Pharmacoepidemiologic studies of drug safety in pediatric chronic inflammatory disease

Safety evidence for use of pharmaceutical drugs in children, including treatments for serious conditions such as chronic inflammatory diseases, is generally scarce. Off-label use is common and clinicians need to rely on evidence from adults when prescribing to children. This is concerning because safety profiles might differ; the metabolism, distribution and absorption of drugs vary between children and adults. The overall aim of this thesis was to develop new, relevant, and pediatric-specific drug safety evidence for treatments of chronic inflammatory disease; both addressing specific safety concerns and screening for signals of previously unknown adverse events. Sub-aims were to evaluate the feasibility of these types of safety studies in the Scandinavian setting and to examine the differences between alternative pharmacoepidemiologic study designs. We conducted analyses based on data from Swedish and Danish national registers covering a source population of 5.3 million children; including 21,000 patients with confirmed chronic inflammatory disease. In the first study, the aim was to investigate if there is an association between the use of azathioprine and the risk of acute pancreatitis in Swedish and Danish patients with pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We found that azathioprine was associated with a 6-fold increased risk of acute pancreatitis during the first 90 days following treatment initiation, compared to no use, based on a sample of 8725 patients (n=3574 azathioprine users). In the second study, we investigated if there is an association between use of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors and the risk of serious infection in patients with pediatric IBD in Denmark. We found no significant association between current use of TNF-α inhibitors and the risk of serious infection, based on 2817 patients (n=618 TNF-α inhibitor users), in comparison with no use. The aim of the third study was to perform data mining to detect previously unknown adverse events of TNF-α inhibitors in children with IBD or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in Denmark. We used tree-based scan statistics on 1284 incident diagnoses identified during follow-up and found two significant signals, dermatologic complications and psychiatric adjustment disorders. Neither of these signals were considered relevant for further investigation. In the fourth study, we systematically described and compared various pharmacoepidemiologic designs, in particular alternatives to the active comparator new user design. We used target trial emulation as a common framework and drew two conclusions. That eligibility is the key design element that differentiates the designs and that many factors influence the choice of an ideal comparator, including indication, available comparator drugs, treatment patterns, potential effect modification, and sample size. In the fifth and final study, we investigated if there is an association between use of TNF-α inhibitors and the risk of serious infection in Danish patients with JIA. Based on 4493 JIA patients (n=578 TNF-α inhibitor users), we found that current use of TNF-α inhibitors was associated with a two-fold increased risk of serious infection, compared to methotrexate. In summary, we provided data on three current drug safety concerns in children with chronic inflammatory disease; we showed that Scandinavian health registers are suitable for both targeted and adverse-event signal detection studies; and finally, we provided guidance on the factors that need to be considered when selecting comparators in pharmacoepidemiologic studies

Use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and risk of serious renal events:Scandinavian cohort study

OBJECTIVE To assess the association between use of sodiumglucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and risk of serious renal events in data from routine clinical practice. DESIGN Cohort study using an active comparator, new user design and nationwide register data. SETTING Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, 2013-18. PARTICIPANTS Cohort of 29 887 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors (follow-up time: dapagliflozin 66.1%; empagliflozin 32.6%; canagliflozin 1.3%) and 29 887 new users of an active comparator, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, matched 1:1 on the basis of a propensity score with 57 variables. Mean follow-up time was 1.7 (SD 1.0) years. EXPOSURES SGLT2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, defined by filled prescriptions and analysed according to intention to treat. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome was serious renal events, a composite including renal replacement therapy, death from renal causes, and hospital admission for renal events. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the main outcome. RESULTS The mean age of the study population was 61.3 (SD 10.5) years; 11 108 (19%) had cardiovascular disease, and 1974 (3%) had chronic kidney disease. Use of SGLT2 inhibitors, compared with dipeptidy

Use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of major cardiovascular events and heart failure:Scandinavian register based cohort study

