The burden of family caregiving in the United States: work productivity, health care resource utilization, and mental health among employed adults.

BACKGROUND: Family caregiving is an increasingly important component of care for patients and the elderly. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to characterize the burden of family caregiving among employed adults. METHODS: Employed adults (≥18 years) from the 2013 US National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) were classified as family caregivers if they reported currently caring for at least one adult relative. Chi-square tests and one-way analyses of variance assessed whether employed caregivers, weighted to the US population, differed from employed non-caregivers on behavioral characteristics, workplace productivity, and health care resource utilization. RESULTS: Eight million workers were family caregivers in the United States, more often female than male (51% vs. 49%, P < 0.05), and 53% were between 40 and 64 years of age. Eighteen percent of caregivers were Hispanic compared with 15% of non-caregivers (P < 0.05). Similar behavioral characteristics between caregivers and non-caregivers included daily alcohol consumption (6% vs. 5%) and lack of vigorous exercise (25% vs. 29%), but caregivers had a higher prevalence of smoking (26% vs. 19%, P < 0.05). Caregivers reported a higher mean percentage of work time missed (8% vs. 4%, P < 0.05) and greater productivity impairment (24% vs. 14%, P < 0.05). Some form of depression was reported by 53% of caregivers compared with 32% of non-caregivers (P < 0.05), and more caregivers had self-reported insomnia than non-caregivers (46% vs. 37%, P < 0.05). The number of self-reported diagnosed comorbidities was higher among caregivers compared with that of non-caregivers (5.0 vs. 3.1, P < 0.05), as was the mean number of outpatient visits in the previous 6 months (4.1 vs. 2.7, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Family caregiving is associated with a multidimensional burden that impacts caregivers and has implications for employers and the health care system. Clinicians and employers need to recognize and understand this burden. Characterization of caregivers as reported in this study can inform development of targeted programs to help mitigate the burden.

The burden of selected cancers in the US: health behaviors and health care resource utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the disease burden among survivors of those cancers having the highest incidence in the US. METHODS: Adult (≥18 years) survivors of the 11 most frequently diagnosed cancers were identified from publically available data sources, including the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results 9 1973-2012, National Health Interview Survey 2013, and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2011. Chi-square tests and one-way analyses of variance were utilized to assess differences between cancer survivors and non-cancer controls in behavioral characteristics, symptoms and functions, preventative screenings, and health care costs. RESULTS: Hematologic malignancies, melanoma, and breast, prostate, lung, colon/rectal, bladder, kidney/renal, uterine, thyroid, and pancreatic cancers had the highest incidence rates. Breast cancer had the highest incidence among women (156.4 per 100,000) and prostate cancer among men (167.2 per 100,000). The presence of pain (P=0.0003), fatigue (P=0.0005), and sadness (P=0.0012) was consistently higher in cancer survivors 40-64 years old vs. non-cancer controls. Cancer survivors ≥65 years old had higher rates of any functional limitations (P=0.0039) and reported a lack of exercise (P<0.0001) compared with the non-cancer controls. However, obesity rates were similar between cancer survivors and non-cancer controls. Among cancer survivors, an estimated 13.5 million spent $169.4 billion a year on treatment, with the highest direct expenditures for breast cancer ($39 billion), prostate cancer ($37 billion), and hematologic malignancies ($25 billion). Prescription medications and office-based visits contributed equally as the cost drivers of direct medical spending for breast cancer, while inpatient hospitalization was the driver for prostate (52.8%) and lung (38.6%) cancers. CONCLUSION: Understanding the resource utilization implications, health, and well-being of cancer survivors can inform approaches to interventions for improving long-term care.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Serum Uric Acid Levels and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Gout: A Retrospective Analysis Using Electronic Medical Record Data.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between serum uric acid (SUA) and newly emergent acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD), composite cardiovascular (CV) events (AMI, CHF, CAD), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and renal disease in gout patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from Humedica identified adults (≥18 years) with 2 or more International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for gout 30 days or more apart (first diagnosis = index event) having 1 or more SUA assessment on or after the index date, and at least 6 months preindex and at least 12 months postindex enrollment. Outcomes were measured during 12 months postindex; patients with preindex events were excluded from analysis of those events. The SUA level (0.01-4.00 mg/dL, 4.01-6.00 mg/dL, 6.01-8.00 mg/dL, and ≥8.01 mg/dL) was determined using the closest laboratory assessment before or on the date of the CV event. Tukey-Kramer comparisons were performed for pairs of SUA strata and Cox proportional model estimated hazard ratios. RESULTS: A significantly higher incidence of AMI, CHF, and renal disease was observed for patients with 8.01 mg/dL or greater relative to other SUA levels (P < 0.0001), and a significantly higher incidence of composite CV events (AMI, CHF, and CAD) was observed for hypouricemia (SUA, 0.01-4.00 mg/dL) compared with other SUA levels (P < 0.0001). Cox models confirmed the increased risk associated with SUA 8.01 mg/dL or greater; hazard ratios ranged from 1.16 for hypertension to 2.04 for renal disease. Hyperlipidemia and hypertension were diagnosed concurrently with gout in 24% and 28% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricemia and hypouricemia were associated with an increased risk of CV events.

Tolerability and adverse events in clinical trials of celecoxib in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis of information from company clinical trial reports.

The objective was to improve understanding of adverse events occurring with celecoxib in the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Data were extracted from company clinical trial reports of randomised trials of celecoxib in osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis lasting 2 weeks or more. Outcomes were discontinuations (all cause, lack of efficacy, adverse event, gastrointestinal adverse event), endoscopically detected ulcers, gastrointestinal or cardio-renal events, and major changes in haematological parameters. The main comparisons were celecoxib (all doses) versus placebo, paracetamol (acetaminophen) 4,000 mg daily, rofecoxib 25 mg daily, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and loxoprofen). For NSAIDs, celecoxib was compared both at all doses and at licensed doses (200 to 400 mg daily). Thirty-one trials included 39,605 randomised patients. Most patients had osteoarthritis and were women of average age 60 years or above. Most trials lasted 12 weeks or more. Doses of celecoxib were 50 to 800 mg/day. Compared with placebo, celecoxib had fewer discontinuations for any cause or for lack of efficacy, fewer serious adverse events, and less nausea. It had more patients with dyspepsia, diarrhoea, oedema, more adverse events that were gastrointestinal or treatment related, and more patients experiencing an adverse event. There were no differences for hypertension, gastrointestinal tolerability, or discontinuations for adverse events. Compared with paracetamol, celecoxib had fewer discontinuations for any cause, for lack of efficacy, or diarrhoea, but no other differences. Compared with rofecoxib, celecoxib had fewer patients with abdominal pain and oedema, but no other differences. Compared with NSAIDs, celecoxib had fewer symptomatic ulcers and bleeds, endoscopically detected ulcers, and discontinuations for adverse events or gastrointestinal adverse events. Fewer patients had any, or a gastrointestinal, or a treatment-related adverse event, or vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, or reduced haemoglobin or haematocrit. Discontinuations for lack of efficacy were higher. No differences were found for all-cause discontinuations, serious adverse events, hypertension, diarrhoea, nausea, oedema, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, or raised creatinine. Company clinical trial reports present much more information than published papers. Adverse event information is clearly presented in company clinical trial reports, which are an ideal source of information for systematic review and meta-analysis.