Prescription Patterns In Patients Research Articles

Real-world evidence of constipation and laxative use in the Korean population with chronic kidney disease from a common data model

Constipation is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, our understanding of its epidemiology and management in CKD is limited. We aimed to explore real-world data on constipation and laxative use in patients with CKD in a nationwide population-based cohort from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment-National Patient Sample database. This study analyzed retrospective health claims data in Korea from 2012 to 2017 that were transformed into the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. The pooled proportion of constipation diagnoses was 30.5% in all patients with CKD and 15.9%, 16.5%, 17.4%, 29.9%, and 43.3% in patients with CKD stages 1–5, respectively, suggesting a higher prevalence in advanced CKD. Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis had the highest prevalence of constipation, while transplant recipients showed a prevalence comparable to that of patients with early CKD. Patients with CKD had a significantly higher risk of constipation than age- and sex-matched non-CKD individuals (range of odds ratio [OR]:1.66–1.90). Laxative prescribing patterns differed by CKD severity. Osmotic agents were prescribed in more than half of patients with advanced CKD, while magnesium salts and bulking agents were prescribed less frequently. The CKD patients with constipation were more likely to be prescribed constipation-inducing medications, including antipsychotic and neurological medications. Our findings provide real-world constipation and laxative prescription status in the Korean CKD population, revealing a significantly higher risk of constipation and different laxative prescribing patterns in patients with CKD.

A Naturalistic, Non-interventional Investigation of the Clinical and Sociodemographic Characteristics and Prescription Patterns in Patients With Psychotic Disorders at a Tertiary Care Facility in South Asia.

This study aimed to evaluate the trends in the sociodemographic, clinical, and prescription characteristics of patients with psychotic illnesses seen in the outpatient psychiatry department of a tertiary care facility. Between March 2021 and April 2022, a cross-sectional, prospective, observational, naturalistic, non-interventional study was conducted. A total of two hundred prescriptions were analyzed. To assess the rationality of prescriptions, World Health Organization (WHO) indicators were also computed. With a range of 18 to 75 years, the cohort's mean age was 40.26 years, and its average disease duration was 10.75 years. Sixty-seven patients (68.5%) were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Of the 200 prescriptions that were analyzed, 13 antipsychotic prescriptions were written 343 times. Olanzapine was prescribed as an antipsychotic the most frequently (132, 66%), followed by clozapine (75, 37.5%). Haloperidol (41, 20.5%), trifluoperazine (3, 1.5%), loxapine (1, 0.5%), and flupenthixoldepot (1, 0.5%) were the most commonly prescribed typical antipsychotics. 91% (181/200) of patients received prescriptions for other drugs in addition to antipsychotics.Trihexyphenidyl (45%), escitalopram (30%), clonazepam (26.5%), sodium valproate (10%), propranolol (10.5%), and modafinil (9.5%) were the most frequently prescribed concurrent medicines.Forty-eight percent (95/200) of prescriptions demonstrated polypharmacy. Among patients, the frequency of antipsychotic prescriptions was 1 in 44% (88/200), 2 in 36.50% (73/200), 3 in 17% (34/200), 4 in 0.5% (1/200), and 5 again in 0.5% (1/200). Conclusions:On average, the cohort of the current study was young. The commonest diagnosis was mainly schizophrenia. Atypical antipsychotics accounted for the majority of antipsychotic prescriptions in the current study. In this study, a high prevalence of polypharmacy was noted.

