| 1. |
- Wolf, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Identifying factors explaining practice variation in secondary stroke prevention in primary care : a cohort study based on all patients with ischaemic stroke in the Stockholm region
- 2022
-
Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 12:11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the practice variation in dispensation of secondary stroke preventive drugs among patients at different primary care centres (PCCs) in Stockholm region and to identify factors that may explain the variation.DESIGN: Cohort study using administrative data from the Stockholm region.SETTING: Stockholm Health Care Region, Sweden, serving a population of 2.3 million inhabitants, hospital and PCC data.PARTICIPANTS: All patients (n=9761) with ischaemic stroke treated in hospital from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2014 were included. Of these, 7562 patients registered with 187 PCCs were analysed. Exclusion criteria were; deceased patients, age <18, haemorrhagic stroke and/or switching PCC.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: As primary outcome the impact of PCC organisation variables and patient characteristics on the dispensation of statins, antiplatelets, antihypertensives and anticoagulants were analysed. Secondarily, the unadjusted practice variation of preventive drug dispensation of 187 PCCs is described.RESULTS: There was up to fourfold practice variation in dispensation of all secondary preventive drugs. Factors associated with a lower level of dispensed statins were privately run PCCs (OR 0.91 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.00)) and the patient being woman. Increased statin use was associated with a higher number of specialists in family medicine (OR 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.05)) and a higher proportion of patients registered with a specific physician (OR 1.37 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.68)). Women had on average a lower number of dispensed antihypertensives.CONCLUSIONS: A high practice variation for dispensation of all secondary preventive drugs was observed. Patient and PCC level factors indicating good continuity of care and high level of general practitioner education were associated with higher use of statins. Findings are of importance to policymakers as well as individual providers of care, and more research and actions are needed to minimise inequality in healthcare.
|
|
| 2. |
- Andersson, Tobias, 1976, et al.
(författare)
-
The impact of diabetes, education and income on mortality and cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients: A cohort study from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD).
- 2020
-
Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 15:8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study we aimed to estimate the effect of diabetes, educational level and income on the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events in primary care patients with hypertension.We followed 62,557 individuals with hypertension diagnosed 2001-2008, in the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database. Study outcomes were death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke, assessed using national registers until 2012. Cox regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios of outcomes according to diabetes status, educational level, and income.During follow-up, 13,231 individuals died, 9981 were diagnosed with diabetes, 4431 with myocardial infarction, and 4433 with ischemic stroke. Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for diabetes versus no diabetes: mortality 1.57 (1.50-1.65), myocardial infarction 1.24 (1.14-1.34), and ischemic stroke 1.17 (1.07-1.27). Hazard ratios for diabetes and ≤9 years of school versus no diabetes and >12 years of school: mortality 1.56 (1.41-1.73), myocardial infarction 1.36 (1.17-1.59), and ischemic stroke 1.27 (1.08-1.50). Hazard ratios for diabetes and income in the lowest fifth group versus no diabetes and income in the highest fifth group: mortality 3.82 (3.36-4.34), myocardial infarction 2.00 (1.66-2.42), and ischemic stroke 1.91 (1.58-2.31).Diabetes combined with low income was associated with substantial excess risk of mortality, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke among primary care patients with hypertension.
|
|
| 3. |
- Bager, Johan-Emil, et al.
(författare)
-
Blood pressure levels and risk of haemorrhagic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and oral anticoagulants: results from The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database of Skaraborg.
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of hypertension. - 1473-5598. ; 39:8, s. 1670-1677
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To assess the risk of haemorrhagic stroke at different baseline SBP levels in a primary care population with hypertension, atrial fibrillation and newly initiated oral anticoagulants (OACs).We identified 3972 patients with hypertension, atrial fibrillation and newly initiated OAC in The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database of Skaraborg. Patients were followed from 1 January 2006 until a first event of haemorrhagic stroke, death, cessation of OAC or 31 December 2016. We analysed the association between continuous SBP and haemorrhagic stroke with a multivariable Cox regression model and plotted the hazard ratio as a function of SBP with a restricted cubic spline with 130mmHg as reference.There were 40 cases of haemorrhagic stroke during follow-up. Baseline SBP in the 145-180mmHg range was associated with a more than doubled risk of haemorrhagic stroke, compared with a SBP of 130mmHg.In this cohort of primary care patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation, we found that baseline SBP in the 145-180mmHg range, prior to initiation of OAC, was associated with a more than doubled risk of haemorrhagic stroke, as compared with an SBP of 130mmHg. This suggests that lowering SBP to below 145mmHg, prior to initiation of OAC, may decrease the risk of haemorrhagic stroke in patients with hypertension and atrial fibrillation.
|
|
| 4. |
- Bokrantz, Tove, et al.