Objective To investigate the cardiovascular effectiveness of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in routine clinical practice. Design Cohort study using data from nationwide registers and an active-comparator new-user design. Setting Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, from April 2013 to December 2016. Participants 20 983 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors and 20 983 new users of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors, aged 35-84, matched by age, sex, history of major cardiovascular disease, and propensity score. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes were major cardiovascular events (composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death) and heart failure (hospital admission for heart failure or death due to heart failure). Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the cardiovascular composite and any cause death. In the primary analyses, patients were defined as exposed from treatment start throughout follow-up (analogous to intention to treat); additional analyses were conducted with an as-treated exposure definition. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios. Results Mean age of the study cohort was 61 years, 60% were men, and 19% had a history of major cardiovascular disease. Of the total 27 416 person years of follow-up in the SGLT2 inhibitor group, 22 627 (83%) was among patients who initiated dapagliflozin, 4521 (16%) among those who initiated empagliflozin, and 268 (1%) among those who initiated canagliflozin. During follow-up, 467 SGLT2 inhibitor users (incidence rate 17.0 events per 1000 person years) and 662 DPP4 inhibitor users (18.0) had a major cardiovascular event, whereas 130 (4.7) and 265 (7.1) had a heart failure event, respectively. Hazard ratios were 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.84 to 1.06) for major cardiovascular events and 0.66 (0.53 to 0.81) for heart failure. Hazard ratios were consistent among subgroups of patients with and without history of major cardiovascular disease and with and without history of heart failure. Hazard ratios for secondary outcomes, comparing SGLT2 inhibitors with DPP4 inhibitors, were 0.99 (0.85 to 1.17) for myocardial infarction, 0.94 (0.77 to 1.15) for stroke, 0.84 (0.65 to 1.08) for cardiovascular death, and 0.80 (0.69 to 0.92) for any cause death. In the as-treated analyses, hazard ratios were 0.84 (0.72 to 0.98) for major cardiovascular events, 0.55 (0.42 to 0.73) for heart failure, 0.93 (0.76 to 1.14) for myocardial infarction, 0.83 (0.64 to 1.07) for stroke, 0.67 (0.49 to 0.93) for cardiovascular death, and 0.75 (0.61 to 0.91) for any cause death. Conclusions In this large Scandinavian cohort, SGLT2 inhibitor use compared with DPP4 inhibitor use was associated with reduced risk of heart failure and any cause death, but not with major cardiovascular events in the primary intention-to-treat analysis. In the additional as-treated analyses, the magnitude of the association with heart failure and any cause death became larger, and a reduced risk of major cardiovascular events that was largely driven by the cardiovascular death component was observed. These data help inform patients, practitioners, and authorities regarding the cardiovascular effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in routine clinical practice

Healthcare Resource Use, Cost, and Sick Leave Following Kidney Transplantation in Sweden : A Population-Based, 5-Year, Retrospective Study of Outcomes: COIN

Background: Improved understanding of the impact of kidney transplantation on healthcare resource use/costs and loss of productivity could aid decision making about funding allocation and resources needed for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in stage 5. Material/Methods: This was a retrospective study utilizing data from Swedish national health registers of patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Primary outcomes were renal disease-related healthcare resource utilization and costs during the 5 years after transplantation. Secondary outcomes included total costs and loss of productivity. Regression analysis identified factors that influenced resource use, costs, and loss of productivity. Results: During the first year after transplantation, patients (N=3120) spent a mean of 25.7 days in hospital and made 21.6 outpatient visits; mean renal disease-related total cost was & euro;66,014. During the next 4 years, resource use was approximately 70% (outpatient) to 80% (inpatient) lower, and costs were 75% lower. Before transplantation, 62.8% were on long-term sick leave, compared with 47.4% 2 years later. Higher resource use and costs were associated with age <10 years, female sex, graft from a deceased donor, prior hemodialysis, receipt of a previous transplant, and presence of comorbidities. Higher levels of sick leave were associated with female sex, history of hemodialysis, and type 1 diabetes. Overall 5-year graft survival was 86.7% (95% CI 85.3-88.2%). Conclusions: After the first year following transplantation, resource use and related costs decreased, remaining stable for the next 4 years. Demographic and clinical factors, including age <10 years, female sex, and type 1 diabetes were associated with higher costs and resource use

Healthcare Resource Use, Cost, and Sick Leave Following Kidney Transplantation in Sweden : A Population-Based, 5-Year, Retrospective Study of Outcomes: COIN