Prescription Pattern in patients with Acute Tonsillitis, attending Outpatient Department

Background: Acute tonsillitis is a major health problem among children and adults which is badly effects the quality of life. Aim: To determine the antimicrobial prescription pattern in patients with acute tonsillitis, attending ENT OPD of Kulsumbai Valika, Social Security, Post Graduate Teaching Hospital Karachi.. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the patients attending the outpatient of ENT, with acute tonsillitis. Study was conducted in Outpatient of ENT department of Kulsumbai Valika Social Security S.I.T.E. Hospital, Karachi. from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023. Data collection was done from the prescription of each patient. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 210 acute tonsillitis patients, with 116(55.23%) were male. Mean number of the drugs in prescription 4±1.4. All the prescriptions included antimicrobials, 185(88%), and NSAIDs. Amoxicillin / Clavulanic acid (24.8%) and Ceftriaxone (12.2%) were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. Parenteral route was preferred in 113(53.8%). None of the patients was offered culture or sensitivity test of the microorganisms. Practical implication: Acute tonsillitis patients admitted and started parenteral antibiotic along with anti-inflammatory drugs. Conclusion: Antimicrobials thosewere prescribed in almost all cases of acute tonsilitis, and most frequently prescribed were Amoxicillin / Clavulanic acid and Cefixime. Injectable antibiotics were also prescribed very frequently. Most of the patients were given just one antibiotic. This study findings highlighted the gaps the rational practices in drug prescribing for acute tonsilitis. Keywords: Acute tonsillitis, Amoxicillin,antimicrobials, Clavulanic acid, Cefixime, prescription.

Anticoagulant prescribing patterns in patients with primary central nervous system malignancies and secondary metastases.

To evaluate the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in patients with central nervous system (CNS) malignancies and secondary metastases. All adult patients with CNS malignancies and secondary metastases who were treated with a DOAC or LMWH for any indication from 2018 to 2022 were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after anticoagulation initiation. Secondary outcomes included non-ICH bleeding events and thromboembolic events. Tolerability was assessed by any changes in anticoagulant therapy during study period. 153 patients were included; 48 patients received enoxaparin and 105 received DOACs, of which apixaban was used most commonly. The population was predominantly White (74%) and male (59%) with a median age of 65. Data was censored for immortal time bias for outcomes evaluated beyond 3months. ICH occurred in 7.7% of the population, more frequently in the enoxaparin group (DOACs 4, 4% vs. enoxaparin 7, 16%, p = 0.037). Non-ICH bleeds were predominantly minor and more common in the DOAC group (DOACs 13, 13% vs. enoxaparin 1, 2%, p = 0.037). Thromboembolic events were not different between groups (DOACs 9. 9% vs, enoxaparin 2, 4%, p = 0.503). Anticoagulant switches occurred more in the enoxaparin group (DOACs 12, 12.4% vs. enoxaparin, 37.8%, p < 0.001), primarily due to patient or provider preference. Our data supports DOACs to be preferred over LMWH for the treatment of VTE or for stroke prevention with AF to prevent ICH in patients with brain tumors or metastases.

Analysis of Physician Prescription Patterns in Patients with Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Analysis of Physician Prescription Patterns in Patients with Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A Crosssectional Observational Research on Assessment of Patterns of Discharge Medications in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Associated with Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension

Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as chronic renal insufficiency, progressive kidney deterioration, or nephropathy, is an illness, in which the kidneys fail to function properly. When prescription and over-the-counter medications are combined, the risk of adverse drug reactions and interactions increases, which are the main causes of hospitalizations and mortality. The aims and strategies for reducing the incidence, morbidity, mortality, and health costs of CKD in India are outlined in this new chapter. Aim: A cross-sectional observational study to estimate the pattern of discharge prescription pattern in patients of CKD associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Methodology: 100 patients with CKD and comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes, or both were included in observational cross-sectional research done at the Nephrology Department of Dhiraj Hospital. The laboratory findings, as well as their comorbidity, discharge prescription medicines, and comorbidity, were all documented and examined. Results: Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were the most often recommended antihypertensive medication for hypertensive patients with CKD. Diuretics were the least often given class of antihypertensive medicine. In antidiabetic medication, class sulfonylurea and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors had similar prescription rates which are the highest prescribing medication for diabetes mellitus with CKD. Biguanides were the least prescribed class of drugs. Conclusion: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are widely used to treat hypertensive patients with CKD; but due to chances of arrhythmia, CCBs are prescribed. This research might aid in the identification of educational and quality-improvement opportunities to minimize medication-related errors and increase benefits in this population.