(författare)
-
Antihypertensive drug classes and the risk of hip fracture: results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of hypertension. - 1473-5598. ; 38:1, s. 167-175
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hypertension and fractures related to osteoporosis are major public health problems that often coexist. This study examined the associations between exposure to different antihypertensive drug classes and the risk of hip fracture in hypertensive patients.We included 59246 individuals, 50 years and older, diagnosed with hypertension during 2001-2008 in the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database. Patients were followed from 1 January 2006 (or the date of diagnosis of hypertension) until they had their first hip fracture, died, or reached the end of the study on 31 December 2012. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the risk of hip fracture across types of antihypertensive medications, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, medications, and socioeconomic factors.In total, 2593 hip fractures occurred. Compared to nonusers, current use of bendroflumethiazide or hydrochlorothiazide was associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.75-0.98 and hazard ratio 0.84; 95% CI 0.74-0.96, respectively), as was use of fixed drug combinations containing a thiazide (hazard ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.57-0.83). Current use of loop diuretics was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (hazard ratio 1.23; 95% CI 1.11-1.35). No significant associations were found between the risk of hip fracture and current exposure to beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone-receptor blockers or calcium channel blockers.In this large observational study of hypertensive patients, the risk of hip fracture differed across users of different antihypertensive drugs, results that could have practical implications when choosing antihypertensive drug therapy.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Dahlgren, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Recording a diagnosis of stroke, transient ischaemic attack or myocardial infarction in primary healthcare and the association with dispensation of secondary preventive medication : a registry-based prospective cohort study
- 2017
-
Ingår i: BMJ Open. - London, UK : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 7:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore whether recording in primary care of a previously recorded hospital diagnosis was associated with increased patient utilisation of recommended medications.DESIGN: Registry-based prospective cohort study.SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 19 072 patients with a hospital discharge diagnosis of transient ischaemic attack (TIA), stroke or acute coronary syndrome from hospitals in Stockholm County 2010-2013 were included in the study.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcome of the study was medication dispensation as a marker of adherence to recommended medications. Adherence was defined as having had at least two filled prescriptions in the third year following hospital discharge.RESULTS: Recording a diagnosis was associated with higher utilisation of all recommended medications with the exception of antihypertensives in patients with TIA. The differences between the groups with and without a recorded diagnosis remained after adjusting for age, sex, index year and visits to private practitioners. Dispensation of antithrombotics was high overall, 80%-90% in patients without a recorded diagnosis and 90%-94% for those with a diagnosis. Women with recorded ischaemic stroke/TIA/acute coronary syndrome were dispensed more statins (56%-71%) than those with no recorded diagnosis (46%-59%). Similarly, 68%-83% of men with a recorded diagnosis were dispensed statins (57%-77% in men with no recorded diagnosis). The rate of diagnosis recording spanned from 15% to 47% and was especially low in TIA (men 15%, women 16%).CONCLUSION: Recording a diagnosis of TIA/stroke or acute coronary syndrome in primary care was found to be associated with higher dispensation of recommended secondary preventive medications. Further study is necessary in order to determine the mechanisms underlying our results and to establish the utility of our findings.
|
|
| 7. |
- Flink, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
Person-centred care transitions for people with stroke : study protocol for a feasibility evaluation of codesigned care transition support.
- 2021
-
Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 11:12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Care transitions following stroke should be bridged with collaboration between hospital staff and home rehabilitation teams since well-coordinated transitions can reduce death and disability following a stroke. However, health services are delivered within organisational structures, rather than being based on patients' needs. The aim of this study protocol is to assess the feasibility, operationalised here as fidelity and acceptability, of a codesigned care transition support for people with stroke.METHODS: This study protocol describes the evaluation of a feasibility study using a non-randomised controlled design. The codesigned care transition support includes patient information using videos, leaflets and teach back; what-matters-to me dialogue; a coordinated rehabilitation plan; bridged e-meeting; and a message system for cross-organisational collaboration. Patients with stroke, first time or recurrent, who are to be discharged home from hospital and referred to a rehabilitation team in primary healthcare for continued rehabilitation in the home will be included. One week after stroke, data will be collected on the primary outcome, namely satisfaction with the care transition support, and on the secondary outcome, namely health literacy and medication adherence. Data on use of healthcare will be obtained from a register of healthcare contacts. The outcomes of patients and significant others will be compared with matched controls from other geriatric stroke and acute stroke units, and with matched historic controls from a previous dataset at the intervention and control units. Data on acceptability and fidelity will be assessed through interviews and observations at the intervention units.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approvals have been obtained from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. The results will be published open-access in peer-reviewed journals. Dissemination also includes presentation at national and international conferences.DISCUSSION: The care transition support addresses a poorly functioning part of care trajectories in current healthcare. The development of this codesigned care transition support has involved people with stroke, significant other, and healthcare professionals. Such involvement has the potential to better identify and reconceptualise problems, and incorporate user experiences.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov id: NCT02925871. Date of registration 6 October 2016.PROTOCOL VERSION: 1.
