence rates during both treatment phases. Nonadherence with antidepressant medications is common among Medicaid-covered children and adolescents. Study findings underscore the need for clinicians to deliver guideline-concordant care, assess adherence, and develop interventions that improve adherence, particularly for vulnerable subgroups.

The current role of sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in adults and children

Allergic rhinitis is a very common disease affecting about 20% of people. It may be treated by allergen avoidance when possible, by antiallergic drugs such as antihistamines and topical corticosteroids, and by allergen-specific immunotherapy. The latter is the only treatment able to act on the causes and not only on the symptoms of respiratory allergy and is able to maintain its efficacy even after stopping, provided an adequate duration of treatment of 3–5 years is ensured. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) was introduced in the 1990s as a possible solution to the problem of adverse systemic reactions to subcutaneous immunotherapy and has been demonstrated by more than 50 trials and globally evaluated thus far by five meta-analyses as an effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis. Life-threatening reactions are extremely rare. However, it is important to note that clinical efficacy occurs only if SLIT meets its needs, ie, sufficiently high doses are regularly administered for at least 3 consecutive years. This is often overlooked in the current practice and may prevent the same success reported by trials from being achieved.

P01-123 Factors associated with premature discontinuation of antidepressant drug treatment in France

Objectives:As practice guidelines recommend to maintain antidepressant treatments for a long duration after improvement of symptoms in order to prevent relapse or recurrence, our objectives were to explore the duration of the antidepressant drug treatment in France and to characterise the antidepressant users with a short duration of treatment.Methods:An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted in the community-dwelling population 18 year-old and over through claims databases of the public health insurance. A random sample of 34.663 outpatients who initiated an antidepressant treatment between the 1st January 2005 and the 31st December 2006 were selected. The dependent variable was the duration of the first episode of antidepressant treatment, categorised a priori in short duration [1-6 months[ versus long duration [6 months and more] according to guidelines. Characteristics independently associated with the treatment duration were investigated using logistic regressions.Results:Nearly two thirds of the individuals were females. Most patients were not on welfare. Three quarters of them did not present with chronic conditions. The duration of the antidepressant treatment complied with the international recommendations for only one patient of six. Adequate treatment duration was associated with being a female, being older, not being on welfare, presenting with a chronic condition and a treatment introduction by a psychiatrist or a hospital practitioner.Conclusion:The recommendations concerning the duration of an antidepressant treatment are rarely respected in a real-life setting in France. Further analyses should be conducted to characterise the patterns of prescription according to antidepressant classes and associated treatments.

Clinical Experience with Long-term Lamivudine Therapy to Determine the Adequate Duration of Treatment in Children and Adolescents with HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B

Clinical Experience with Long-term Lamivudine Therapy to Determine the Adequate Duration of Treatment in Children and Adolescents with HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B

Polypharmacy With Second-Generation Antipsychotics: A Review of Evidence

The objective of this study was to review the prevalence of polypharmacy with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in clinical practice, pharmacological reasons for such practice, and the evidence for and against such polypharmacy. Clinical trial reports, case reports, and reviews were identified by a PubMed literature search from 1966 through October 2006, with retrieved publications queried for additional references. We excluded reports on augmentation with non-antipsychotic medications and polypharmacy involving combinations of SGAs and first-generation (conventional) antipsychotics (FGAs) or combinations of two FGAs. We identified 75 reports concerning SGA polypharmacy, from which we extracted data on study design, sample size, medications, rating scales, outcome, and conclusions. Data from randomized controlled trials and larger case series are presented in detail and case reports are briefly discussed. Polypharmacy with SGAs is not uncommon, with prevalence varying widely (3.9% to 50%) depending on setting and patient population, despite limited support from blinded, randomized, controlled trials or case reports that employed an A-B-A (monotherapy-combination therapy-monotherapy) design and adequate dosing and duration of treatment. Rather than prohibiting or discouraging co-prescription of SGAs, needs of patients and clinicians should be addressed through evidence-based algorithms. Based on unmet clinical needs and modest evidence from case reports, combinations of two SGAs may merit future investigation in efficacy trials involving patients with schizophrenia who have treatment-resistant illness (including partial response) or who are responsive to treatment but develop intolerable adverse effects. Other areas that may merit future research are efficacy of SGA polypharmacy for schizophrenia accompanied by comorbid conditions (eg, anxiety, suicidal or self-injurious behavior, aggression) and for reducing length of stay in acute care settings.