Assessment of Prescription Pattern in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer develops when lung cells divide rapidly, which leads to the growth of tumors. It is the most prevalent cancer and the major factor in men's cancer-related mortality. The goal of the study is to assess prescription pattern in patients receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer. A study on prescription pattern will help in optimizing the anti-malignancy therapy with improved efficacy &amp; minimal toxicity. This study assesses prescription pattern in patients receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer. This was a prospective observational study carried out in the Out-patient Department of Oncology in tertiary care teaching hospital, Bengaluru. A total of 37 samples were collected, of which 31 were selected for the study. Subjects for the study were identified by the investigator during ward rounds based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant data collected were recorded on the Self-designed data collection form. All recorded data were entered and analyzed using MS Excel. Descriptive statistics were computed for quantitative variables. The majority of the subjects involved in the study were prescribed with Carboplatin. Carboplatin with Pemetrexed Disodium was the most preferred combination therapy. In the present study, we have concluded that the oncologists in this hospital prefer Cytotoxic and Targeted drugs over Hormonal drugs for the treatment of lung cancer.

Evaluation of the Diagnosis and Antibiotic Prescription Pattern in Patients Hospitalized with Urinary Tract Infections: Single-Center Study from a University-Affiliated Hospital.

UTIs (urinary tract infections) are common bacterial infections with a non-negligible hospitalization rate. The diagnosis of UTIs remains a challenge for prescribers and a common source of misdiagnosis. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate whether recorded diagnosis by clinicians and empirical antibiotic therapy met the EAU (European Association of Urology) guideline in patients hospitalized with UTI. The study was conducted at an internal medicine unit of a tertiary care medical center in Hungary. The diagnosis was assessed based on clinical presentation, physical examination, and laboratory (including microbiological) results, considering all the potential risk factors. Diagnosis was considered misdiagnosis when not confirmed by clinical presentation or clinical signs and symptoms. Evaluation of empirical antibiotic therapy was performed only for confirmed UTIs. Empirical treatment was considered guideline-adherent when complying with the relevant recommendations. Out of 185 patients, 41.6% failed to meet EAU-based UTI diagnosis criteria, of which 27.6% were misdiagnosed and 14.1% were ABU (asymptomatic bacteriuria). The diagnosis of urosepsis recorded at admission (9.7%, 18/185) was not confirmed either by clinical or microbiological tests in five (5/18) cases. The initial empirical therapies for UTI showed a relatively low rate (45.4%) of guideline adherence regarding agent selection. The most common guideline-non-adherent therapies were combinations with metronidazole (16.7%). Dosage appropriateness assessments showed a guideline adherence rate of 36.1%, and underdosing due to high body weight was common (9.3%). Overall (agent, route of administration, dose, duration) guideline adherence was found to be substantially low (10.2%). We found a relatively high rate of misdiagnosed UTIs. Written protocols on the ward may be crucial in reducing misdiagnosis and in optimizing antibiotic use.

Antibiotic prescription patterns in patients with suspected urinary tract infections in Ecuador.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common cause to prescribe antibiotics in primary care. Diagnosis is based on the presence of clinical symptoms in combination with the results of laboratory tests. Antibiotic therapy is the primary approach to the treatment of UTIs; however, some studies indicate that therapeutics in UTIs may be suboptimal, potentially leading to therapeutic failure and increased bacterial resistance. This study aimed to analyze the antibiotic prescription patterns in adult patients with suspected UTIs and to evaluate the appropriateness of the antibiotic prescription. This is a cross-sectional study of patients treated in outpatient centers and in a second-level hospital of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in a city in Ecuador during 2019. The International Classification of Disease Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used for the selection of the acute UTI cases. The patients included in this study were those treated by family, emergency, and internal medicine physicians. We included a total of 507 patients in the analysis and 502 were prescribed antibiotics at first contact, constituting an immediate antibiotic prescription rate of 99.01%. Appropriate criteria for antibiotic prescription were met in 284 patients, representing an appropriate prescription rate of 56.02%. Less than 10% of patients with UTI had a urine culture. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were alternative antibiotics (also known as second-line antibiotics), such as ciprofloxacin (50.39%) and cephalexin (23.55%). Factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for UTIs were physician age over forty years, OR: 2.87 (95% CI, 1.65-5.12) p<0.0001, medical care by a general practitioner, OR: 1.89 (95% CI, 1.20-2.99) p = 0.006, not using point-of-care testing, OR: 1.96 (95% CI, 1.23-3.15) p = 0.005, and care at the first level of health, OR: 15.72 (95% CI, 8.57-30.88) p<0.0001. The results of our study indicate an appropriate prescription rate of 56.02%. Recommended antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin for UTIs are underutilized. The odds for inappropriate antibiotic prescription were 15.72 times higher at the first level of care compared to the second. Effective strategies are needed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs.