|
|
| 8. |
- Forslund, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
-
Risk scoring and thromboprophylactic treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation with and without access to primary healthcare data : experience from the Stockholm health care system
- 2013
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 34, s. 746-746
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Earlier validation studies of risk scoring by CHA2DS2VASc for assessments of appropriateness of warfarin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation have been performed solely with diagnoses recorded in hospital based care, even though many patients to a large extent are managed in primary care.METHODS: Cross-sectional registry study of all 43 353 patients with a diagnosis of non-valvular atrial fibrillation recorded in inpatient care, specialist ambulatory care or primary care in the Stockholm County during 2006-2010.RESULTS: The mean CHA2DS2VASc score was 3.82 (4.67 for women and 3.14 for men). 64% of the entire cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation had the diagnosis in primary care (12% only there). The mean CHA2DS2VASc score of patients with a diagnosis only in inpatient care or specialist ambulatory care increased from 3.63 to 3.83 when comorbidities registered in primary care were added. In 2010 warfarin prescriptions were claimed by 47.2%, and ASA by 41.6% of the entire cohort. 34% of patients with CHA2DS2VASc=1 and 20% with CHA2DS2VASc=0 had warfarin treatment. ASA was more frequently used instead of warfarin among women and elderly patients.CONCLUSIONS: Registry CHA2DS2VASc scores were underestimated without co-morbidity data from primary care. Many individuals with scores 0 and 1 were treated with warfarin, despite poor documentation of clinical benefit. In contrast, warfarin appears to be underused and ASA overused among high risk atrial fibrillation patients. Lack of diagnoses from primary care underestimated CHA2DS2VASc scores and may thereby have overestimated treatment benefits in low-risk patients in earlier studies.
|
|
| 9. |
- Forslund, Tomas, et al.
(författare)
-
Risks for stroke and bleeding with warfarin or aspirin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation at different CHA(2)DS(2)VASc scores : experience from the Stockholm region
- 2014
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. - Berlin, germany : Springer. - 0031-6970 .- 1432-1041. ; 70:12, s. 1477-1485
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: This study evaluated the benefits of and possible contraindications to warfarin treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) prior to the introduction of new oral anticoagulants using health registry data from inpatient care, specialist ambulatory care, and primary care.METHODS: This is a cohort study including all patients in the region of Stockholm, Sweden (2.1 million inhabitants) with a diagnosis of non-valvular AF (n = 41 810) recorded during 2005-2009. The risks of suffering ischemic stroke, bleeding, or death with warfarin, aspirin, or no antithrombotic treatment during 2010 were related to CHA2DS2VASc scores, age, and complicating co-morbidities.RESULTS: One-year risks for ischemic stroke were 1.0-1.2 % with aspirin, 0-0.3 % with warfarin, and 0.1-0.2 % without treatment at CHA2DS2VASc scores 0-1. Among the aspirin-treated patients with CHA2DS2VASc scores ≥2, half had possible contraindications and high risks for ischemic stroke (5.2 %), bleeding (5.0 %), and death (19.3 %). The other half of the patients with no identified contraindications had a high risk for ischemic stroke (4.0 %) but a low bleeding risk (1.8 %) and a moderate mortality rate (8.4 %).CONCLUSIONS: The present observations confirm earlier findings of undertreatment with warfarin and half of the high-risk patients treated with aspirin were obvious candidates for anticoagulant treatment. However, the other half of the patients had complicating co-morbidities, high bleeding risk, and poor prognosis. This and possible overtreatment of low-risk patients should be taken into account when considering more aggressive use of anticoagulant treatment.
|
|
| 10. |
- Geary, Lukas, et al.
