Patients CYP DNA tested and treated according to the personalized prescribing system had a significant decrease in hospitalizations and emergency department visits, resulting in potential cost savings. Providers had a high satisfaction rate with the clinical utility of the system and followed recommendations when appropriate.

BackgroundTo estimate the potential cost savings by following the current Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline recommendations in patients being treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with the combination of long-acting β2-agonist (LABA), long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) or inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).MethodsThe Geisinger Health System (GHS) database was utilized to identify subjects between January 1, 2004 to March 12, 2007. The index date was based on the first prescription of a LAMA plus LABA, LAMA plus LABA/ICS, or LABA plus ICS. Patients were included in the study if they: had a COPD diagnosis; had data representative of treatment 12 months prior to and 12 months post index date; were 40 years of age or over; had no prior diagnosis for asthma; and had pulmonary function test (PFT) data. We examined the baseline characteristics of these patients along with their healthcare resource utilization. Based on PFT data within 30 days of the index date, a subgroup was classified as adhering or non-adhering to GOLD guidelines.ResultsA total of 364 subjects could be classified as adhering or non-adherent to current GOLD guidelines based on their PFT results. The adherent subgroup received COPD medications consistent with current GOLD guidelines. Of the LAMA plus LABA cohort, 25 patients adhered and 39 patients were non-adherent to current GOLD guidelines. In the cohort of LABA plus ICS, 74 patients were adherent and 180 patients non-adherent to current GOLD guidelines. In the cohort of LAMA plus LABA/ICS, 21 patients were adherent and 25 patients non-adherent to current GOLD guidelines. GOLD adherence was associated with mean total cost of all services savings of $5,889 for LAMA plus LABA, $3,330 for LABA + ICS, and $10,217 for LAMA plus LABA/ICS cohorts.ConclusionStaging of COPD with a PFT and adherence to current GOLD guidelines was associated with lower costs in subjects with moderate to severe COPD. Appropriate use of LAMA plus LABA, LABA plus ICS, and LAMA plus LABA/ICS has economic as well as clinical benefits for patients and payers.

BACKGROUND: Managed care organizations put great effort into managing the population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) because of the health and economic burden of this disease. In patients with T2DM, weight loss and glycemic control are primary treatment aims to help improve patient outcomes, but these goals are not easily achieved. While achieving these aims requires a multifaceted approach of drug therapy management and lifestyle modification, truly understanding the role of medication adherence in achieving these outcomes is important for both patient and population management. This study expands on existing evidence that weight loss is associated with improved glycemic control by examining the role of medication adherence in achieving these goals in a managed care setting. This study is unique in that these associations are evaluated using multiple sources of data, including medical records for treatment outcomes, pharmacy claims, and patient-reported data to assess medication adherence. These data sources represent those typically available to payers or providers.OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationships between medication and adherence, weight change, and glycemic control in patients with T2DM.METHODS: This historical cohort study included adult patients with T2DM in a large integrated health system and was based on electronic health record and pharmacy claims data from November 1, 2010, through October 31, 2011, as well as data from a self-reported adherence survey conducted in March 2012. Included patients received a diabetes medication from a therapeutic class not previously received, between November 1, 2010, and April 30, 2011 (index date), who had blood glucose (HbA1c) and weight values at index date and 6 months follow-up, participated in an adherence survey, and had ≥ 1 prescription claim for the index-date drug. Associations between the dual outcomes of weight loss (≥ 3%) and HbA1c control (< 7.0%), while controlling for medication adherence and other demographic, treatment, and clinical variables, were evaluated using structural equation models (SEM). Separate models adjusted for different measures of medication adherence-self-reported using the 5-item Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS-5) and a modified medication possession ratio (mMPR) from pharmacy claims data. RESULTS:The study included 166 patients with a mean age of 61.1 (standard deviation = 12.1) years; 56.0% were female. Medication adherence was high, with 72.2% adherent using MARS-5 and 77.1% using mMPR measures. The SEMs found that only self-reported medication adherence is associated with weight loss (MARS-5: OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.11-2.60), while both self-reported and claims-based medication adherence were associated with HbA1c < 7.0% (MARS-5: OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.09-2.34; mMPR: OR 2.71, 95% CI = 1.22-5.98). Further, weight loss is significantly associated with HbA1c < 7.0% (MARS-5: OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 2.39-5.46; mMPR: OR 2.99, 95% CI = 1.45-6.17).CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided additional evidence ...

• Warfarin is the primary oral anticoagulant currently recommended for the prevention of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Published evidence suggests that warfarin reduces the risk of stroke by approximately 64%.• The narrow therapeutic window of warfarin may result in insufficient anticoagulation, which may lead to stroke or over anticoagulation, which can increase the risk of bleeding. The incidence of major bleeding in AF patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin has been reported as 1.1%.• Kim et al. (2010) Assessing the cost of warfarin-associated bleeding may more fully describe the costs associated with warfarin use.

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