Prescribing patterns in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The treatment of AF includes medicines to control heart rate and reduce the risk of stroke, and procedures such as cardioversion to restore normal heart rhythm. To reduce the stroke, patients with AF may prescribe some type of antithrombotic medication (such as warfarin, one of the new non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants [NOACs] - dabigitran, apixaban, rivoraxaban, or edoxaban) or maybe aspirin. The aim of our study was to exam the prescription pattern in patients with COPD and AF. We selected COPD population in Taiwan older than 40 years and less than 90 years old with an COPD diagnosis at least two outpatient claims or at least one inpatient claim coded and also need at least one prescription of bronchodilators. We followed this COPD cohort until they have AF and their prescription pattern. We included 267,740 patients with COPD who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria and 6,582 patients concomitant with COPD and AF. The mean age was 75 years, and about 77% of the patients were older than 70 years. Three-fourths of patients with COPD were male. The common comorbidities were hypertension (17.58%), diabetes (7.47%), ischemic heart disease (4.66%), and dyslipidemia (3.68%). we found that most patients received aspirin which accounting for 31%, followed by coumadin (8.22%) and clopidogrel. Prescribing NOAC within 30 days after AF diagnosis was low in patients with COPD and the percentage of NOAC usage was also lower than warfarin.

Missed opportunities in aspirin prescribing for preeclampsia prevention

BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, are a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in the United States, particularly among low-income and historically marginalized populations. Evidence suggests low-dose aspirin prophylaxis may help prevent preeclampsia in individuals at increased risk of developing the disease. This study examines associations between preeclampsia risk factors and aspirin prescribing practices among patients receiving prenatal care at a network of federally qualified health centers (FQHC).MethodsResearchers conducted retrospective chart reviews (n = 523) of pregnant individuals ages 18–50 who completed two or more prenatal visits at the FQHC between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Prescription patterns for patients at moderate and high risk for preeclampsia were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models to identify the patients with the greatest risk of not receiving the recommended prophylactic treatment.ResultsOf 249 total patients considered at risk for preeclampsia, only 39% received an aspirin prescription. 57.89% of patients with any high-risk factor were appropriately prescribed aspirin, but only 27.27% of patients with two or more moderate-risk factors without high-risk factors received a prescription. Clinicians most frequently prescribed aspirin for patients with a history of preeclampsia and history of hypertension. However, aspirin was prescribed a maximum of 78.79% of the time for patients with a prior history of hypertension. Among moderate-risk factors, patients with advanced maternal age, Black race, or nulliparity were significantly more likely in adjusted models to be prescribed aspirin.ConclusionsDespite the documented benefits of aspirin prescribing and support from professional societies, there are still many missed opportunities for aspirin prophylaxis to prevent preeclampsia. Future interventions should focus on identifying patients who qualify for aspirin prophylaxis on the basis of having multiple moderate-risk factors without comorbid high-risk factors.

Levodopa Prescription Patterns in Patients with Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Japanese Database Analysis.