(författare)
-
Secondary prevention after stroke/transient ischemic attack : A randomized audit and feedback trial
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - Copenhagen, Denmark : Munksgaard Forlag. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 140:2, s. 107-115
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The clinical benefits of use of secondary preventive pharmacotherapy in ischemic stroke/TIA have been previously demonstrated. A potential target for facilitating the use of recommended medications is primary care physicians. Therefore, we carried out an audit and feedback intervention aimed at primary care centers. The aim was to improve the use of secondary preventive stroke medications and diagnosis recording in ischemic stroke/TIA.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The intervention consisted of structured, healthcare database-derived quality reports on secondary preventive medication use and diagnosis recording, sent in 2015 to half of the primary care centers in Stockholm County, with information specific to each primary care center. Medication dispensation (primary outcome) for statins, antihypertensives, antiplatelets, and anticoagulants, as well as diagnosis recording (secondary outcome), was compared between intervention centers and control centers in the 18 months following the intervention. Outcome data were derived from the healthcare databases of Stockholm County (VAL).RESULTS: Dispensation of medications to the 12 766 patients analyzed in the study was high. Over 77% of patients used antihypertensives and antithrombotics, and 65%-68% used statins. After the intervention, no differences in medication dispensation were seen between the intervention and control centers, even after adjusting for potential confounders.CONCLUSIONS: A simple audit and feedback intervention directed toward physicians in primary care did not improve medication dispensation to ischemic stroke/TIA patients 18 months later. Any future audit and feedback intervention aimed at improving adherence to guidelines for secondary prevention in primary care should consider multiple and continuous reminders, the graphical appeal, and widening the recipients to include patients.
|
|
| 11. |
- Geary, Lukas, et al.
(författare)
-
Sociodemographic factors are associated with utilisation of statins after ischaemic stroke/TIA
- 2017
-
Ingår i: International journal of clinical practice (Esher). - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 1368-5031 .- 1742-1241. ; 71:3-4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To analyse if there are sociodemographic differences in the utilisation of statins 9-12 months after ischaemic stroke or transitory ischaemic attack.METHODS: Anonymised linkage of registry data on all patients >18 years discharged from the hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden 2006-2010 with diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (ICD-10: I63.0-9) or TIA (ICD-10: G45.9) was performed. Data on hospitalisations and diagnoses were collected from the Stockholm County Council administrative databases on healthcare consumption. Dispensed prescriptions with statins and, for comparative purposes, antihypertensive agents 9-12 months after discharge were acquired from the National Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Data about socioeconomic factors were obtained from Statistics Sweden. The dispensing of statins and antihypertensive agents, relative to sociodemographic variables were analysed. Using logistic regression odds ratios, crude, and adjusted with education, income, origin of birth, age, and sex as predictors where calculated.RESULTS: Of 24 312 patients with ischaemic stroke/TIA, 19 335 were alive 12 months after discharge. Statins were dispensed to 44% of all patients in the cohort, more frequently to men of all age groups, to patients with higher education, and to those with higher income. Antihypertensive agents were dispensed to 68% of all patients and there were no differences related to sex and income whilst patients with lower education were dispensed with antihypertensives more frequently.CONCLUSION: We find a low utilisation of statins one year after ischaemic stroke/TIA. Patients with low education, low income, and female sex were dispensed fewer prescriptions of statins indicating a need for improvement.
|
|
| 12. |
- Gustafsson, Lars L., et al.
(författare)
-
The 'wise list'- a comprehensive concept to select, communicate and achieve adherence to recommendations of essential drugs in ambulatory care in Stockholm
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology. - Copenhagen : Blackwell Publishing. - 1742-7835 .- 1742-7843. ; 108:4, s. 224-233
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to present and evaluate the impact of a comprehensive strategy over 10 years to select, communicate and achieve adherence to essential drug recommendations (EDR) in ambulatory care in a metropolitan healthcare region. EDRs were issued and launched as a 'Wise List' by the regional Drug and Therapeutics Committee in Stockholm. This study presents the concept by: (i) documenting the process for selecting, communicating and monitoring the impact of the 'Wise List'; (ii) analysing the variation in the number of drug substances recommended between 2000 and 2010; (iii) assessing the attitudes to the 'Wise List' among prescribers and the public; (iv) evaluating the adherence to recommendations between 2003 and 2009. The 'Wise List' consistently contained 200 drug substances for treating common diseases. The drugs were selected based on their efficacy, safety, suitability and cost-effectiveness. The 'Wise List' was known among one-third of a surveyed sample of the public in 2002 after initial marketing campaigns. All surveyed prescribers knew about the concept and 81% found the recommendations trustworthy in 2005. Adherence to recommendations increased from 69% in 1999 to 77% in 2009. In primary care, adherence increased from 83% to 87% from 2003 to 2009. The coefficient of variation (CV%) decreased from 6.1% to 3.8% for 156 healthcare centres between these years. The acceptance of the 'Wise List' in terms of trust among physicians and among the public and increased adherence may be explained by clear criteria for drug recommendations, a comprehensive communication strategy, electronic access to recommendations, continuous medical education and involvement of professional networks and patients.
