Platelet aggregation inhibitor prescription for newly diagnosed peripheral arterial disease in the Netherlands: a cohort study.

Objectives: Pharmacological treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) comprises of antiplatelet therapy (APT), blood pressure control and cholesterol optimisation. Guidelines provide class-I recommendations on the prescription, but there are little data on the actual prescription practices. Our study provides insight into the prescription of medication among patients with PAD in the Netherlands and reports a 'real-world' patient journey through primary and secondary care.

Outcomes in patients with lung cancer treated with crizotinib and erlotinib in routine clinical practice: A post-authorization safety cohort study conducted in Europe and in the United States.

Purpose: We examined safety outcomes of interest (SOI) and overall survival (OS) among lung cancer patients initiating crizotinib and erlotinib in routine clinical practice.

Methods: This descriptive cohort study used routinely collected health data in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States (US) during 2011-2017, following crizotinib commercial availability in each country. Among crizotinib or erlotinib initiators, we reported baseline characteristics and incidence rates and cumulative incidences of the SOI - hepatotoxicity, pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease, QT interval prolongation-related events, bradycardia, vision disorders, renal cysts, edema, leukopenia, neuropathy, photosensitivity, malignant melanoma, gastrointestinal perforation, cardiac failure and OS.

Reduction in use of cyproterone/ethinylestradiol (Diane-35 and generics) after risk minimization measures in the Netherlands, UK and Italy.

Objectives: To study the effect of risk minimization measures taken in 2013 for cyproterone acetate/ethinylestradiol (CPA/EE) on initiation, concomitant use of other hormonal contraceptives (HC) and potential indications.

Study Design: This retrospective study included data on CPA/EE use in 2011-2017 from the Netherlands, UK, and Italy.

Results: The initiation rate of CPA/EE decreased by 44%-91% between 2011 and 2017.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Additional Risk Minimization Measure to Reduce the Risk of Prescribing Mirabegron to Patients with Severe Uncontrolled Hypertension in Four European Countries.

Background: Mirabegron, indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder, is contraindicated in patients with severe uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥180 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mm Hg). In September 2015, a Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC) letter was disseminated as an additional risk minimisation measure.

Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of the DHPC in reducing the proportions of patients with severe or non-severe uncontrolled hypertension at mirabegron initiation.

Increased risk of morbidities and health-care utilisation in children born following preterm labour compared with full-term labour: A population-based study.

Aim: Recent evidence is emerging indicating long-term effects in infants born after an episode of preterm labour (PTL), even if birth is at term. This population-based study compared long-term rates of outcomes and health-care utilisation (HCU) in children born following spontaneous preterm labour, irrespective of gestational age at delivery or of an uncomplicated pregnancy (SPTLu), with children born following full-term labour (FTL), overall stratified by comorbidity status and assessed using a composite morbidity measure (CM).

Methods: Retrospective data on mother-neonate pairs were collected from a patient-linked dataset from the Netherlands Perinatal Registry and the PHARMO Database Network.

Factors Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Choice Across Four European Countries.

Purpose: The aim of this analysis was to identify factors associated with the choice of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) therapy at the time of intensification of antidiabetic treatment across 4 European countries.

Methods: Antidiabetic drug prescription/dispensing records and patients' characteristics were obtained from the electronic health care records of patients with T2DM from the Netherlands (NL), Italy, and Spain (ES) (all, 2007-2011); and the United Kingdom (UK; 2008-2012). Oral monotherapy was defined as first-line; oral dual therapy, as second-line; >2 oral treatments or oral combined with an injectable, as third-line; and injectables only, as fourth-line treatment.

Thrombotic risk minimization for Diane-35 and generics.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of risk minimization measures on cyproterone acetate/ethinylestradiol (CPA/EE) use in the Netherlands. Potential indications of use and concomitant pharmacy dispensing of other hormonal contraceptives (HC) were assessed among new users in 2011, 2012, and 2014.

Methods: In this retrospective drug utilization study, new CPA/EE users were identified by pharmacy dispensings in the PHARMO Database Network in 2011, 2012, and 2014.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Patterns Across Europe: A Population-based Multi-database Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the similarities and differences of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment patterns in daily practice in 5 European countries and whether these reflect differences in guidelines.

Methods: Prescriptions for drugs used in diabetes treatment during a 5-year study period were obtained from electronic databases. Patients initiating T2DM treatment during the study period were included.

Rates of prostate surgery and acute urinary retention for benign prostatic hyperplasia in men treated with dutasteride or finasteride.

Background: Previous studies have suggested a greater benefit for various outcomes in men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who are treated with dutasteride than for men treated with finasteride. This study investigates whether the rates of BPH-related prostate surgery and acute urinary retention (AUR) differ between dutasteride and finasteride users in the Netherlands.

Methods: From the PHARMO Database Network, men aged ≥50 years with a dispensing of dutasteride or finasteride with or without concomitant alpha-blocker treatment between March 1, 2003 and December 31, 2011 were selected.