Prescription doses of levodopa in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) are generally lower in Japan than in the United States or Europe, although Japanese guidelines for the management of PD recommend increasing the dosage as the disease progresses. However, data regarding levodopa prescription practices in patients with advanced PD in the clinical setting are limited. This retrospective observational study analyzed patterns of drug use for patients with advanced PD in Japan using claims data from hospitalized patients in the Medical Data Vision Co. database. Eligible patients had at least two PD-associated claims in two different quarters between April 1, 2008, and November 30, 2018, and a 10-item activities of daily living score <60 upon hospital discharge (as a proxy for advanced PD). The primary endpoint was the prescribed dosage of levodopa at the index hospitalization. Dosages of other PD drugs (medications with an on-label indication for PD) and non-PD drugs were also assessed. Overall, 4029 patients met the inclusion criteria (mean age, 76.9 years; 83.3% aged ≥70 years). At the index date, 74.0% were receiving levodopa. Patients received a median of one PD drug in addition to levodopa, and 27.4% and 20.2% received one or two concomitant PD drugs, respectively. Patients received a median of two non-PD drugs. The median levodopa dosage and total levodopa equivalent dosage (LED) at the index hospitalization were 418.2 and 634.8 mg/day (adjusted for body weight, 9.0 and 13.7 mg/kg/day), respectively. The median levodopa and total LED dosage in each 6-month increment during the 5 years before and after the index date ranged between 263.9 and 330.2 mg/day (5.0 and 6.5 mg/kg/day) and 402.0 and 504.9 mg/day (8.3 and 10.1 mg/kg/day), respectively. This study suggests that many Japanese patients with advanced PD could receive more intensive treatment with higher doses of levodopa.

P57. Anti-osteoporotic medication prescription patterns in patients with vertebral compression fractures

P57. Anti-osteoporotic medication prescription patterns in patients with vertebral compression fractures

Short-acting β2-agonist prescription patterns in patients with asthma treated by specialists in Thailand: results from SABINA III

Objective Short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) overuse is associated with poor asthma outcomes; however, the extent of SABA use in Thailand is largely unknown. As part of the SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) III study, we describe asthma treatment patterns, including SABA prescriptions, in patients treated by specialists in Thailand. Methods In this observational, cross-sectional study, patients (aged ≥12 years) with an asthma diagnosis were recruited by specialists from three Thai tertiary care centers using purposive sampling. Patients were classified by investigator-defined asthma severity (per 2017 Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] recommendations). Data on sociodemographics, disease characteristics, and asthma treatment prescriptions were collected from existing medical records by healthcare providers and transcribed onto electronic case report forms. Analyses were descriptive. Results All 385 analyzed patients (mean age: 57.6 years; 69.6% female) were treated by specialists. Almost all (91.2%) patients were classified with moderate-to-severe asthma (GINA treatment steps 3–5), 69.1% were overweight/obese, and 99.7% reported partially/fully reimbursed healthcare. Asthma was partly controlled/uncontrolled in 24.2% of patients; 23.1% experienced ≥1 severe asthma exacerbation in the preceding 12 months. Overall, SABAs were over-prescribed (≥3 canisters/year) in 28.3% of patients. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), ICS/long-acting β2-agonists, oral corticosteroid (OCS) burst treatment, and long-term OCS were prescribed to 7.0, 93.2, 19.2, and 6.2% of patients, respectively. Additionally, 4.2% of patients reported purchasing SABA over the counter. Conclusions Despite receiving specialist treatment, 28.3% of patients were over-prescribed to SABA in the previous 12 months, highlighting a public health concern and the need to align clinical practices with current evidence-based recommendations.