|
|
| 13. |
- Holmqvist, Lina, et al.
(författare)
-
Cardiovascular outcome in treatment-resistant hypertension: results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD).
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of hypertension. - 1473-5598. ; 36:2, s. 402-409
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To assess cardiovascular outcome in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH) compared with patients with nontreatment-resistant hypertension (HTN).Cohort study with data from 2006 to 2012 derived from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database with hypertensive patients aged at least 30 years. TRH was defined as blood pressure at least 140/90mmHg despite medication adherence to three or more dispensed antihypertensive drug classes. Patients with cardiovascular comorbidity were excluded. The association between TRH and cardiovascular events with adjustment for important confounders was analyzed.We included 4317 TRH patients and 32282 HTN patients. TRH patients (61% women) were older (70 vs. 66 years), had higher SBP (152 vs. 141mmHg) and more diabetes (30 vs. 20%) (P<0.001 for all) compared with HTN patients. Mean follow-up time was 4.3 years. In the adjusted analysis, TRH patients had an increased risk for total mortality [hazard ratio 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.23], cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 1.20; 95% CI, 1.03-1.40) and incident heart failure (hazard ratio 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17-1.54) but not for incident stroke (hazard ratio 1.03; 95% CI, 0.90-1.19) or transitoric ischemic attack (hazard ratio 1.12; 95% CI, 0.86-1.46) compared with HTN patients.Patients with TRH have a poor prognosis beyond blood pressure level, compared with hypertensive patients without TRH. In particular, the high risk for heart failure is of clinical importance and merits further investigation.
|
|
| 14. |
- Holmqvist, Lina, et al.
(författare)
-
Prevalence of treatment-resistant hypertension and important associated factors—results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of the American Society of Hypertension. - : Elsevier BV. - 1933-1711 .- 1878-7436. ; 10:11, s. 838-846
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2016 American Society of HypertensionWe aimed to describe the prevalence, treatment, and associated comorbidity of treatment-resistant hypertension (TRH). This registry-based cohort study from The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database assessed 53,090 hypertensive patients attending primary care. Patients adherent to antihypertensive treatment measured by pharmacy fills and with proportion of days covered ≥80% were included. The prevalence of TRH was 17% when considering all current TRH definitions. Adherence to mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists differed between TRH- and non-TRH patients (8 vs. 4%). Higher frequencies (prevalence ratio and 95% confidence intervals) of diabetes mellitus (1.59, 1.53–1.66), heart failure (1.55, 1.48–1.64), atrial fibrillation (1.33, 1.27–1.40), ischemic heart disease (1.25, 1.20–1.30), and chronic kidney disease (1.38, 1.23–1.54) were seen in patients with TRH compared to patients without TRH. These findings, in a population with valid data on medication adherence, emphasize a broad preventive approach for these high-risk patients.
|
|
| 15. |
|
|
| 16. |
- Lenander, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of a pharmacist-led structured medication review in primary care on drug-related problems and hospital admission rates: a randomized controlled trial.
