Direct healthcare costs of hip, vertebral, and non-hip, non-vertebral fractures.

Limited data exist regarding the cost of non-hip, non-vertebral (NHNV) fractures. Although NHNV fractures may be less expensive than hip and vertebral fractures, they have a higher incidence rate. The objective of this study was to quantify first-year healthcare costs of hip, vertebral, and NHNV fractures. This was a claims-based retrospective analysis using a case-control design among patients with commercial insurance and Medicare employer-based supplemental coverage. Patients were \u3e or =50 years old with a closed hip, vertebral, or NHNV fracture between 7/1/2001 and 12/31/2004, and continuous enrollment 6 months prior to and 12 months after the index fracture. Adjusted mean first-year healthcare costs associated with these fractures were determined. Six cohorts were identified. Patients 50-64 years: NHNV (n=27,424), vertebral (n=3386) and hip (n=2423); patients \u3e or =65 years: NHNV (n=40,960), vertebral (n=11,751) and hip (n=21,504). The ratio of NHNV to hip fractures was 11:1 in the 50-64 cohort and 2:1 in the \u3e or =65 cohort. Adjusted mean first-year costs associated with hip, vertebral, and NHNV fractures were $26,545,$14,977, and $9183 for the 50-64 age cohort, and$15,196, $6701, and$6106 for patients \u3e or =65 years. After taking prevalence rate into account, the proportion of the total fracture costs accounted for by NHNV, hip, and vertebral fractures were 66%, 21% and 13% for the 50-64 age cohort, and 36%, 52% and 12% for the \u3e or =65 age cohort. Limitations included the exclusion of the uninsured and those covered by Medicaid or military-based insurance programs. The results of this study demonstrate that osteoporotic fractures are associated with significant costs. Although NHNV fractures have a lower per-patient cost than hip or vertebral fractures, their total first-year cost is greater for those 50-64 because of their higher prevalence

Predictors of Treatment with Duloxetine or Venlafaxine XR among Adult Patients Treated for Depression in Primary Care Practices in the United Kingdom

Background. Knowledge about real-world use of duloxetine and venlafaxine XR to treat depression in the UK is limited. Aims. To identify predictors of duloxetine or venlafaxine XR initiation. Method. Adult depressed patients who initiated duloxetine or venlafaxine XR between January 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 were identified in the UK's General Practice Research Database. Demographic and clinical predictors of treatment initiation with duloxetine and venlafaxine XR were identified using logistic regression. Results. Patients initiating duloxetine (n = 909) were 4 years older than venlafaxine XR recipients (n = 1286). Older age, preexisting unexplained pain, respiratory disease, and pre-period use of anticonvulsants, opioids, and antihyperlipidemics were associated with increased odds of initiating duloxetine compared to venlafaxine XR. Pre-period anxiety disorder was associated with decreased odds of receiving duloxetine. Conclusion. Initial treatment choice with duloxetine versus venlafaxine XR was primarily driven by patient-specific mental and medical health characteristics. General practitioners in the UK favor duloxetine over venlafaxine XR when pain conditions coexist with depression

Capecitabine treatment patterns in patients with gastroesophageal cancer in the United States

AIM: To assess the use of capecitabine-based therapy and associated complication rates in patients with gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) in a real-world treatment setting

The Bracketing Guidelines for the Chinese Treebank

IRCS technical repor

Supplemental material for Healthcare resource use and costs associated with chronic kidney disease in US private insurance patients with multiple myeloma

<p>Supplemental material for Healthcare resource use and costs associated with chronic kidney disease in US private insurance patients with multiple myeloma by Debajyoti Bhowmik, Xue Song, Michele Intorcia, Shia T Kent and Nianwen Shi in Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice</p