Prescribing Research Articles

STUDY OF DRUG UTILISATION PATTERN IN ACNE VULGARIS IN DERMATOLOGY OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objectives: The aims of this study were as follows: (1) To study the drug utilization pattern of drugs prescribed to patients suffering from acne vulgaris attending the Outpatient Department of Dermatology at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital. 2 To assess the rationality of prescriptions using the World Health Organization (WHO) core indicators. Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin disorders, affecting more than 85% of adolescents worldwide. The irrational use of drugs is a significant concern in modern medical practice, as it can lead to ineffective treatment, unnecessary prescriptions, adverse effects, and an economic burden on both patients and society. Results: A total of 2,360 prescriptions were analyzed. A female predominance was observed among the patients, with the most common age group being 21–30 years. The average number of drugs per encounter was 3.21. The percentage of medicines prescribed by generic names was 62.35%, and the percentage of antibiotics prescribed was 29%. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic was doxycycline, and the majority of drugs prescribed were topical (74.32%). Conclusion: This study performed relatively well when compared to other similar studies but still fell short when measured against the optimal values recommended by the WHO. An improvement in the prescribing pattern is necessary to reduce the unnecessary prescription of drugs, enhance the effectiveness of treatment, and lower the cost of treatment.

6700 Risk Of Dementia According To The Reproductive Factors In Postmenopausal Women With Diabetes

Abstract Disclosure: J. Yu: None. K. Han: None. J. Yun: None. S. Lee: None. Risk of dementia according to the reproductive factors in postmenopausal women with diabetes Jin Yu[1], Kyungdo Han[2], Jae-Seung Yun[3], Seung-Hwan Lee[1],[4] [1]Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea[2]Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Soongsil University[3]Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea[4]Department of Medical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea Background: Previous studies have suggested a possible association between endogenous estrogen exposure and decreased risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. We aimed to investigate the impact of reproductive factors on the risk of dementia in women with diabetes. Methods:166,245 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes aged over 40 who underwent health examination in 2009 were identified from the National Health Information Database. Information regarding reproductive factors were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Incident dementia was defined using diagnosis codes and anti-dementia drug prescription. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk of all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and vascular dementia according to reproductive factors including age at menarche, age at menopause, reproductive lifespan, parity, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Results: The mean age and reproductive lifespan were 64.5 ± 8.0 and 33.4 ± 4.7 years, respectively. During the median follow-up of 8.3 years, 25,330 cases of any dementia, including 20,817 cases of Alzheimer's disease and 2,756 cases of vascular dementia were developed. The hazard ratios (95% CI) of all-cause dementia were 1.28 (1.06-1.56) for age at menarche >16 years compared with ≤12 years, 0.71 (0.66-0.77) for age at menopause ≥55 years compared with <40 years, and 0.72 (0.68-0.76) for reproductive lifespan ≥40 years compared with <30 years, respectively. The risk of all-cause dementia was decreased by 11% in women with parity ≥2 compared with 0, and by 16% in women with HRT for more than 5 years compared without HRT. Similar findings were observed for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Conclusion: Longer reproductive lifespan was associated with lower risk of dementia in postmenopausal women with diabetes. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Trends in and predictors of patient pharmacogenomic test uptake in a national health care system

PurposeBetter understanding patient uptake of pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing may inform its implementation and maximize the benefits that such testing can confer. This study examined patient and provider factors associated with PGx test ordering in a national health care system in which panel-based testing was implemented as part of routine care. MethodsWe used a retrospective matched cohort design and data from the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse. A conditional logistic model was used to identify factors associated with a PGx order receipt and estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. ResultsThe following patient factors predicted receipt of a PGx test order: younger age, married status, rural residence, non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, PGx educational mailer receipt, depression diagnosis, allergy to a drug on the panel, prescriptions for drugs on the panel, and specialty care visits (P < .05). Additionally, patients whose providers were female, younger, a nurse practitioner/physician assistant or pharmacist, or participated in an educational mailer program were more likely to receive an order (P < .05). ConclusionThis study highlights factors that may facilitate or hinder the widespread and equitable implementation of PGx testing in a large national health care system. The information is being used to further refine the program.

Cost savings from an mHealth tool for improving medication adherence.

