Assessing the Continuation of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists When Weight and HBA1C Are Not Reduced.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1) reportedly lower HbA1c and promote weight reduction and improve cardiovascular outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the use of GLP-1 agents in patients and changes in HbA1c, weight loss, blood pressure, and lipoid profiles. Methods: Patient information was extracted from a regional Veteran Affairs data mart. Patients were included if they had prescriptions for at least 90 days of a GLP-1 between April 1, 2005, and December 1, 2016, and HbA1Cs and weights at both baseline and within first 15 months of therapy. Blood pressure and lipids were also measured. Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: Three hundred twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Average HbA1c decreased by 0.81% and weight by 4.4 kg. At 1 year, 160 patients had both weight and HbA1c measured, and of those, 92 (58%) patients had HbA1c reduction of at least 0.5% and 94 (59%) patients had <-2 kg change in weight. Fifty-seven (36%) patients met both of those outcomes. Veterans who met both weight and HbA1c outcomes were slightly, but significantly, older than those who did not meet both. No correlation was found between weight and HbA1c change at each quarter (P > 0.05); however, weight change was correlated with systolic blood pressure change (P = 0.03). Multiple regression for meeting weight and HbA1c target outcomes, and changes at quarters 1-3, all correlated to success at 1 year (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Weight change was independent of HbA1c changes in patients receiving GLP-1s for diabetes control. Weight loss was associated with decreases in systolic BP.

Determinants of Treatment Eligibility in Veterans With Hepatitis C Viral Infection.

PURPOSES: The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of veterans with active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who were deemed to be candidates for treatment and to identify factors associated with treatment ineligibility. METHODS: This was a multisite, retrospective cohort analysis of veterans with HCV infection within the Veteran Integrated Service Network 21. Patients evaluated between August and November 2015 who were viremic and not receiving HCV treatment were included in the analysis. Reasons for treatment exclusion were determined by an experienced clinician and recorded into a regional population management dashboard. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population. The t test for normally distributed data, the Mann-Whitney rank sum test for data that failed normality testing, or the χ2 test were used to examine differences between the treatment eligible and ineligible cohorts. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were conducted to estimate patient outcomes relevant to various disease states and characteristics while controlling for interfacility variability. FINDINGS: The cohort included 1,003 veterans within 5 medical centers; 988 (98.5%) were male, and 625 (62%) had a fibrosis 4 score >3.25, indicating the presence of ALD. According to clinician classification, 478 (48%) were considered HCV treatment candidates, whereas 525 (52%) were determined to be treatment ineligible. The most common reasons documented by clinicians for treatment ineligibility included unstable or uncontrolled comorbidities (n = 118 [22.4%]), excessive alcohol use (n = 116 [22.1%]), and treatment refusal by the patient (n = 69 [13%]). On the basis of statistical modeling and reporting odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs, diagnoses of active alcohol use disorder (OR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.47-0.98; P = 0.038), hepatocellular carcinoma (OR = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.13-0.47; P < 0.001), and palliative care status (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.99; P = 0.049) were statistically associated with treatment ineligibility, whereas posttraumatic stress disorder (OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.01-2.18; P = 0.046) was associated with treatment eligibility. There were no statistically significant differences found for other psychiatric diagnoses or an encounter for homelessness. IMPLICATIONS: Results of this study indicate that a high percentage of patients may not be considered treatment eligible at initial clinical review. Within this veteran population, the presence of uncontrolled comorbidities and excessive alcohol use were the most commonly reported reasons for treatment ineligibility. On the basis of this analysis, processes could be established to address modifiable barriers to treatment, thus expanding the number of individuals receiving potentially curative therapy for HCV infection.

Conversion from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing for pain: Economic and clinical outcomes in a veteran population.

PURPOSE: Results of a study analyzing economic and clinical outcomes one year after conversion from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing for pain are presented. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted at two Veterans Affairs facilities. The analyzed population included all patients receiving pregabalin for pain whose dosing was converted from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing during a one-year period. The primary endpoint was the economic impact of the conversion. Secondary endpoints included reversion to thrice-daily pregabalin dosing, pregabalin discontinuation, addition of medications for pain, and unscheduled neuropathy-related visits. RESULTS: Among the 57 patients included in the data analysis, 41 continued to take pregabalin twice daily, 10 had pregabalin discontinued, and 6 had dosing reverted to thrice daily. The mean age of patients and the distribution of add-on pain medications did not differ significantly between patients whose pregabalin dosing frequency remained at twice daily and patients whose frequency reverted to thrice daily. The costs associated with pregabalin therapy differed significantly between the preconversion and postconversion periods. A savings of $115,867 was realized from this conversion for both facilities combined over the course of one year. CONCLUSION: In patients receiving pregabalin for pain, conversion from thrice- to twice-daily pregabalin dosing-while maintaining the same daily dose-resulted in substantial cost savings while having little effect on clinical outcomes.