Guideline-Consistent Antidepressant Treatment Patterns Among Veterans With Diabetes and Major Depressive Disorder

Guideline-Consistent Antidepressant Treatment Patterns Among Veterans With Diabetes and Major Depressive Disorder

Chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3 short treatment

Dalgard et al.1 reported interesting data on 14 versus 24 weeks of combination therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3, and they concluded that it is rational to treat those patients with rapid virological response (RVR) for only 14 weeks. Adequate treatment duration is generally considered decisive in order to improve adherence and reduce side effects. At present, the strategy involves adapting therapy to each individualized case instead of adapting the patient to an established regimen.2, 3 Young, white, nonobese patients with low viremia, infected by genotype 2 or 3 HCV, with low fibrosis and RVR could receive shorter treatment.2, 3 However, the point regarding duration may be elusive and, in spite of some studies,4, 5 definite conclusions are still lacking. The current experience of our group is in agreement with the results by Dalgard et al.1 The well-documented case of a patient adds further support to the value of the short regimen in patients with genotype 2 or 3 and RVR. A 34-year-old Spanish woman, with a body mass index of 21 kg/m2, moderate alanine aminotransferase (ALT) serum levels (64 IU/L), HCV-3a genotype infection, HCV RNA 5.7 × 105 IU/mL, and mild chronic hepatitis on biopsy (grade 2, stage 1–2), was initiated treatment with peginterferon α-2a (180 μg/weekly) plus ribavirin (800 mg/daily) on August 29, 2001. At week 4, the patient attained an RVR with normal ALT levels (13 IU/L). The tolerance was excellent but after receiving combination therapy during 10 weeks, she presented with fever and productive cough; chest radiography led to a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, documented by bacilli culture and sputum smears. Premature withdrawal (November 6, 2001) from antiviral treatment was required. Then, tuberculostatic therapy was started and maintained for 36 weeks with good tolerance. During this time, serum ALT levels were persistently normal and HCV RNA remained negative in three determinations carried out at weeks 12, 24, and 48. A second liver biopsy obtained at year 4 after antiviral withdrawal demonstrated no inflammation (A0) or fibrosis (F0). It can be concluded that: (1) Fewer side effects and their more limited duration are in favor of the short treatment regimen in patients with genotype 2 or 3 and RVR; (2) Short therapy is able to eradicate HCV and cure chronic hepatitis C in these patients; (3) Optimal treatment duration needs to be defined for each individualized patient; and (4) Further studies including customized management and therapeutic regimens based on virological characteristics (genotype and viremia), demographic aspects, liver disease severity, and individual genomic-marker analysis are warranted. Whether all points of this strategy have similar relevance with imminent new therapies remains to be investigated. Ricardo Moreno-Otero M.D.*, María Trapero M.D.*, José A. Moreno-Monteagudo M.D.*, * Digestive Diseases Service and CIBEREHD, University Hospital of La Princesa, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Co-Occurring Depressive Symptoms in the Older Patient with Schizophrenia

Clinicians treating older patients with schizophrenia are often challenged by patients presenting with both depressive and psychotic features. The presence of co-morbid depression impacts negatively on quality of life, functioning, overall psychopathology and the severity of co-morbid medical conditions. Depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia include major depressive episodes (MDEs) that do not meet criteria for schizoaffective disorder, MDEs that occur in the context of schizoaffective disorder and subthreshold depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for MDE. Pharmacological treatment of patients with schizophrenia and depression involves augmenting antipsychotic medications with antidepressants. Recent surveys suggest that clinicians prescribe antidepressants to 30% of inpatients and 43% of outpatients with schizophrenia and depression at all ages. Recent trials addressing the efficacy of this practice have evaluated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine and citalopram. These trials have included only a small number of subjects and few older subjects participated; furthermore, the efficacy results have been mixed. Although no published controlled psychotherapeutic studies have specifically targeted major depression or depressive symptoms in older patients with schizophrenia, psychosocial interventions likely play a role in any comprehensive management plan in this population of patients.Our recommendations for treating the older patient with schizophrenia and major depression involve a stepwise approach. First, a careful diagnostic assessment to rule out medical or medication causes is important as well as checking whether patients are adherent to treatments. Clinicians should also consider switching patients to an atypical antipsychotic if they are not taking one already. In addition, dose optimization needs to be targeted towards depressive as well as positive and negative psychotic symptoms. If major depression persists, adding an SSRI is a reasonable next step; one needs to start with a low dose and then cautiously titrate upward to reduce depressive symptoms. If remission is not achieved after an adequate treatment duration (8-12 weeks) or with an adequate dose (similar to that used for major depression without schizophrenia), switching to another agent or adding augmenting therapy is recommended.We recommend treating an acute first episode of depression for at least 6-9 months and consideration of longer treatment for patients with residual symptoms, very severe or highly co-morbid major depression, ongoing episodes or recurrent episodes. Psychosocial interventions aimed at improving adherence, quality of life and function are also recommended. For patients with schizophrenia and subsyndromal depression, a similar approach is recommended.Psychosis accompanying major depression in patients without schizophrenia is common in elderly patients and is considered a primary mood disorder; for these reasons, it is an important syndrome to consider in the differential diagnosis of older patients with mood and thought disturbance. Treatment for this condition has involved electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as well as combinations of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. Recent evidence suggests that combination treatment may not be any more effective than antidepressant treatment alone and ECT may be more efficacious overall.