To determine the health care cost savings from the Wellth app, a mobile health intervention that uses financial incentives to increase medication adherence. An observational study of members in one of Arizona's Medicaid managed care plans, part of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), using the Wellth app from March 28, 2020, to January 12, 2021. One-to-one matching was used to identify comparable nonparticipants, and a difference-in-differences approach was used to estimate the impact of the Wellth intervention on outcomes defined over the 9 months before and after using Wellth. An AHCCCS managed care health plan provided claims data that contained drug prescription, health care utilization, and health care cost information for all participants, and Wellth provided app usage data and contextual information about the Wellth intervention. On average, the Wellth intervention increased medication adherence by 5.0 percentage points (95% CI, 2.9-7.1; P = .008) and reduced emergency department (-0.02; 95% CI, -0.03 to -0.01; P = .002), inpatient (-0.04; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.02; P = .001), and mental health clinic (-0.06; 95%CI, -0.10 to -0.01; P = .013) visits relative to nonparticipants over 9 months. Short-term reductions in utilization had an estimated mean cost savings over 9months of $88.15 (95% CI, $31.07-$136.40), with greater reductions for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, schizophrenia, or major depression. Given the relatively low cost of the Wellth intervention, our findings provide preliminary evidence of cost savings from implementing Wellth among adults with several common chronicconditions.

Post-transplant renal anemia: a call to action from a national study in routine clinical practice.

Post-transplant anemia is a prevalent yet often overlooked condition that poses significant risks. Current guidelines consider the same treatment recommendations and goals for these patients as for chronic kidney disease patients not on dialysis. Previous reports demonstrated a lack of awareness and suboptimal management, indicating a pressing need for improvement. We therefore wanted to update the information on post-transplant anemia. We aimed to describe the present state of anemia management, goals and adherence to guidelines within a representative sample of the kidney transplant (KTx) population. We designed a retrospective nationwide multicenter study including outpatients from eight KTx hospitals. Nephrologists gathered data from electronic medical records encompassing demographics, comorbidities, KTx characteristics and immunosuppressive therapy, and information pertaining to anemia management (laboratory values, previously prescribed treatments and subsequent adjustments). The European statement on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines was the reference for definitions, drug prescriptions and targets. Anemia occurring within the initial 6 months post-transplantation was classified as early onset. We included 297 patients with post-transplant anemia aged 62.8 years (standard deviation 13.6), 60% of whom were male. They had received a graft from cardiac death or brain death donors (61.6% and 31.1%, respectively) a median of 2.5 years (0.5-8.7) before. Among them 77% (n=228) were classified as having late post-transplant anemia, characterized by a higher prevalence of microcytic and iron deficiency anemia. A total of 158 patients were on erythropoietic-stimulating agents (ESAs) treatment, yet surprisingly 110 of them lacked iron supplementation. Notably, 44 patients had an indication for iron supplementation and among them, 30 exhibited absolute iron deficiency. Out of the 158 patients receiving ESAs, only 39 surpassed the limit for the ESA resistance index, indicating poor response. This resistance was more frequent among patients with early post-transplant anemia (26.1% vs 9.2%). We have identified iron profile, early post-transplant anemia and estimated glomerular filtration rate as factors associated with the highest risk of resistance. We found that hemoglobin targets are individualized upwards in post-transplant anemia. In this setting, iron therapy continues to be underutilized, especially intravenous, and iron deficiency and prior events (blood transfusion or hospital admission) explain most of the hyporesponsiveness to ESA. This highlights missed opportunities for precise prescription targeting and adherence to established guidelines, suggesting a need for improved management strategies in post-transplant anemia patients.

Adverse Impacts of Corticosteroid Treatment on Osteoporosis/Osteopenia in Adult Asthmatics: A Retrospective ICARUS Cohort Study

Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and oral corticosteroid (OCS) are often used in asthma management. To evaluate the long-term effect of ICS/OCS on osteoporosis, osteopenia, fractures, and bone metabolism in adult patients with asthma in real-world clinical practice. This is a retrospective study investigating deidentified electronic health records from Ajou University Medical Center (Korea). Adult patients with asthma receiving maintenance ICS with/without OCS for at least 1 year were enrolled. They were classified into the high/low-dose of ICS or OCS group. Primary outcomes (incidences of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and fractures) and secondary outcomes (drug prescription and laboratory values related to bone metabolism including albumin and alkaline phosphatase) were compared after 5 years of follow-up. After propensity score matching, both high- and low-dose OCS groups included 468 patients, and high/low-dose ICS groups each comprised 1252 patients. The risk of osteoporosis/major fracture was higher (hazard ratio [95% CI], 2.00 [1.15-3.57]/3.03 [1.04-11.11]) in the high-dose OCS group (especially in females aged ≥50 years) than in the low-dose group, although the ICS groups showed no significant differences. The high-dose ICS group showed a higher risk of osteopenia (1.92 [1.05-3.70]) than the low-dose ICS group. The linear mixed model of laboratory values showed significantly decreased serum albumin and increased alkaline phosphatase in the high-dose OCS group than in the low-dose OCS group. The results of this study suggest that long-term use of OCS can increase the risk of osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures, whereas long-term use of ICS may increase the risk of osteopenia in adult patients with asthma.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on initiation of antihypertensive drugs in Sweden: an interrupted time series study

ObjectivesAntihypertensives reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to healthcare, which may have had a negative impact on drug prescribing. This study...

Study of Prescribing Pattern and Utilization of Drugs in Patients with Renal Diseases

Abstract Background: Due to comorbidities and polypharmacy, renal failure is a global public health concern with rising incidence, prevalence, poor outcomes, and high management costs. The current study aims to investigate the utilization pattern in patients with chronic renal illness. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was conducted over a 1.5-year period (December 2022 to April 2024) with consent from the institutional ethical committee to assess the prescription pattern and drug usage in patients with renal disorders. The MGM Hospital’s outpatient nephrology department in Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, was the site of this investigation. Results: Sixty six percent of the 130 patient prescriptions were from the NLEM, with 71.16% of the prescriptions for brand drugs and 28.83% for generic names. Of all the recommended medicines, 43.52% were vitamins, 24.25% were anti-hypertensives, and 5.64% were antibiotics. Conclusions: The study discovered significant heterogeneity in prescription patterns, primarily as a result of physicians’ inclination to recommend branded medications. By comprehending these trends, healthcare providers may better serve this population’s needs and enhance patient outcomes. The study emphasizes how important it is to have better prescription recommendations for generic medications.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Prescriptions in Living Kidney Donors

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Prescriptions in Living Kidney Donors

Artificial intelligence-based CT-free quantitative thyroid SPECT for thyrotoxicosis: study protocol of a multicentre, prospective, non-inferiority study

IntroductionTechnetium thyroid uptake (TcTU) measured by single-photon emission CT/CT (SPECT/CT) is an important diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis of Graves’ disease and destructive thyroiditis. Artificial intelligence (AI) may reduce...

Influence of statin potency and liposolubility on Alzheimer’s disease patients: A population-based study

Although Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cause is still unknown, there are several known risk factors, such as dyslipidemia. Statins are the most prescribed lipid-modifying therapies. Recent research has suggested a relationship between statins and AD, nevertheless, their ability to prevent AD is still unclear. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between statin use and anti-AD drug prescription. For that purpose, a database containing information on medications prescribed to patients aged 50 years or older (n = 233183) between 2018 and 2020 was used. Defined daily doses (DDDs) were calculated according to the ATC/DDD index 2023. Statistical analyses, with logistic regression and cumulative incidence, were carried out to assess statins and anti-AD drug consumption. As a result, a total of 47852 patients aged more than 70 years who were prescribed at least one antihypertensive, antidiabetic or lipid-modifying agent were included in the study. Of these, 45345 patients were classified within the cardiovascular risk group and 2483 were classified as patients with only hyperlipidemia. Patients using low-potency or hydrophilic statins had lower odds of anti-AD usage when compared to high-potency or lipophilic statins, respectively. Similarly, rosuvastatin and pitavastatin had lower odds of anti-AD medication intake when compared to atorvastatin. Finally, pitavastatin DDDs were prone to lower the odds of anti-AD medication usage when compared to rosuvastatin. In conclusion, a potential association between statins and the intake of AD medication has been observed. Specifically, low-potency (pitavastatin) and hydrophilic (rosuvastatin) statins were associated with less use of anti-AD medication.

Pharmacogenetic Panel Testing: A Review of Current Practice and Potential for Clinical Implementation.