Prescribing pattern of antipsychotic drugs during the years 1996-2010: a population-based database study in Europe with a focus on torsadogenic drugs.

Introduction: Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are used to treat several mental illnesses. Some APDs have long been known to be associated with QT prolongation, potentially leading to torsades de pointes (TdP) and sudden cardiac death (SCD). In 2005, thioridazine was withdrawn because of the risk of SCD, bringing further attention to the arrhythmogenic potential of APDs.

Use of oral contraceptives in three European countries: a population-based multi-database study.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of oral contraceptive (OC) use, user characteristics and prescribing patterns by accessing health care databases of three European countries.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed from 2009 to 2010 in three general practice (GP) databases from the Netherlands, UK and Italy and in one database of linked pharmacy and hospitalisation data in the Netherlands. The presence of selected chronic conditions and diagnoses of diseases associated with OC use were assessed, as were switches, discontinuations and types of OC used during the study period.

Infants born before 32 weeks of gestation or with respiratory disease are most likely to receive palivizumab in the Netherlands.

Aim: Palivizumab is reported to be effective in reducing respiratory syncytial virus hospitalisation. Its licensed uses include infants younger than six months of age, born before 35 weeks of gestation or under two years old with congenital heart disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We redressed lack of research in the Netherlands by studying whether infants who met the licensed indications received the drug.

Genetic variants in Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (CADM1): a validation study of a novel endothelial cell venous thrombosis risk factor.

Introduction: In a protein C deficient family, we recently identified a candidate gene, CADM1, which interacted with protein C deficiency in increasing the risk of venous thrombosis (VT). This study aimed to determine whether CADM1 variants also interact with protein C pathway abnormalities in increasing VT risk outside this family.

Materials And Methods: We genotyped over 300 CADM1 variants in the population-based MEGA case-control study.

Protein S levels and the risk of venous thrombosis: results from the MEGA case-control study.

In thrombophilic families, protein S deficiency is clearly associated with venous thrombosis. We aimed to determine whether the same holds true in a population-based case-control study (n = 5317). Subjects were regarded protein S deficient when protein S levels were < 2.

Candidate gene polymorphisms and the risk for pregnancy-related venous thrombosis.

Venous thrombosis (VT) is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the western world, but the genetic causes of pregnancy-related VT are insufficiently understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between common genetic variations in candidate genes and pregnancy-related VT. We undertook a hospital based case-control study of women with VT during pregnancy or puerperium; controls were women giving birth without having VT.

Cell adhesion molecule 1: a novel risk factor for venous thrombosis.

Protein C (PC) deficiency increases the risk of venous thrombosis (VT) among members of Kindred Vermont II but fails to fully account for the inheritance pattern. A genome scan of the pedigree supported the presence of a prothrombotic gene on chromosome 11q23 (nominal P < .0001), with weaker support on chromosomes 10p12 (P < .

The value of family history as a risk indicator for venous thrombosis.

Background: A positive family history of venous thrombosis may reflect the presence of genetic risk factors. Once a risk factor has been identified, it is not known whether family history is of additional value in predicting an individual's risk. We studied the contribution of family history to the risk of venous thrombosis in relation to known risk factors.

F9 Malmö, factor IX and deep vein thrombosis.

Background: We recently reported the association between the Malmö sequence variant in F9 (rs6048) and deep vein thrombosis.

Design And Methods: We aimed to study whether the association between F9 Malmö and deep vein thrombosis is explained by linkage disequilibrium with nearby single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and whether the association is explained biologically by F9 Malmö affecting factor IX antigen levels or activation of factor IX. We investigated the association of F9 Malmö and 28 nearby single-nucleotide polymorphisms with deep vein thrombosis in men from two case-control studies, LETS (n=380) and MEGA (n=1,469).

Gene variants associated with deep vein thrombosis.

Context: The genetic causes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are not fully understood.

Objective: To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with DVT.

Design, Setting, And Patients: We used 3 case-control studies of first DVT.

Predictive genetic variants for venous thrombosis: what's new?

Various pathways lead to the development of venous thrombosis. Risk factors are common and can be genetic or acquired. Since the identification of factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 G-->A, the field of genetic epidemiology has developed rapidly and many new genetic variants have been described in the past decade.

No association between the common MTHFR 677C->T polymorphism and venous thrombosis: results from the MEGA study.

Background: Increased homocysteine levels are related to the occurrence of venous thrombosis, but whether this relation is causal is unclear. The T-variant of the common methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C-->T polymorphism mildly increases homocysteine levels. Meta-analyses have demonstrated a weak effect of the MTHFR 677TT genotype on risk but are sensitive to selective publication of positive results.

Polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor alpha gene and mammographic density.

The presence of the PvuII or the XbaI polymorphism in the estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1, 6q25) has been related to breast cancer risk; however, results are not fully consistent. To further elucidate this relation, we examined these polymorphisms in relation with mammographic density, a measure of dense tissue in the breast, which is strongly associated with breast cancer risk. For this study, 620 participants aged 49 to 68 years were selected from the Prospect-European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort.