Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for April 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Flu Vaccines Have High Impact, Even With Relatively Low Efficacy
MONDAY, April 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Even relatively low-efficacy influenza vaccines can have a high impact, especially with optimal distribution across age groups, according to a study published online April 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Anesthesiologists Report Drug Shortages Impacting Patient Care
FRIDAY, April 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Almost all anesthesiologists report drug shortages, which have a negative impact on patient care, according to a report published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
Potentially Inappropriate Meds Use Prevalent in Cancer Patients
FRIDAY, April 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is relatively prevalent among patients with breast or colorectal cancer, though it is not associated with most adverse outcomes, according to a study published online April 24 in Cancer.
Certain Anticholinergic Drugs Appear to Raise Dementia Risk
FRIDAY, April 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of anticholinergic drugs may be tied to a future diagnosis of dementia, according to a study published online April 25 in The BMJ.
Low-Dose Hyaluronidase Can Remove Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Very low doses of hyaluronidase can remove hyaluronic acid filler nodules, but more rapid resolution is seen with slightly higher doses, according to a study published online April 25 in JAMA Dermatology.
Improvement in Race-Based Disparities in Years of Life Lost
THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 1990 to 2014 there was a decrease in race-based disparities in years of life lost (YLL) in the United States, according to a study published online April 25 in PLOS ONE.
Tenecteplase Appears Superior to Alteplase After Ischemic Stroke
THURSDAY, April 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with ischemic stroke, treatment with tenecteplase within 4.5 hours of symptom onset and before thrombectomy is associated with better outcomes than treatment with alteplase during the same timeframe, according to a study published in the April 26 issue the New England Journal of Medicine.
Saturday Is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
THURSDAY, April 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local agencies are holding the 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country this Saturday, April 28.
Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes No Higher With TDF-FTC-LPV/r
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For HIV-infected women and their infants, the risk of adverse birth outcomes is similar with tenofovir, emtricitabine, and ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (TDF-FTC-LPV/r) compared with zidovudine, lamivudine, and ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (ZDV-3TC-LPV/r) or TDF-FTC with ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r), according to a study published in the April 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
People With Opioid Use Disorder Have High Suicide Rate
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) seem to have a high rate of suicide, according to a perspective piece published in the April 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Medicare Requiring Hospitals to Post Prices Online
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. hospitals will have to post their standard prices online and make it easier for patients to access their electronic medical records, Medicare officials said Tuesday.
Lonafarnib May Lower Mortality in Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lonafarnib monotherapy is associated with lower mortality among patients with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
IBD Associated With Increased Incidence of Parkinson’s Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have increased incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is attenuated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy, according to a study published online April 23 in JAMA Neurology.
Disagreement Seen Over Barriers to Kids’ Daily Use of Asthma Meds
WEDNESDAY, April 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children, caregivers, and physicians report different barriers to daily use of asthma medications, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Asthma.
Five-Day Nitrofurantoin Beats Single-Dose Fosfomycin for UTI
TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Five-day nitrofurantoin is associated with increased likelihood of clinical and microbiological resolution compared with single-dose fosfomycin among women with lower urinary tract infection (UTI), according to a study published online April 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Serlopitant Found to Be Safe, Effective for Chronic Pruritus
TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Serlopitant has potential as a therapy for the treatment of chronic pruritus, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Guidelines Developed for Use of Drugs in Multiple Sclerosis
TUESDAY, April 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines have been developed for use of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS), integrating findings from a systematic review. The review and guidelines were published online April 23 in Neurology.
Systematic Review Summary
Practice Guideline Recommendations Summary
Controlling High Blood Pressure Could Prevent Dementia
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Controlling high blood pressure in older African-Americans may prevent future dementia, according to a study published recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Belimumab Aids Anti-dsDNA+, Hypocomplementemic Lupus
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Weekly belimumab is associated with greater benefit than placebo for patients with hypocomplementemic/anti-double stranded (ds)DNA-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a study published online April 18 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Too Few Adults Taking Epilepsy Meds Have Seizure Control
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Although most adults with epilepsy report taking epilepsy medication, less than half of those report having their seizures controlled, according to research published in the April 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Celecoxib Lowers Opioid Use Post Head & Neck Cancer Surgery
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery, perioperative use of celecoxib is associated with reduced use of opioids after surgery, according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Phone App Linked to Improved Psoriasis Treatment Adherence
MONDAY, April 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A smartphone app is associated with improved short-term adherence to a cutaneous foam treatment for psoriasis, according to a study published online April 14 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Medical Cannabis Not Recommended for Sleep Apnea
FRIDAY, April 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical cannabis and/or its synthetic extracts should not be used for treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement published in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
FDA Approves First Drug for Rare Form of Rickets
FRIDAY, April 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.’s Crysvita (burosumab-twza) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults and children ages 1 year and older with x-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH).
