RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Veterans are disproportionately impacted by weight-related morbidity: 40% of veterans are categorized as obese and an additional 38.5% are overweight. Medications are recommended as an adjunct to lifestyle and dietary changes. Guidelines recommend 7 weight management medications, including orlistat, liraglutide, phentermine, phentermine/topiramate, lorcaserin, and naltrexone/bupropion. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who started weight management medications at Veteran Health Indiana in Indianapolis. The primary outcomes included total weight loss and weight loss as a percentage of baseline weight at 3, 6, 12, and > 12 months of therapy. Secondary outcomes included weight loss of 5% from baseline, rate of successful weight maintenance after initial weight loss of 5% from baseline, adverse drug reaction monitoring, and use of weight management medications across clinics at this site. RESULTS: The absolute weight difference over 12 months of weight management medication therapy was 15.8 kg. At each time point, weight loss was found to be statistically significant when compared with baseline (P < .001). Average weight change was greatest with orlistat (-25.9 kg) and naltrexone/bupropion was associated with a gain of 2.1 kg over the duration of the study. A majority of the patients analyzed lost the guideline-recommended 5 to 10% from baseline while taking weight management medication. CONCLUSIONS: Weight management medications in a veteran population produced initial weight loss consistent with previous studies. However, there is room for improvement in follow-up strategies to promote greater weight maintenance after initial weight loss. Considering the high health care costs, personal burden, and potential long-term complications associated with obesity, efforts to promote continued development of programs that support weight management and maintenance are imperative.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Previous studies of heart failure patients demonstrated an association between cardiovascular medication adherence and hospitalizations or a composite end point of hospitalization and death. Few studies have assessed the impact of treatment adherence within large general medical populations that distinguish the health outcomes of emergency department visits, hospitalization, and death. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of incremental cardiovascular medication adherence on emergency department visits, hospitalization, and death in adult heart failure patients in Indiana. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study conducted using electronic health record data from the statewide Indiana Network for Patient Care between 2004 and 2009. METHODS: Patients were at least 18 years of age with a diagnosis of heart failure and prescribed at least one cardiovascular medication for heart failure. Adherence was measured as the proportion of days covered (PDC) using pharmacy transaction data. Clinical end points included emergency department visits, hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, and mortality. Generalized linear models were used to determine the effect of a 10% increase in PDC on clinical end points adjusting for age, sex, race, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and medications. RESULTS: Electronic health records were available for 55,312 patients (mean age ± standard deviation 68 ± 16 yrs; 54% women; 65% white). Mean PDC for all heart failure medications was 63% ± 23%. For every 10% increase in PDC, emergency department visits decreased 11% (rate ratio [RR] 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.89), hospital admissions decreased 6% (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.94-0.94), total length of hospital stay decreased 1% (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.00), and all-cause mortality decreased 9% (odds ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.90-0.92). CONCLUSION: Incremental medication adherence was associated with reductions in emergency department visits, hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, and all-cause mortality.