144-LB: Assessment of Drug Prescription Patterns of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in India

Rationale: Drug prescribing studies can suggest modifications in the current prescribing practices, which in turn will reduce the treatment cost, non-compliance and complications. Purpose: To identify the prescription patterns in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with respect to the duration of the disease. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus seeking regular care at twelve of the locations in Western India were included in the study. Using MEDEVA (EMR), an integrated research platform, information on medical history, laboratory values and medications was recorded. Data collected from 1st December 2022 to February 25th 2023 was considered for the analysis. Results: Of the 920 patients enrolled in the study, 607 had a duration of diabetes and prescribed medications recorded. Patients with a duration ≤ 5 years are about 53.0%, 5-10 years are 28.8% and &amp;gt;10 years are 18.1%. Biguanides and Sulfonylureas, followed by DPP-4, are the most common drug classes prescribed in patients with ≤ 5 years duration and Insulins in patients with a duration of more than 10 years. Conclusion: This study offers valuable information on the trends in oral antidiabetic medications and insulins in diabetic patients. As the duration of the disease increases insulin is the most prescribed medication. Disclosure V. Chavda: None. B. D. Saboo: None. V. Abhichandani: None. S. Desai: None. V. Patadia: None. B. S. Mori: None. S. Patel: None. A. M. Prajapati: None. M. N. Parekh: None. F. Vora: None. T. Vora: None. D. Hasnani: None.

Characterization of Outpatient Gabapentinoid Prescribing for Pain

Two statements from national organizations outline recommended minimum effective doses of gabapentin and pregabalin for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). However, studies of real-world gabapentinoid dosing demonstrate that the recommended dose targets are frequently not met and do not consider renal insufficiency. This study aimed to characterize gabapentinoid prescribing patterns in patients receiving primary care at two internal medicine clinics within an academic medical center. This retrospective chart review included adult outpatients who were newly initiated on gabapentin or pregabalin between October 1, 2017 and October 1, 2020 and reviewed for 12 months. A total of 1,221 patients were included in the study with 1,079 (88.4%) prescribed gabapentin and 142 (11.6%) prescribed pregabalin. Only 22.4% of patients prescribed gabapentin and 33.3% of patients prescribed pregabalin with adequate renal function met the minimum effective dosing of gabapentin 1800 mg per day and pregabalin 300 mg per day provided by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Academy of Neurology (AAN). This study supports the need for optimization of gabapentinoid dosing to ensure an adequate trial at the minimum effective dose is completed.

Identification of polypharmacy patterns in new-users of metformin using the Apriori algorithm: A novel framework for investigating concomitant drug utilization through association rule mining.

With increased concomitant chronic diseases in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the use of multiple drugs increases as well as the risk of drug-drug interactions (DDI) and adverse drug reactions (ADR). Nevertheless, how medication patterns vary in T2DM patients across different sex and age groups is unclear. This study aims to identify and quantify common drug combinations in first-time metformin users with polypharmacy (≥5 co-medications). New users of metformin were identified from the IQVIA Medical Research Data incorporating data from THIN, A Cegedim Database (2016-2019). A descriptive cohort study explored prescription patterns in patients with polypharmacy. The Apriori algorithm, used to find frequent item-sets in databases, was first-time applied to identify and quantify drug combinations of up to seven drugs to investigate potential harmful polypharmacy patterns. The cohort included 34 169 new-users of metformin, of which 20 854 (61.0%) received polypharmacy. Atorvastatin was the most frequently co-prescribed drug with metformin overall (38.7%), in women (34.3%) and men (42.6%). In the stratified analysis, a higher proportion of women received polypharmacy (65.6%) compared to men (57.4%). Moreover, the proportion of patients receiving polypharmacy increased with age (18-39 years=30.4%, 40-59 years=50.5%, 60-74 years=70.9%, and ≥75 years=84.3%). This study is the first to identify and quantify commonly prescribed combinations of drugs compounds in patients with polypharmacy using the Apriori algorithm. The high polypharmacy prevalence at all strata indicates the need to optimize polypharmacy to minimize DDI and ADR.

Implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions in Primary Care: Acute Bacterial Rhinosinusitis Treatment Strategies.

