Longitudinal trends in community antibiotic consumption in the Waitaha Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand over 10 years (2012-2021): an observational study.

AIMS: To investigate community antibiotic consumption in the Waitaha Canterbury Region of Aotearoa New Zealand across 2012-2021. METHODS: This observational study was based on antibiotic dispensing data from Waitaha Canterbury. Outcome measures included number of dispensings/1,000 inhabitants per year and defined daily doses/1,000 inhabitants per day (DIDs), expressed as average annual change (AAC). We stratified antibiotic dispensing per antibiotic group, and per the World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRE (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification. RESULTS: Across 2012-2021, antibiotic dispensing decreased from 867 to 601 dispensings/1,000 inhabitants (AAC -4.2% [95%CI -4.3 to -4.2]). In the pre-COVID period of 2012 to 2019, antibiotic dispensings decreased with AAC of -3.5% (95%CI -3.6 to -3.5). Considering number of dispensings, the largest reductions were observed in quinolones (-14.6%), macrolides/lincosamides (-8.5%) and penicillins with extended spectrum (-4.8%). The number of dispensings increased for nitrofurans (6.0%) and first generation cephalosporins (28.1%), of which 98% comprised cefalexin dispensing. The proportion of Watch antibiotics decreased from 22.0% to 11.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Community antibiotic consumption decreased in Waitaha Canterbury Aotearoa New Zealand from 2012 to 2021, as did use of Watch antibiotics. These changes concord with increasing antimicrobial stewardship guidance for more judicious use of antibiotics. Further research should investigate the factors driving the observed 10-fold rise in cefalexin dispensing.

Lipid monitoring in a community cohort of people taking statins: who is tested and is testing associated with subsequent alteration in therapy?

AIM: To describe patterns of community lipid testing and subsequent therapeutic alteration in a cohort of patients taking statins. METHOD: We conducted a population-based cohort study. Our cohort comprised all people enrolled with a general practice in the Pegasus Health primary care network in Canterbury, New Zealand between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2017 who were dispensed a statin between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2016. We defined two six-month study periods: a baseline period (1 January to 30 June 2016) and a follow-up period (1 July to 31 December 2017). We identified statin dispensings for all people in our cohort in both study periods, and identified instances of lipid testing in the 12 months following each person's most recent baseline period dispensing. We examined the effect of gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation on the likelihood of lipid testing; and compared frequency of alteration of statin dose or type among tested and non-tested people. RESULTS: Data were available for analysis for 32,943 individuals who were dispensed a statin in the baseline period. Lipid testing was performed in 16,199 (49.2%) of individuals. Women were less likely to have been tested than men (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.83-0.91). Compared to those with European ethnicity, testing was more likely for Maori (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.07-1.34), Pacific (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.03-1.44) and Asian (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.25-1.59) individuals. Socioeconomic deprivation was associated with reduced testing (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.74-0.87). Dose or type of statin dispensed was altered between baseline and follow-up study periods in 3,762 (23.2%) of those who were tested, and in 3,122 (18.6%) of those who were not tested (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.25-1.39). CONCLUSION: Almost half (49.1%) of patients had a lipid test within 12 months of baseline period statin dispensing. Lipid testing was more likely for Maori, Pacific and Asian patients than for European patients. Testing was less likely for women and for those with greater socioeconomic deprivation. Subsequent statin therapy alteration was slightly more likely for those who had been tested than for those who had not.

Comparative risk of new-onset diabetes following commencement of antipsychotics in New Zealand: a population-based clustered multiple baseline time series design.

OBJECTIVE: Newer antipsychotics are increasingly prescribed off-label for non-psychotic ailments both in primary and secondary care settings, despite the purported risk of weight gain and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aims to determine any relationship between the development of clinically significant new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus and novel antipsychotic use in New Zealand using hypnotic drugs as control. DESIGN: A population-based clustered multiple baseline time series design. SETTING: Routinely collected data from a complete national pharmaceutical database in New Zealand between 2005 and 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 40-60 years in the year 2006 who were ever dispensed antipsychotics (exposure groups-first-generation antipsychotics, second-generation antipsychotics and antipsychotics with low, medium and high risk for weight gain) or hypnotics (control group) between 2006 and 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: First ever metformin dispensed to patients in each study group between 2006 and 2011 as proxy for development of clinically significant type 2 diabetes mellitus, no longer amendable by lifestyle modifications. RESULTS: Patients dispensed a second-generation antipsychotic had 1.49 times increased risk (95% CI 1.10 to 2.03, p=0.011) of subsequently commencing metformin. Patients dispensed an antipsychotic with high risk of weight gain also had a 2.41 times increased risk of commencing on metformin (95% CI 1.42 to 4.09, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients dispensed a second-generation antipsychotic and antipsychotics with high risk of weight gain appear to be at increased risk of being secondarily dispensed metformin. Caution should be taken with novel antipsychotic use for patients with increased baseline risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Improving the evidence-base for access to primary health care in Canterbury: a panel study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite many reforms and initiatives, inequities in access to primary health care remain. However, the concept of 'access' and its measurement is complex. This paper aims to provide estimates of general practice visit frequencies for 'attenders' (those who seek consultation) and the proportion of 'non-attenders' (those who never seek consultation) of primary health care services. METHODS: A panel study of people enrolled within a large primary health care organisation of affiliated general practices. Standard and zero-inflated regression models were assessed. RESULTS: 980,918 visits were made by 388,424 people, averaging 2.64 visits/person/year. The zero-inflated negative binomial model was superior, and significant age, gender and ethnic differences were observed in attender and non-attender profiles. More Asian (21.0%), Pacific (19.6%) and Maori (17.1%) people were non-attenders than European/Other (9.0%) people. Among attenders, males, Asian and Pacific people, and young to middle-aged adults, generally had relatively lower visit rates. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretation of utilisation data must be made with caution because of two distinct characteristics: the differential rates of non-attenders and the highly dispersed distribution of attenders. IMPLICATIONS: Improved understanding of differential non-attender rates and attender visit distributions by demographic factors needs to be considered when addressing improved access to general practice services.

The comparative risk of new-onset diabetes after prescription of drugs for cardiovascular risk prevention in primary care: a national cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies suggest that statins increase the risk of subsequent diabetes with a clear dose response effect. However, patients prescribed statins have a higher background risk of diabetes. This national cohort study aims to provide an estimate of the comparative risks for subsequent development of new-onset diabetes in adults prescribed statins and in those with an already higher background risk on cardiovascular risk-modifying drugs and a control drug. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Use of routinely collected data from a complete national primary care electronic prescription database in New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: 32 086 patients aged between 40 and 60 years in 2005 were eligible and assigned to four non-overlapping groups receiving their first prescription for: (1) diclofenac (healthy population) n=7140; (2) antihypertensives thought likely to induce diabetes (thiazides and ß-blockers) n=5769; (3) antihypertensives thought less likely to induce diabetes (ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, calcium channel blocker) n=6565 and (4) statins n=12 612. OUTCOME: Numbers of first metformin prescriptions were compared between these groups from 2006 to 2011. RESULTS: Patients prescribed statins have the highest risk of receiving a subsequent metformin prescription (HR 3.31; 95% CI 2.56 to 4.30; p<0.01), followed by patients prescribed antihypertensives thought less likely to induce diabetes (HR 2.32; 95% CI 1.74 to 3.09; p<0.01) and patients prescribed antihypertensives thought more likely to induce diabetes (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.15 to 2.20; p<0.01) in the subsequent 6 years of follow-up, when compared to diclofenac. CONCLUSIONS: These findings further support the link between statin use and new-onset diabetes and suggest that the understanding of diabetes risk associated with different antihypertensive drug classes may bear practice modification. This provides important information for future research, and for prescribers and patients when considering the risks and benefits of different types of cardiovascular risk-modifying drugs.

Is it time to talk? Interpreter services use in general practice within Canterbury.

INTRODUCTION: Effective communication is fundamental to successful health care service delivery, and has a positive impact on access, quality of care, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Although there are a growing number of New Zealanders who do not speak English proficiently, underutilisation of trained interpreter services appears to be common in primary health care settings. AIMS: To describe the pattern of interpreter service need and utilisation by general practice services, and to identify key barriers and enabling factors to the use of trained interpreters. METHODS: A mixed methods study was employed. Census and Partnership Health Canterbury Te Kei o Te Waka (PHC) databases were combined, and quantitative analysis used to derive interpreter service need and utilisation patterns. Transcripts of focus groups and interviews from general practitioners, practice nurses and practice administration staff within the PHC were analysed, using qualitative methods to identify barriers and enablers to interpreter service use. RESULTS: For the years 2008-2010, approximately 10 742 consultations per year involved a non-Englishspeaking patient, yet in only approximately 74.8 (0.7%) consultations per year were interpreter services utilised. Analysis of focus groups and interviews identified four global themes that represented barriers for interpreter service utilisation; namely, practicalities, expectations, knowledge of service, and systems. DISCUSSION: The current use of interpreter services in PHC general practice appears to be significantly less than the need. In order to maximise health outcomes and reduce risk, strategies must be initiated to counter the barriers currently inhibiting interpreter service use, including adopting best practice policies.