Opioids Tied to Adverse Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients
THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients on hemodialysis, opioids are associated with adverse outcomes, according to a study published online April 19 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
First Opioid Lawsuit Targeting Pharmacy Benefit Managers
THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A first opioid lawsuit is targeting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), according to a report published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
Adults Using Benzodiazepines More Likely to Receive Opioid Rx
THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New opioid prescriptions for U.S. adults using benzodiazepines stopped increasing in 2010, although the likelihood of receiving a prescription is still elevated versus the general population, according to a study published online April 12 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Triple Therapy Tied to Reduced Rate of COPD Exacerbations
WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), triple therapy is associated with a reduced rate of exacerbations, according to a study published online April 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Polypharmacy More Likely for Cancer Survivors
WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cancer survivors are more likely to be prescribed five or more unique medications, including drugs with abuse potential, according to a study published online April 12 in Cancer.
New Drug Combo Ups Survival in HER2/neu Uterine Serous Cancer
WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neu-positive uterine serous carcinoma, adding intravenous trastuzumab to treatment with carboplatin-paclitaxel is associated with increased progression-free survival, according to a study published online March 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Opiate Use Linked to Early Mortality in IBD Patients
WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Heavy use of opiates among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is tied to increased risk of premature all-cause death, according to a study published in the April issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Calcium Channel Blockers May Up Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Women
TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of short-acting calcium channel blockers (CCBs) is associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, held from April 14 to 18 in Chicago.
USPSTF: Exercise Interventions Prevent Falls in Seniors
TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes that exercise interventions may be beneficial for preventing falls in older adults; however, the evidence is insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of vitamin D, calcium, and combined supplementation. These findings form the basis of two recommendation statements published April 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Evidence Report – Falls
Final Recommendation Statement – Falls
Editorial – Falls
Evidence Report – Vitamin D
Final Recommendation Statement – Vitamin D
Editorial – Vitamin D
Opioid Packaging Often Lacks Info on Safe Storage, Disposal
TUESDAY, April 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Messages relating to safe storage and disposal of prescription opioids are inconsistent and are often not included on package insert information, according to a research letter published online April 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Women Less Likely to Fill Post-MI Statin Prescription
MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women are less likely than men to fill a prescription for high-intensity statins after hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Nonoptimized Drug Therapy Costs More Than $500 Billion Annually
MONDAY, April 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The estimated annual cost of drug-related morbidity and mortality resulting from nonoptimized medication therapy is more than half a trillion dollars in the United States, according to a study published online March 26 in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
FDA Cracks Down on Caffeine-Loaded Dietary Supplements
FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it has issued tough new restrictions on the sale of dietary supplements that contain dangerously high amounts of caffeine.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Cost-Effective in T1DM
FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with suboptimal control despite using multiple insulin injections, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) seems cost-effective, with improved glucose control, according to a study published online April 12 in Diabetes Care.
It Costs $2.2 Billion a Year to Treat Antibiotic Resistance
FRIDAY, April 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Costs associated with treating antibiotic-resistant infections have doubled since 2002, according to a report published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
Pharmacists Can Help With DM Management Via Telemedicine
THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacist use of telemedicine is a promising vehicle for improving patient management of diabetes, according to an article published in Drug Topics.
Endocrine Therapy-Induced Alopecia Seen in Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, April 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with breast cancer, endocrine therapy-induced alopecia (EIA) has a pattern that is similar to androgenetic alopecia, according to a study published online April 11 in JAMA Dermatology.
Declines Seen in Cardiovascular Risk Factors From 1990 to 2010
WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among adults aged 40 years and older, cardiovascular risk decreased in men from 1990 to 2010 and increased followed by a decrease in women over the same time period, according to a study published online March 22 in Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.
Chemo, Immunotherapy Feasible in Metastatic Bladder Cancer
WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) plus ipilimumab is associated with a 69 percent objective response rate and 61 percent one-year overall survival for patients with metastatic urothelial cancer, according to a study published in the May issue of European Urology.
Odds of Prescribing Drugs Up With Doc Receipt of Payments
WEDNESDAY, April 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians receiving general payments from pharmaceutical companies are more likely to prescribe their drugs, according to a research letter published online April 9 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Suggestions Offered to Reduce Physician Frustration With EHRs
TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Changes can be implemented to help reduce physician frustration with electronic health records (EHRs), according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Considerable Differences in Burden of Disease at State Level
TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are considerable differences in the burden of disease at the state level, according to a study published in the April 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
DPP-4I Not Tied to Increased Risk of Acute Pancreatitis in Seniors
TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4Is) are not associated with increased risk of acute pancreatitis, according to a study published online April 4 in Diabetes Care.