Uterine Development in Turner Syndrome

To evaluate uterine development of women with Turner syndrome (TS) receiving conventional medical care. In a cross-sectional study we used ultrasonography for uterine evaluation in 86 women with TS 18 to 45 years of age participating in an intramural NIH study, and who had abnormal karyotypes in >70% of white blood cells. Outcomes were uterine dimensions and shape. Information on hormone treatment was obtained by personal interview. Twenty-five percent had a mature in size and shape uterus, and 31% had an immature uterus, with the remainder in a transitional category. Twenty percent of all participants were not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the preceding year. The majority on treatment were taking conjugated estrogens (CE) or oral contraceptives (OC). Factors associated with uterine maturity were history of spontaneous puberty and duration and type of HRT, with estradiol-based treatment being the most effective. The age at starting HRT was not a critical factor. Women with TS may develop a normal uterus even at a late start of HRT given adequate duration of treatment and regardless of karyotype.

Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders

Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders

Inadequate follow-up care for depression and its impact on antidepressant treatment duration among veterans with and without diabetes mellitus in the Veterans Health Administration

Objective Our objective was to describe the adequacy of follow-up care for depression and its association with antidepressant treatment duration among veterans with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). Method This was a retrospective study (1997–2005) of 2178 veterans (33% with DM) in a Midwestern Veterans Health Administration facility who had a new episode of unipolar depression. Adequate follow-up care was defined by a health care visit within 7 and 14 days, and ≥3 visits following antidepressant treatment initiation. Adequate treatment duration was defined by a medication possession ratio of ≥80%. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for demographic, clinical and health care utilization characteristics. Results Only 27% received ≥3 follow-up visits within 12 weeks, and <23% received follow-up within 2 weeks of antidepressant initiation. Subjects with DM were 1.36-fold more likely [95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.05–1.75] to have received ≥3 visits but were similarly likely to have received follow-up within 7 days (OR=1.02; 95% CI=0.74–1.41) or 14 days (OR=1.08; 95% CI=0.83–1.40) of antidepressant initiation. Adequate follow-up care was the most important predictor of adequate treatment duration (OR=2.10; 95% CI=1.54–2.88). Conclusion DM had little influence on the adequacy of follow-up care for depression, with few exceptions. Follow-up care for depression is underutilized and has a significant impact on antidepressant treatment duration. Strategies to more effectively manage depression treatment are required.

Adequate initial antidepressant treatment among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a cohort of depressed veterans.

Depression is common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD may be more likely to have inadequate treatment with antidepressant medications. We tested the hypothesis that depressed patients with COPD have lower odds of adequate duration of antidepressant therapy in the first 3 months of treatment compared to those without COPD. Using administrative and centralized pharmacy data from 14 northeastern Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, we identified 778 veterans with depression (ICD-9-CM codes 296.2x, 296.3x, and 311.xx) who were in the acute phase of antidepressant treatment from June 1, 1999, through August 31, 1999. Within this group, we identified those patients with COPD (23%). An adequate duration of antidepressant treatment was defined as ≥ 80% of days on an antidepressant. We used multivariable logistic regression models to determine the adjusted odds of adequate acute phase antidepressant treatment duration. Those patients with COPD had markedly lower odds of adequate acute phase treatment duration (odds ratio = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.96); this was not observed with other medical diagnoses such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or osteoarthritis. The first few months of treatment appears to be a critical period for depressed patients with COPD who are started on antidepressants. The causes for early antidepressant treatment inadequacy among patients with COPD require further investigation. More intensive efforts may be necessary early in the course of treatment to assure high-quality pharmacologic therapy of depressed patients with COPD.