Pharmacogenetics (PGx) aims to optimize drug treatment outcomes by using a patient's genetic profile for individualized drug and dose selection. Currently, reactive and pretherapeutic single-gene PGx tests are increasingly applied in clinical practice in several countries and institutions. With over 95% of the population carrying at least one actionable PGx variant, and with drugs impacted by these genetic variants being in common use, pretherapeutic or preemptive PGx panel testing appears to be an attractive option for better-informed drug prescribing. Here, we discuss the current state of PGx panel testing and explore the potential for clinical implementation. We conclude that available evidence supports the implementation of pretherapeutic PGx panel testing for drugs covered in the PGx guidelines, yet identification of specific patient populations that benefit most and cost-effectiveness data are necessary to support large-scale implementation.

Development of Hill Cipher Method For Encryption And Decryption of Drug Prescriptions to Improve Data Security

A prescription is a written request from a doctor to a pharmacist, as not everyone can know the dosage or type of a particular drug, especially patients who need a prescription for the drug must be kept secret. Rapid technological advances can have an impact on all sectors, both private and government, including the medical field. One of the medical services that utilizes IT is to send prescription messages electronically to pharmacists in response to doctors' requests. The many misuse of prescription drugs by irresponsible people and misreading prescription drugs by pharmacists can be fatal for patients, so a solution is needed to overcome these problems. The purpose of this study is to create an encrypted electronic recipe application using the Hill Cipher method. This research method generally starts from data collection, data analysis and encryption model development. Applications designed with the Hill Cipher Algorithm are developed with modified algorithm keys using postal code patterns as the matrix keys, this aims to achieve the maximum level of security. The results of the system functionality test using the black box method obtained normal results for all system test scenarios. Validity testing yields valid results. The final test, through questionnaire testing, obtained a good level of system feasibility, namely an average level of Service of 83%, Features of 78% and Performance of 81%. Overall, the system has given a good performance score as the accuracy of the system is above 70%.

Search for urgent dental care during COVID-19 pandemic

Dental emergencies may represent a challenge to clinicians, that sometimes may even need to treat patients with COVID-19. Aim: In this sense, we aim to report our experience in an urgent dental care setting during COVID-19 pandemic, providing a profile of patients and staff involved in attendance appointments. To address that, a retrospective analysis was conducted based on charts of the Urgent Dental Care Clinic. Data obtained from patients were extracted considering the period between July 2020 and December 2020. Final data were compiled, and continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Categorical variables were presented as n (%). Results: A total of 92 patients (39 ±16.59 years) were attended with prevalence of female. Most patients (n = 83; 94.3%) answered that they did not have any symptoms since COVID-19 outbreak in March up to 21st day prior the appointment and searched for treatment with pain as the main complaint (n = 59; 64.1%). Drug prescriptions and advice were sufficient on several occasions (n = 19; 22.4%), eliminating the need for dental procedures. Recementation and temporary restorations were the most frequent clinical choice in this cohort (n = 19; 20.7). Regarding dental staff, COVID-19 symptoms after attendance were reported only seven times (3.4%) by 5 different persons. Conclusion: All patients treated in the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic were asymptomatic and pain was their main complaint. Importantly, occupational transmission was not detected during the study period, which highlights effectiveness of our prevention strategies.

Evaluation of drug prescriptions on hospital admission in older trauma patients using the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) rules.

Orthogeriatric comanagement of older patients with hip fractures has been proven to provide significant benefits concerning functional status, readmissions, nursing home placement, in-hospital complications and mortality. Medication management in older individuals is acornerstone in orthogeriatric comanagement. The aim of the study was to analyze the extent of overprescription and undertreatment in older trauma patients. Personal and medical data of consecutively admitted older trauma patients were analyzed. Evaluation of medication was conducted according to the Fit fOR The Aged (FORTA) criteria. Data were retrieved from an ongoing observational study on the incidence of delirium in surgical patients. Atotal of 492 patients were enrolled. There were 374 cases of overprescription and 575 cases of undertreatment. Only 78(16%) patients had neither overprescription nor undertreatment on admission. Overprescription and undertreatment were most prevalent in cardiovascular disease. Undertreatment was most prevalent concerning osteoporosis. The number of prescribed drugs correlated with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (r = 0.478, p < 0.001), age (r = 0.122; p < 0.01), anticholinergic burden (r = 0.528, p < 0.001), FORTA score (r = 0.352, p < 0.001), and overtreatment (r = 0.492, p < 0.001), but not with undertreatment. Undertreatment also correlated with age (r = 0.172, p < 0.001) and overtreatment (r = 0.364, p < 0.01). The FORTA score correlated significantly with age (r = 0.159, p < 0.001), anticholinergic burden (ACB) score (r = 0.496, p < 0.001), Katz index (r = -0.119, p < 0.01), IADL score (r = -0.243, p < 0.001), and clinical frailty scale (CFS, r = 0.23, p < 0.001). The high numbers of overprescription and undertreatment in older trauma patients underlines the need for orthogeriatric comanagement. Besides the evaluation of multimorbidity and geriatric problems, drug management is acore topic. Future studies should investigate the impact of medication management on outcome parameters such as quality of life, functional status, and mortality. Abenefit can be expected.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prescribing after gastrojejunostomy: A preventable cause of morbidity