Group Exercise, Nutrition Aids Prostate Cancer Patients on ADT
TUESDAY, April 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Men on androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer may significantly benefit from a group exercise and nutrition program, according to a study published online March 5 in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Cannabis Compound Transfers to Breast Milk
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Low concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol are transferred from inhaled cannabis to breast milk of women who regularly consume cannabis, according to a study published online April 9 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Prenatal Exposure to SSRI Tied to Fetal Brain Development
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prenatal exposure to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is associated with fetal brain development, according to a study published online April 9 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Sirolimus May Be Beneficial in DIPNECH Syndrome
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sirolimus may be beneficial for patients with diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH), according to a research letter published online April 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Pharmacists Play Role in Cutting Hospital-Acquired Infections
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Pharmacists have been involved in the recent progress made toward reducing hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), according to an article published in Drug Topics.
Most Patients Are Unaware of Drug Cancer Shortages
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Most people in the United States are unaware of national cancer drug shortages, according to a study published online April 9 in Cancer.
Juvéderm Voluma XC Feasible for Correcting Infraorbital Hollows
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Juvéderm Voluma XC is feasible and seems safe for correcting infraorbital hollows, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
Polypharmacy Linked to Poorer Cognitive, Physical Capability
MONDAY, April 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Polypharmacy is associated with poorer cognitive and physical capability even after adjustment for disease burden, according to a study published online March 24 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Leukemia, and Its Treatment, May Pose Neurocognitive Risks
FRIDAY, April 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Underlying leukemia, even before chemotherapy, may pose a neurocognitive risk to young patients, according to a study published online March 29 in JAMA Oncology.
ACA Marketplaces Expand Coverage for Chronically Ill
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces covered a disproportionate share of non-elderly adults with high health care risks in the 2014 to 2015 time period, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
ADHD Frequently Co-Occurs With Autism Spectrum Disorder
THURSDAY, April 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Co-occurrence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and children with both conditions have a higher risk of anxiety and mood disorders, according to a study published in the April issue of Pediatrics.
Depressive Symptoms Tied to Diabetes Self-Management
WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Changes in depressive symptoms can predict improvement in self-efficacy and adherence to diabetes management, according to a study published online March 27 in Diabetes Care.
Marijuana Legalization May Reduce Opioid Use
WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — State implementation of medical marijuana laws is associated with a reduction in the rate of opioid prescribing, according to a study published online April 2 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Variations Identified in Free-Text Directions in E-Prescriptions
WEDNESDAY, April 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variation in the quality of free-text patient directions (Sig) in electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions), according to a study published online April 2 in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.
Older Adults Believe Marijuana Can Be Effective for Pain
TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Older adults believe marijuana to be effective for pain relief, and many support its use, according to the results of a National Poll on Healthy Aging, conducted for the University of Michigan.
CDC: Overdose Deaths Up Across Drug Categories in 2015 to 2016
TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2015 to 2016, there were increases in deaths across all drug categories examined, with 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016, according to research published in the March 30 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Genotype-Guided Antiplatelet Therapy Feasible, Effective
TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Using CYP2C19 genotype-guided dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) selection is feasible in a real-world setting, although frequency of testing may be difficult to maintain, according to a study published online April 3 in Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine.
Outcomes-Based Pricing Doesn’t Cut Costs of PCSK9 Inhibitors
TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Outcomes-based pricing does not reduce the costs of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, according to a research letter published online April 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Most Patients Select Suboptimal Medications for Allergic Rhinitis
TUESDAY, April 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The majority of pharmacy customers with rhinitis select suboptimal medications, according to a study published online March 29 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.
Zika Vaccine Could Essentially Eliminate Prenatal Infection
MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A Zika vaccine could substantially prevent future outbreaks through a combination of direct protection and indirect transmission reduction, according to a modeling study published online April 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Antibiotics, Acid-Suppressive Meds Tied to Allergic Disease
MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The use of acid-suppressive medications and antibiotics during the first six months of infancy is tied to subsequent development of allergic disease, according to a study published online April 2 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Pre-Op Chronic Opioid Use Ups Poor Outcomes Post Spinal Fusion
MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Preoperative chronic opioid use is associated with poor outcomes and continued dependence after posterior lumbar fusion, according to a study published online March 20 in Spine.
Recombinant Influenza Vaccine Found to Be Safe in Children
MONDAY, April 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4) is well tolerated in children aged 6 to 17 years, and it provides immunogenicity comparable to that of the inactivated vaccine, according to a study published online April 2 in Pediatrics.
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