A real-world analysis of glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes treated with canagliflozin versus dapagliflozin

<p><b>Objective:</b> This US retrospective cohort study compared the real-world effectiveness of canagliflozin 300 mg versus dapagliflozin 10 mg on HbA1c reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> Patients initiated on canagliflozin 300 mg or dapagliflozin 10 mg were identified from de-identified claims data in the Optum Clinformatics database (1 January 2014–30 September 2016). Propensity score matching was used to create balanced cohorts. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with HbA1c <8.0% (HEDIS target); secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients with HbA1c <7.0% (ADA target) and >9.0% (HEDIS poor control), absolute change in HbA1c, and treatment patterns.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> At 6 months post-index (intent-to-treat population), a significantly higher proportion of patients in the canagliflozin 300 mg versus dapagliflozin 10 mg cohort achieved HbA1c <8.0% (70.8% vs. 59.1%; OR [95% CI]: 1.60 [1.26, 2.04]; <i>p</i> = .0001) and HbA1c <7.0% (36.7% vs. 25.1%; OR [95% CI]: 1.75 [1.34, 2.27]; <i>p</i> < .0001). A similar proportion of patients had HbA1c >9.0%. Mean HbA1c reduction was −1.17% with canagliflozin 300 mg and −0.91% with dapagliflozin 10 mg (difference of −0.26%; <i>p</i> = .0049). HbA1c results from a sensitivity analysis in the on-treatment population were consistent with the primary analysis. Patients in the canagliflozin 300 mg versus dapagliflozin 10 mg cohort were less likely to discontinue treatment (OR [95% CI]: 0.75 [0.57, 0.99]; <i>p</i> = .0400) or switch medication (OR [95% CI]: 0.72 [0.54, 0.96]; <i>p</i> = .0229).</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> In this real-world study, patients with T2DM initiated on canagliflozin 300 mg had better HbA1c goal attainment and larger HbA1c reduction than patients initiated on dapagliflozin 10 mg.</p

Ischemic stroke and systemic embolism among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who abandon oral anticoagulant therapy

To compare the risk of stroke and systemic embolism (SE) among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who abandoned their first direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) fill (“abandoners”) relative to patients who continued DOACs beyond the first fill (“continuers”). In this retrospective longitudinal study, adults with NVAF prescribed DOACs were selected from Symphony Health, an ICON plc Company, PatientSource®, April 1, 2017 to October 31, 2020. A 90-day landmark period following the first DOAC fill was used to classify patients as abandoners or continuers. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance baseline characteristics between cohorts. Time to ischemic stroke/SE was described and compared between cohorts using weighted Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models from the end of the landmark period until end of clinical activity or data. After weighting, 200,398 and 211,352 patients comprised the abandoner and continuer cohorts, respectively. The mean duration of follow-up was 14.9 and 15.7 months, respectively. At 12 months of follow-up, the probability of ischemic stroke/SE was 1.34% in the abandoner cohort and 1.00% in the continuer cohort; the risk of ischemic stroke/SE was 35% higher in the abandoner versus continuer cohort (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.35 [1.20, 1.51]; p  Patients with NVAF who abandoned the first DOAC fill had significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke/SE compared to patients who continued therapy beyond the first fill. There is an unmet need for better access to DOACs so that the long-term risk of poor outcomes may be minimized.</p

CMS hospital readmission reduction program and anticoagulants received following a total hip and knee arthroplasty discharge

<p><b>Objectives:</b> To assess association between 30 day readmission rate and treatment received after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) discharge (rivaroxaban vs. warfarin or non-anticoagulant). To subsequently model impact of increasing rivaroxaban use on the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) penalty, which was imposed on hospitals with excess 30 day readmissions after hospitalizations for selected conditions, including THA/TKA.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> The US Truven Health MarketScan Medicare Supplemental database from 1 July 2010 to 30 April 2015 was used. A retrospective claims analysis was conducted to assess the risk of all-cause 30 day readmission among patients receiving either rivaroxaban or warfarin, or no anticoagulation following THA/TKA discharge. Simulations were performed to estimate the impact of post-discharge treatment on the HRRP penalty.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The risk-adjusted all-cause 30 day readmission rates were 1.21% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.94%–1.49%), 1.41% (95% CI: 1.19%–1.58%) and 1.95% (95% CI: 1.81%–2.11%) for rivaroxaban, warfarin and non-anticoagulant cohorts, respectively. Using these rates, simulations illustrated that when switching patients from warfarin or non-anticoagulant to rivaroxaban, annual penalty per hospital would be reduced up to 67% or 88%, respectively.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Rivaroxaban treatment post-THA/TKA discharge reduced the risk of 30 day readmission compared to non-anticoagulants. Simulations illustrated that increasing rivaroxaban use could decrease the HRRP penalty.</p