BACKGROUND Mental health condition (MHC) comorbidity is associated with lower intensity care in multiple clinical scenarios. However, little is known about the effect of MHC upon clinicians' decisions about intensifying antiglycemic medications in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. We examined whether delay in intensification of antiglycemic medications in response to an elevated Hem...

OBJECTIVES Glycemic control can lower the risk of diabetes-related complications, and delayed treatment intensification can impede optimal diabetes care. This study examines trends in hyperglycemia treatment intensification between 2002 and 2010. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective secondary data analysis of a large national administrative data set of privately insured individuals across the United St...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of a provider-based intervention to improve medication intensification among patients with diabetes. DESIGN Effectiveness cluster-randomised trial. Baseline and follow-up cross-sections of diabetes physicians' patients. SETTING Eleven U.S. Southeastern states, 2006-2008. PARTICIPANTS 205 Rural primary care physicians, 95 completed the study. INTE...

BACKGROUND Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) often have poor glycemic control on first-line pharmacologic therapy and require treatment intensification. Intensification decisions can be difficult because of many available options and their many benefits and risks. The American Diabetes Association recommends patient-centered, evidence-based tools supporting shared decision-making between pat...

PURPOSE Asparaginase therapy is an important component in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Polyethylene glycol-conjugated asparaginase (PEG-ASNase) has significant pharmacological advantages over native Escherichia coli asparaginase. We investigated the pharmacokinetics of PEG-ASNase, presence of antibodies to PEG-ASNase, and concentrations of asparagine in serum and...

BACKGROUND Even in high-performing health systems, some patients with diabetes mellitus have poor blood pressure (BP) control because of poor medication adherence and lack of medication intensification. We examined whether the Adherence and Intensification of Medications intervention, a pharmacist-led intervention combining elements found in efficacy studies to lower BP, improved BP among patie...

BACKGROUND Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is an accurate test for the identification of coronary artery disease (CAD), yet the impact of CCTA results on subsequent medical therapy and risk factors has not been widely reported. METHODS AND RESULTS We identified consecutive patients aged >18 years without prior CAD who underwent CCTA from 2004 to 2011 and had complete data on ...

OBJECTIVES We examined determinants of achieving blood pressure control in patients with hypertension and of treatment intensification in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). DESIGN A retrospective cohort study in six public hospitals, Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS Adult ambulatory patients with hypertension and with at least one previously prescribed antihypertensive medication in the ...