ObjectiveStudy findings showing an association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and marginal ulcer, a significant cause of morbidity after gastrojejunostomy, have been inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate this relationship in large cohort. MethodsThis retrospective cohort included adult patients with a history of gastrojejunostomy documented between 2004 and 2023. The electronic medical record was queried for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions, marginal ulcer diagnosis, and comorbidities. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the association between marginal ulcer and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exposures, controlling for smoking, Helicobacter pylori history, acid-suppressing therapy, diabetes, age, and sex. ResultsDuring the study period, 6,888 patients with a history of gastrojejunostomy were identified, of whom 45.2% (n = 3,115) of patients were exposed to an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and 10.12% (n = 697) developed a marginal ulcer. On multivariable analysis, the risk of marginal ulcer was found to be dose-dependent, with increasing odds of marginal ulcer with an increasing number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exposures from odds ratio 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.37–2.02) with 1–2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exposures to odds ratio 2.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.79–3.24) with >8 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug exposures. Acid-suppressing therapy was found to be protective (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.52–0.73). Over the last decade, the number of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed to patients with gastrojejunostomy has significantly increased from 15.87 prescriptions per 1,000 patients per year to 531.02 per 1,000 patients per year (R2 = 0.91, P < .001). ConclusionMarginal ulcer after gastrojejunostomy is associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescriptions in a dose-dependent manner. Although acid-suppressing therapy appears protective for marginal ulcer, quality improvement efforts should focus on diminishing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescribing in this population.

Thoracic Trauma: Diagnosis And Treatment

The study of chest injuries which profoundly impact quality of life, life expectancy, disability rates, and mortality is of significant importance. In clinical research, the authors analyzed diagnostic results from 527 patients aged 18 to 85 with closed chest trauma, consisting of 82% men and 18% women. The study confirms that traumatic chest injuries are severe conditions that necessitate strict adherence to well-defined diagnostic and treatment guidelines. It is advisable to utilize thoracoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy for managing hemothoraxes with small volumes of bleeding, as these minimally invasive techniques can enhance patient outcomes and reduce recovery times. The incorporation of advanced three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies into medical practice for chest injuries is also recommended, as it can improve surgical planning and enable personalized treatment strategies. Moreover, 3D printing can aid in the fabrication of patient-specific implants and prosthetics, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of reconstructive surgeries. Further research is needed on pharmacotherapy when using medications in accordance with the codes of the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, to optimize therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, an in-depth study of the integrated ABC/VEN-analysis of drug prescriptions in pharmacotherapeutic regimens for thoracic trauma treatment dynamics in both inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities is recommended. This could lead to better resource allocation, improved patient care, and the development of more effective treatment protocols. Emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration among surgeons, radiologists, and pharmacologists is crucial to advance the management of chest trauma, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and holistic care throughout their recovery process.

