Purpose The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older people is associated with increased risk of adverse drug events and hospitalization. This study aimed to determine the contribution of primary prescribers to variation in PIM use. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using 2008 Medicare Part D event files and claims data for a 100% sample of Texas beneficiaries. PIM use was defined as receiving any of 48 medications on the Beers 2003 list of PIMs. Patient characteristics associated with PIM use were determined using a multivariable model. A multilevel model for the odds of PIM use was constructed to evaluate the amount of variation in PIM use at the level of primary care prescriber, controlling for patient characteristics. Results Of 677,580 patients receiving prescriptions through Part D in 2008, 31.9% received a PIM. Sex, ethnicity, low-income subsidy eligibility, and hospitalization in 2007 were associated with PIM use. The strongest associations with higher PIM use were increasing number of prescribers and increasing number of medications. The odds ratio for PIM use was 1.50 (95% CI 1.47-1.53) for ≥4 prescribers versus only 1 prescriber. In the multilevel model, the adjusted average percent of patients prescribed a PIM ranged from 17.5% for the lowest decile to 28.9% for the highest decile of prescribers. Conclusions PIM use was prevalent in Part D beneficiaries and varied among individual primary care prescribers. The association of PIM use with increasing numbers of prescribers suggests the need to reduce fragmentation of care to reduce inappropriate prescribing.

Purpose Hospitalizations among patients with cancer are common and costly and, if unplanned, may interrupt oncologic treatment. The rate of unplanned hospitalizations in the population of elderly patients with cancer is unknown. We sought to describe and quantify patterns and risk factors for early unplanned hospitalization among elderly patients with GI cancer. Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked Texas Cancer Registry and Medicare claims data from 2001 to 2009. Texas residents age 66 years or older initially diagnosed with GI cancer between 2001 and 2007 were included in the study. The unplanned hospitalization rate was estimated, and reasons for unplanned hospitalization were evaluated. Risk factors were identified using adjusted Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results Thirty thousand one hundred ninety-nine patients were included in our study, 59% of whom had one or more unplanned hospitalizations. Of 60,837 inpatient claims, 58% were unplanned. The rate of unplanned hospitalization was 93 events per 100 person-years. The most common reasons for unplanned hospitalization were fluid and electrolyte disorders, intestinal obstruction, and pneumonia. Multivariable analysis showed that black race; residing in census tracts with poverty levels greater than 13.3%; esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer; advanced disease stage; high Charlson comorbidity index score; and dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid increased the risk for unplanned hospitalization (all P values < .05). Conclusion Unplanned hospitalizations among elderly patients with GI cancer are common. Some of the top reasons for unplanned hospitalization are potentially preventable, suggesting that comorbidity management and close coordination among involved health care providers should be promoted.

Objective To assess the reliability and clinically meaningful thresholds of intermittent and constant osteoarthritis pain (ICOAP) score, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical function Short-form (KOOS-PS), the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical function Short-form (HOOS-PS), and the Quality of life subscales of HOOS/KOOS (HOOS-QOL/KOOS-QOL) in patients with knee or hip arthritis. Methods 195 patients (141 knee, 54 hip) seen at two orthopedic outpatient clinics with a diagnosis of knee or hip osteoarthritis completed patient-reported questionnaires (ICOAP pain scale, KOOS-PS, HOOS-PS, KOOS-QOL, HOOS-QOL) at baseline and 2-week follow-up. Reliability was assessed using Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). We calculated minimally clinically important difference (MCID) and moderate improvement in the subgroup that reported change in their status of their affected joint. Results The reliability as assessed by ICCs was as follows: ICOAP pain scale, 0.63 (0.48, 0.74) in patients with knee arthritis, and 0.86 (0.73, 0.93) for hip arthritis; KOOS-PS, 0.66 (0.52, 0.77); HOOS-PS, 0.82 (0.66, 0.91); KOOS-QOL, 0.79 (0.69, 0.86); HOOS-QOL, 0.67 (0.42, 0.83). MCID and moderate improvement estimates in patients with knee arthritis were: ICOAP pain scale, 18.5 and 26.7; KOOS-PS, 2.2 and 15.0; and KOOS-QOL, 8.0 and 15.6. A smaller sample in hip arthritis patients precluded MCID and moderate improvement estimates. Conclusions We found that ICOAP pain, and KOOS-PS/HOOS-PS scales were reasonably reliable in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Reliability of these scales was much lower in knee arthritis patients. Thresholds for clinically meaningful change in pain or function on these scales were estimated for patients with knee arthritis.

BACKGROUND Nonadherence to antihypertensive medication is common and leads to adverse health outcomes. The Medicare Part D prescription drug program has decreased cost and increased access to medications, thus potentially improving medication adherence. OBJECTIVES To determine the level of adherence and characteristics of Part D beneficiaries associated with higher levels of antihypertensive medication adherence. DESIGN Retrospective analysis using Medicare claims and Part D event files for 2007. PARTICIPANTS Medicare Part D enrollees with prevalent uncomplicated hypertension who filled at least one antihypertensive prescription in 2006 and two prescriptions in 2007. MEASUREMENTS Medication adherence was defined by an average Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) of 80% or greater. Potential factors associated with adherence evaluated included age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, comorbidity, medication use, copay, being in the coverage gap, and number of unique prescribers. RESULTS Among 168,522 Medicare Part D enrollees with prevalent uncomplicated hypertension receiving antihypertensive medicines in 2007, overall adherence was 79.5%. In univariate analysis, adherence varied significantly by most patient factors. In multivariable analysis, decreased odds of adherence persisted for blacks (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.51–0.55), Hispanics (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.55–0.61) and other non-white races (OR 0.80 95% CI 0.75–0.85) compared to whites. Increased comorbidity and concurrent medication use were also associated with reduced adherence. Adherence was significantly different across several geographic regions. CONCLUSION We identified a number of associations with patient factors and medication adherence to antihypertensive drugs, with significant differences in adherence by ethnicity. Improving adherence could have significant public health implications and could improve outcomes specific to hypertension as well as improved cost and healthcare utilization.

Background Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is characterized by low‐grade tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. There is also an increased risk of developing malignant tumors. Glioblastoma is an uncommon, malignant tumor of children that is even less frequently observed in children with NF1. Procedure We performed a retrospective review of patients with NF1 and glioblastoma to determine specific clinical and pathologic indicators of overall prognosis. Results Five patients were identified from the CHB/DFCI database for whom pathologic and imaging studies were available. All pathologic specimens demonstrated vascular proliferation and necrosis. All samples stained positively for p53. Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) copy numbers was increased, PTEN copy numbers were normal and the promoter of the O(6)‐methylguanine‐DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene was unmethylated in the one patient evaluated. In the same time period, there were 56 patients without NF1 diagnosed with glioblastoma who were treated at our institution. Although the small sample size precludes formal statistical analysis, the 2‐year survival of patients with NF1 is 60% with median overall survival of 9.25 years compared to non‐NF1 patients with a 2‐year survival of 25% and median overall survival 1.08 years. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence that children with NF1 may be at risk for glioblastoma, but that these patients have an increased survival compared to children without NF1. Additional molecular studies will be required to determine if the pathogenesis of these tumors differs from glioblastoma in children without NF1. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:890–896 © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.