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0281-3432 .- 1502-7724. ; 32:4, s. 180-186
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. To determine whether a pharmacist-led medications review in primary care reduces the number of drugs and the number of drug-related problems. Design. Prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting. Liljeholmen Primary Care Centre, Stockholm, Sweden. Subjects. 209 patients aged ≥ 65 years with five or more different medications. Intervention. Patients answered a questionnaire regarding medications. The pharmacist reviewed all medications (prescription, non-prescription, and herbal) regarding recommendations and renal impairment, giving advice to patients and GPs. Each patient met the pharmacist before seeing their GP. Control patients received their usual care. Main outcome measures. Drug-related problems and number of drugs. Secondary outcomes included health care utilization and self-rated health during 12 months of follow-up. Results. No significant difference was seen when comparing change in drug-related problems between the groups. However, a significant decrease in drug-related problems was observed in the intervention group (from 1.73 per patient at baseline to 1.31 at follow-up, p < 0.05). The change in number of drugs was more pronounced in the intervention group (p < 0.046). Intervention group patients were not admitted to hospital on fewer occasions or for fewer days, and there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding utilization of primary care during follow-up. Self-rated health remained unchanged in the intervention group, whereas a drop (p < 0.02) was reported in the control group. This resulted in a significant difference in change in self-rated health between the groups (p < 0.047). Conclusions. The addition of a skilled pharmacist to the primary care team may contribute to reductions in numbers of drugs and maintenance of self-rated health in elderly patients with polypharmacy.
|
|
| 17. |
- Lindblom, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
-
Lifestyle counseling in patients with hypertension in primary health care and its association with antihypertensive pharmacotherapy
- 2024
-
Ingår i: The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. - 1524-6175 .- 1751-7176. ; 26:7, s. 816-824
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The study aimed to investigate differences in hypertensive- and cardio-preventive pharmacotherapy depending on if patients with hypertension received lifestyle counseling or not, including the difference between men and women. Data from the Region Stockholm VAL database was used to identify all patients with a hypertension diagnosis and had visited a primary health care center within the past five years. Data included registered diagnoses, pharmacotherapy, and codes for lifestyle counseling. Logistic regression adjusted for age and comorbidity (diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, gout, obesity, heart failure) was used, presenting results as odds ratios (OR) with 99% confidence interval (CI). The study included 130,030 patients with hypertension; 63,402 men and 66,628 women. Patients receiving recommended lifestyle counseling were more frequently treated with three or more hypertensive drugs: women OR 1.38 (1.31, 1.45) and men = 1.36 (1.30, 1.43); certain drug classes: calcium antagonists: women 1.09 (1.04, 1.14) and men 1.11 (1.06, 1.16); thiazide diuretics: women 1.26 (1.20, 1.34) and men 1.25 (1.19, 1.32); and aldosterone antagonists: women 1.25 (1.12, 1.41) and men 1.49 (1.34, 1.65). Patients receiving recommended level of lifestyle counseling with concomitant coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, or stroke were more frequently treated with statins than those who did not. Further, recommended lifestyle counseling was significantly associated with anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation. Lifestyle counseling according to recommendations in national guidelines was significantly associated with a more thorough pharmacological treatment of hypertension, statins, and antithrombotic drugs as well as anticoagulants, in both men and women.
|
|
| 18. |
- Ljungman, Charlotta, 1977, et al.
(författare)
-
Gender differences in antihypertensive drug treatment: results from the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD).
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-7436 .- 1933-1711. ; 8:12, s. 882-90
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are gender differences in antihypertensive treatment. This study aimed to investigate if gender differences in treatment could be explained by comorbidities. In addition, we aimed to study whether blood pressure control is different in women and men, and whether women interrupt treatment more often with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) compared with men.This cohort study within the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database included 40,825 patients with hypertension attending primary health care from 2007 to 2008. Cardiovascular comorbidities, with the exception of heart failure, were more common in men. Women were more often treated with diuretics, and men with ACEI, as were hypertensive patients with diabetes. Comorbidities could not entirely explain gender differences in antihypertensive treatment in a regression model. Women had higher systolic and lower diastolic blood pressure; this was also true in subgroups with cardiovascular comorbidity. Men more often than women were prescribed ACEIs/ARBs and interrupted treatment. Women and men are treated with different antihypertensive drugs, and this is not fully explained by differences in comorbidities. Women have higher systolic blood pressures, irrespective of comorbidity. Men have interrupted treatment more often with ACEIs/ARBs. These gender differences could affect outcome and warrant further investigation.
|
|
| 19. |
- Ljungman, Charlotta, 1977, et al.
(författare)
-
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and blood pressure control in patients treated for hypertension: results from the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database.