The highest prescribing rates for antibiotics occur in primary care, therefore, ambulatory care pharmacist interventions could play a major role in preventing overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Delegated pharmacists in the SJC primary care setting guided 3 activities with a goal of positively impacting prescribing patterns: monthly webinars provided by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), quarterly reporting to physicians of antibiotic prescribing patterns, and development of a clinical decision-making support tool for antibiotic prescribing. Retrospective, observational data was collected to evaluate antibiotic prescribing patterns in patients diagnosed with acute sinusitis both before initiatives were implemented (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020) and after the initiatives were implemented (April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022). A total of 675 patients were diagnosed with acute bacterial sinusitis during the specified time frame. Of these, 138 patients were excluded. A total of 279 antibiotics were prescribed in the preintervention group out of 298 patient encounters (93.6%) and 225 antibiotics were prescribed in the post-intervention group out of 244 patient encounters (92.9%) (p = .26). Although the primary outcome was not statistically significant, a significant reduction in patients treated with fluoroquinolones was noted, with 59/298 (20%) of those being prescribed in the pre-intervention group and 20/244 (8%) in the post intervention group (P = .02). While pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship interventions in primary care did not result in a decrease in the overall prescription of antibiotics for acute sinusitis, our study did reveal a notable reduction in the use of fluoroquinolones. This finding highlights a promising avenue for expanding the role of ambulatory care pharmacists.

Prescribing Practices of Hypnotics for Elderly Patients With Insomnia at Six University Hospitals

Objective: This study aimed to investigate prescription patterns in patients with insomnia who still met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria despite having already been taking hypnotics, and to determine which drug(s) and what combination therapies were preferred. Methods: Sixty-three patients were enrolled in this study. Patients were selected from participants registered at six university hospitals for a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin (Circadin).Results: The prescribed hypnotics were clonazepam (n=33), trazodone (n=23), zolpidem (n=22), quetiapine (n=14), mirtazapine (n=12), lorazepam (n=10), alprazolam (n=7), triazolam (n=5), doxepin (n=5), diazepam (n=3), etizolam (n=2), and flunitrazepam (n=1). There were five types of monotherapies (benzodiazepine, zolpidem, trazodone, mirtazapine, and doxepin) and 18 types of combination therapies. The total number of hypnotics used ranged from one to six. The frequency of benzodiazepine use was quite high, at 51/63. Conclusion: This study showed that insomnia can be treated in a wide variety of ways. In particular, 63% of the insomnia treatments in this study used combination therapy. This means that the gap between evidence-based pharmacotherapy and pharmacotherapy used in clinical practice is substantial. This also means that insomnia is still not fully understood and is a heterogeneous condition. In the future, more studies are needed to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiology of insomnia.

The characteristics of opioid use in patients with proximal humerus fractures.

Orthopaedic surgeons prescribe more opioid narcotics than any other surgical specialty. Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) often occur in the high-risk elderly population. The opioid epidemic has led to public policy aimed at reductions in opioid prescription. This study aimed to evaluate the impact that new legislation has had on opioid prescription patterns in patients who sustained proximal humerus fractures. A retrospective review of all patients who sustained PHF at a single academic institution from 1/1/2015-12/31/2019 was performed. A total of 762 proximal humerus fractures were identified and final analysis included 383 patients. Collected data included basic demographics and opioid prescriptions obtained through review of the electronic medical record. The North Carolina Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention act legislation that went into effect on July 1, 2017. There was no difference in the number of pre- or postoperative opioid prescriptions provided with the new legislation. Our data showed a significant reduction in MeQs prescribed preoperatively pre-STOP act (188.1 MeQs) and post-STOP act (99.4 MeQs). There was also a significant difference in the amount of postoperative narcotics prescribed in the pre-STOP (972.6 MeQs) and post-STOP act (508.6 MeQs) groups (p < 0.01). With the enactment of the STOP act in North Carolina, we have seen a significant reduction in the amount of narcotic prescribed after sustaining a proximal humerus fracture preoperatively and postoperatively. This data demonstrates the impact that implementation of state-wide regulatory changes in opioid prescribing policy has had for a common orthopedic condition.