Background: Improved understanding of the impact of kidney transplantation on healthcare resource use/costs and loss of productivity could aid decision making about funding allocation and resources needed for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in stage 5. Material/Methods: This was a retrospective study utilizing data from Swedish national health registers of patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Primary outcomes were renal disease-related healthcare resource utilization and costs during the 5 years after transplantation. Secondary outcomes included total costs and loss of productivity. Regression analysis identified factors that influenced resource use, costs, and loss of productivity. Results: During the first year after transplantation, patients (N=3120) spent a mean of 25.7 days in hospital and made 21.6 outpatient visits; mean renal disease-related total cost was & euro;66,014. During the next 4 years, resource use was approximately 70% (outpatient) to 80% (inpatient) lower, and costs were 75% lower. Before transplantation, 62.8% were on long-term sick leave, compared with 47.4% 2 years later. Higher resource use and costs were associated with age <10 years, female sex, graft from a deceased donor, prior hemodialysis, receipt of a previous transplant, and presence of comorbidities. Higher levels of sick leave were associated with female sex, history of hemodialysis, and type 1 diabetes. Overall 5-year graft survival was 86.7% (95% CI 85.3-88.2%). Conclusions: After the first year following transplantation, resource use and related costs decreased, remaining stable for the next 4 years. Demographic and clinical factors, including age <10 years, female sex, and type 1 diabetes were associated with higher costs and resource use

Use of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and risk of major cardiovascular events and heart failure: Scandinavian register based cohort study

Objective To investigate the cardiovascular effectiveness of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in routine clinical practice. Design Cohort study using data from nationwide registers and an active-comparator new-user design. Setting Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, from April 2013 to December 2016. Participants 20 983 new users of SGLT2 inhibitors and 20 983 new users of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors, aged 35-84, matched by age, sex, history of major cardiovascular disease, and propensity score. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes were major cardiovascular events (composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death) and heart failure (hospital admission for heart failure or death due to heart failure). Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the cardiovascular composite and any cause death. In the primary analyses, patients were defined as exposed from treatment start throughout follow-up (analogous to intention to treat); additional analyses were conducted with an as-treated exposure definition. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios. Results Mean age of the study cohort was 61 years, 60% were men, and 19% had a history of major cardiovascular disease. Of the total 27 416 person years of follow-up in the SGLT2 inhibitor group, 22 627 (83%) was among patients who initiated dapagliflozin, 4521 (16%) among those who initiated empagliflozin, and 268 (1%) among those who initiated canagliflozin. During follow-up, 467 SGLT2 inhibitor users (incidence rate 17.0 events per 1000 person years) and 662 DPP4 inhibitor users (18.0) had a major cardiovascular event, whereas 130 (4.7) and 265 (7.1) had a heart failure event, respectively. Hazard ratios were 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.84 to 1.06) for major cardiovascular events and 0.66 (0.53 to 0.81) for heart failure. Hazard ratios were consistent among subgroups of patients with and without history of major cardiovascular disease and with and without history of heart failure. Hazard ratios for secondary outcomes, comparing SGLT2 inhibitors with DPP4 inhibitors, were 0.99 (0.85 to 1.17) for myocardial infarction, 0.94 (0.77 to 1.15) for stroke, 0.84 (0.65 to 1.08) for cardiovascular death, and 0.80 (0.69 to 0.92) for any cause death. In the as-treated analyses, hazard ratios were 0.84 (0.72 to 0.98) for major cardiovascular events, 0.55 (0.42 to 0.73) for heart failure, 0.93 (0.76 to 1.14) for myocardial infarction, 0.83 (0.64 to 1.07) for stroke, 0.67 (0.49 to 0.93) for cardiovascular death, and 0.75 (0.61 to 0.91) for any cause death. Conclusions In this large Scandinavian cohort, SGLT2 inhibitor use compared with DPP4 inhibitor use was associated with reduced risk of heart failure and any cause death, but not with major cardiovascular events in the primary intention-to-treat analysis. In the additional as-treated analyses, the magnitude of the association with heart failure and any cause death became larger, and a reduced risk of major cardiovascular events that was largely driven by the cardiovascular death component was observed. These data help inform patients, practitioners, and authorities regarding the cardiovascular effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors in routine clinical practice