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Blood pressure. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1651-1999 .- 0803-7051. ; 26:4, s. 220-228
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this observational cohort study was to investigate blood pressure level and the possibility to reach target blood pressure during concomitant use of NSAID in hypertensive patients.From the Swedish primary care cardiovascular database (SPCCD) a cohort of 5463 patients (2007 to 2008) with at least one prescription of NSAID dispensed 6 months prior to the last blood pressure measurement were included. Clinical data were extracted from computerized medical records and linked to the Prescribed Drug Register. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for analysis.Patients with NSAID usage were younger, more often female, with lower creatinine concentrations, more musculoskeletal diagnosis and less cardiovascular comorbidity compared to patients without dispensed NSAID (p<.0001 for all). Regular dose of NSAID was not associated with a decreased possibility to reach target blood pressure. A correlation between the dose of naproxen and an increase in SBP of 7mm Hg was found. Impairment in renal function did not influence the association between blood pressure control and NSAID (p=.27).In hypertensive patients with concomitant use of NSAID the chance to reach target blood pressure was not impaired. In intermediate and frequent users of NSAID there was a dose response relation with naproxen and SBP which was not found in diclofenac and ibuprofen.
|
|
| 20. |
- Malkon, Salpe, et al.
(författare)
-
A Qualitative Study on Patients' Views on Hypertension and Antihypertensive Medications
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Patient Preference and Adherence. - : Dove Medical Press. - 1177-889X. ; 17, s. 3331-3339
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Few studies explored what patients initiated on blood pressure medication in primary care think about their disease and their medications. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of hypertensive patients’ views on and experiences of hypertension and the use of antihypertensive medications.Methods: A qualitative study based on open-ended questions from a survey on medication adherence, which captured treated hypertensive patients’ perspective on their condition and treatment. Data were collected for 219 patients on antihypertensive medication, ≥ 30 years old, who consulted 25 primary health care centers in Stockholm, Sweden, during 2016. Thematic analysis with both inductive and deductive approach was applied.Results: We identified 21 codes from the data and grouped them under the World Health Organization’s five dimensions of adherence: condition-, therapy-, health care team and system-, patient-, and socioeconomic-related factors. The analyses revealed that many patients with hypertension have limited knowledge of their disease, are afraid of drug side effects and experience various issues in primary health care that may negatively impact adherence, including short doctor appointments, prescribing without communication and room for improvement in individualization of therapy and a person-centered approach.Conclusion: Many patients with hypertension have limited understanding of their hypertension and fear of adverse events from their antihypertensive medications. There is also room for improvement in how the patients are managed in primary health care. Interventions should focus on these issues to promote a better blood pressure target achievement.
|
|
| 21. |
- Nemlander, Elinor, et al.
(författare)
-
Lung cancer prediction using machine learning on data from a symptom e-questionnaire for never smokers, formers smokers and current smokers
- 2022
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 17:10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive ability for lung cancer of symptoms reported in an adaptive e-questionnaire, separately for never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers.Patients and methods Consecutive patients referred for suspected lung cancer were recruited between September 2014 and November 2015 from the lung clinic at the Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. A total of 504 patients were later diagnosed with lung cancer (n = 310) or no cancer (n = 194). All participants answered an adaptive e-questionnaire with a maximum of 342 items, covering background variables and symptoms/sensations suspected to be associated with lung cancer. Stochastic gradient boosting, stratified on smoking status, was used to train and test a model for predicting the presence of lung cancer.Results Among never smokers, 17 predictors contributed to predicting lung cancer with 82% of the patients being correctly classified, compared with 26 predictors with an accuracy of 77% among current smokers and 36 predictors with an accuracy of 63% among former smokers. Age, sex, and education level were the most important predictors in all models.Conclusion Methods or tools to assess the likelihood of lung cancer based on smoking status and to prioritize investigative and treatment measures among all patients seeking care with diffuse symptoms are much needed. Our study presents risk assessment models for patients with different smoking status that may be developed into clinical risk assessment tools that can help clinicians in assessing a patient's risk of having lung cancer.
|
|
| 22. |
- Nemlander, Elinor, et al.
(författare)
-
Validation of a diagnostic prediction tool for colorectal cancer : a case–control replication study
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Family Practice. - : Oxford University Press. - 0263-2136 .- 1460-2229.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundEarly detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is crucial for survival. Primary care, the first point of contact in most cases, needs supportive risk assessment tools. We aimed to replicate the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (SCCRAT) for non-metastatic CRC in primary care and examine if risk factor patterns depend on sex and age.Methods2,920 adults diagnosed with non-metastatic CRC during the years 2015–2019 after having visited a general practitioner the year before the diagnosis were selected from the Swedish Cancer Register and matched with 11,628 controls, using the same inclusion criteria except for the CRC diagnosis. Diagnostic codes from primary care consultations were collected from a regional health care database. Positive predictive values (PPVs) were estimated for the same 5 symptoms and combinations thereof as in the baseline study.ResultsThe results for patients aged ≥50 years old in the present study were consistent with the results of the SCCRAT study. All symptoms and combinations thereof with a PPV >5% in the present study had a PPV >5% in the baseline study. The combination of bleeding with abdominal pain (PPV 9.9%) and bleeding with change in bowel habit (PPV 7.8%) were the highest observed PPVs in both studies. Similar risk patterns were seen for all ages and when men and women were studied separately.ConclusionThis external validation of the SCCRAT for non-metastatic CRC in primary care replicated the baseline study successfully and identified patients at high risk for CRC.