Exploring the influencing factors of non-insulin drug prescriptions in discharged patients with type 1 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the admission indicators and characteristics of individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to ascertain potential impact on the choice of glucose control therapy after discharge. A total of 398 eligible T1D patients were selected. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the independent influence of predictors on the selection of glucose control therapy after discharge. To explore the influencing factors of different subgroups, we additionally performed subgroup analyses based on gender and age. Our study revealed that body mass index (BMI) was noteworthy influence factor for prescription of insulin and non-insulin antidiabetic drug (NIAD prescription) in T1D patients of general population [OR = 1.109 (1.033-1.195), p = 0.006], male [OR = 1.166 (1.040-1.318), p = 0.011] and individuals below the age of 30 years [OR = 1.146 (1.020-1.301), p = 0.028]. Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was a protective factor for NIAD prescription in the general population [OR = 0.971 (0.949-0.992), p = 0.008] and women [OR = 0.955 (0.923-0.988), p = 0.008]. The other risk factor of NIAD prescription in men was dyslipidemia [OR = 4.824 (1.442-22.246), p = 0.020]. Pulse pressure [OR = 1.036 (1.007-1.068), p = 0.016] constituted an additional risk factor of NIAD prescription among individuals below the age of 30 years. The risk factors of NIAD prescription for people aged 30 to 50 years were length of stay [OR = 1.097 (1.014-1.196), p = 0.026] and initial blood glucose [OR = 1.078 (1.007-1.168), p= 0.047]. In the case of individuals aged above 50 years, physicians exhibited a higher tendency to prescribe supplementary non-insulin medications to men [OR = 9.385 (1.501-87.789), p = 0.029]. We identified notable factors that influence discharge prescriptions in patients with T1D. In order to enhance the treatment outcome for the patient, clinicians ought to have a special focus on these indicators or factors.

Self-reported workplace bullying and subsequent risk of diagnosed mental disorders and psychotropic drug prescriptions: A register-based prospective cohort study of 75,252 participants

BackgroundEvidence concerning workplace bullying as a risk factor for mental disorders is currently limited to depressive disorders and mainly based on non-clinical assessments. This study aims to examine the prospective association of self-reported workplace bullying with different types of register-based hospital-diagnosed mental disorders and redeemed psychotropic drug prescriptions. MethodsUsing a cohort study design, we examined a pooled dataset of 75,252 participants from 14 questionnaire-based surveys conducted between 2004 and 2014. In the questionnaires, workplace bullying was measured by a single item. The questionnaires were linked to Danish registers on hospital-diagnosed mental disorders and redeemed psychotropic drug prescriptions up to 2016. Data were analysed by multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, including only participants without a history of mental disorders or prescriptions since 1995. ResultsAfter adjustment for sex, age, marital and socio-economic status, workplace bullying was associated with an excess risk of any mental disorder (HR 1.37; 95 % CI: 1.17–1.59) as well as mood disorders and neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders. In stratified analyses, this association were statistically significant only among women. Workplace bullying was also associated with any psychotropic drug prescription (fully-adjusted HR 1.43; 95 % CI: 1.35–1.53). This association was observed in both sexes and for all prescriptions, including anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives, antidepressants, and nootropics. LimitationsFirm conclusions about sex-related differences cannot be drawn. Residual confounding by unmeasured factors such as personality cannot be ruled out. ConclusionsWorkplace bullying was associated with higher risks of diagnosed mental disorders among women and psychotropic drug prescriptions in both sexes.

Daily defined dose-costs have a stronger influence on antibacterial drug prescriptions in Germany than bacterial resistance: economic factors are more important than scientific evidence

AbstractPrevious research from our group revealed a strong association between daily defined dose (DDD)-costs and -prescriptions of antibacterial drugs in Germany (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38842562/; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39042156/). These data indicate that low costs are major driver of high prescription numbers. This study examines the relationship between bacterial resistance and DDD-prescriptions of antibacterial drugs using data from the Arzneiverordnungsreport (AVR) from 2008 to 2022 and the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance (ARS) statistics provided by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). We hypothesized that semi-rational or irrational prescribing behavior of antibacterial drugs is evident in Germany, i.e., prescriptions are driven to a greater extents by low DDD-costs than bacterial resistance. A bivariate correlation analysis was performed to test these models. Our data point to irrational prescribing behavior for amoxicillin, cefuroxime axetil, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, and clarithromycin. For amoxicillin clavulanic acid and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, data point to semi-rational prescribing. For no antibacterial drug, a model pointing to rational drug prescribing was found. In conclusion, our study shows that DDD-costs exert a more significant influence on DDD-prescriptions than bacterial resistance, indicating that economic factors, rather than scientific evidence, primarily drive antibacterial drug prescriptions in outpatient settings in Germany. It will be important to conduct similar studies on the prescription of antibacterial drugs in other countries. It will also be important to study the relation between DDD-costs and -prescriptions for other drug classes and assess the scientific basis for these relations.