|
|
| 23. |
- Qvarnström, Miriam, et al.
(författare)
-
Medication persistence to antihypertensive drug treatment : a cross-sectional study of attitudes towards hypertension and medication in persistent and non-persistent patients
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Blood Pressure. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-7051 .- 1651-1999. ; 28:5, s. 309-316
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To study the differences in attitudes towards hypertension and drug treatment between patients persistent and non-persistent to antihypertensive drug treatment.Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study on patients with hypertension treated at 25 primary healthcare centres in Stockholm, Sweden. Questionnaires were sent to the patients 3-12 months after initiation of antihypertensive drug treatment. Persistent medication users, defined as patients with less than 30 days without tablet supply between prescription refills, were compared with non-persistent users by scores from Likert scales: Brief-Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief IPQ, 0-10) and Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ General, 4-20 and BMQ Specific, 5-25).Results: A total of 711 patients were included in the final analyses (mean age: 62 years; 50% women), of whom 609 (86%) were classified as persistent and 102 (14%) as non-persistent by analyses of their filled prescriptions. Likert scales from the Brief-IPQ showed (all p<0.02) that persistent patients believed that hypertension was a chronic condition (median 6 vs. 4), that hypertension had less consequences on their life (median 2 vs. 3) and that they can prevent cardiovascular disease by taking antihypertensive treatment (median 7 vs. 5). Likert scales from the BMQ General showed (all p<0.02) that persistent patients believed that there are potential benefits from taking the treatment (median 16 vs. 16), and they did not believe that the doctors put too much trust in drugs (median 12 vs. 13). Further, results from the BMQ Specific showed that they believed that the antihypertensive drugs are necessary for them in order to maintain or improve their own health (median 17 vs. 16).Conclusions: Primary healthcare providers should further emphasize the chronicity of hypertension diagnosis and the benefits of treatment, to improve the patients' medication persistence to antihypertensive treatment.
|
|
| 24. |
- Qvarnström, Miriam, et al.
(författare)
-
Persistence to antihypertensive drug classes : A cohort study using the Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database (SPCCD)
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Medicine. - 0025-7974 .- 1536-5964. ; 95:40
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim was to study persistence to, and switching between, antihypertensive drug classes and to determine factors associated with poor persistence.This was an observational cohort study. The Swedish Primary Care Cardiovascular Database includes data from medical records, socioeconomic data, filled prescriptions, and hospitalizations from national registries for 75,000 patients with hypertension. Patients included in the study were initiated on antihypertensive drug treatment in primary healthcare in 2006 to 2007. We defined class persistence as the proportion remaining on the initial drug class, including 30 days of gap. Patients with a filled prescription of another antihypertensive drug class after discontinuation of the initial drug, including 30 days of gap, were classified as switchers. Persistence to the various drug classes were compared with that for diuretics.We identified 4997 patients (mean age 60 ± 12 years in men and 63 ± 13 years in women). Out of these, 95 (2%) filled their first prescription for fixed combination therapy and 4902 (98%) for monotherapy, including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (37%), angiotensin receptor blockers (4%), beta blockers (21%), calcium channel blockers (8%), and diuretics (28%). Persistence to the initial drug class was 57% after 1 year and 43% after 2 years. There were no differences in persistence between diuretics and any of the other antihypertensive drug classes, after adjustment for confounders. Discontinuation (all adjusted) was more common in men (P = 0.004), younger patients (P < 0.001), those with mild systolic blood pressure elevation (P < 0.001), and patients born outside the Nordic countries (P < 0.001). Among 1295 patients who switched drug class after their first prescription, only 21% had a blood pressure recorded before the switch occurred; and out them 69% still had high blood pressures.In conclusion, there appears to be no difference in drug class persistence between diuretics and other major antihypertensive drug classes, when factors known to be associated with poor persistence are taken into account.
|
|
| 25. |
|
|
