Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for February 2019. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
FDA: Pulmonary Embolism Risk Up With Tofacitinib 10 mg for RA
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A safety clinical trial has revealed that tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) 10 mg twice daily is associated with an increased risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) and death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in a safety alert this week.
Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy Does Not Cause Miscarriage
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An influenza vaccine cannot cause a pregnant woman to miscarry, researchers say.
CDC: Progress in HIV Prevention Has Stalled in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The battle against new HIV infections has lost some steam in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lowering BP, Lipids in Healthy Elderly Has No Cognitive Effect
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Candesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide, rosuvastatin, or their combination do not impact cognitive decline among older people, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in Neurology.
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Prenatal Vitamin Intake in Early Pregnancy May Cut Autism Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Maternal prenatal vitamin intake during the first month of pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in siblings of children with ASD, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Antenatal Corticosteroid Tx Tied to Reduction in Birth Size
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Antenatal corticosteroid therapy (ACT) is associated with reductions in birth size for infants, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in PLOS Medicine.
Tumor Control Durable With Pembrolizumab in Merkel Cell Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma (aMCC), pembrolizumab is associated with durable tumor control and favorable overall survival, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Stewardship Programs Decrease Inpatient Fluoroquinolone Rx
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fluoroquinolone stewardship interventions at hospitals are associated with less fluoroquinolone prescribing during hospitalization but not at discharge, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Rate of Opioid Rx Stable After Pediatric Outpatient Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2017, the rate of receiving a take-home opioid prescription remained stable after pediatric outpatient surgery as did the dose prescribed, but the maximum take-home dose declined, according to a study recently published in Pain Medicine.
Converting Naloxone to OTC Expected to Increase Sales
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The demand for naloxone is relatively inelastic with respect to changes in its out-of-pocket price, and conversion to an over-the-counter medication is expected to increase naloxone pharmacy sales, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Health Services Research.
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Sufficient Investment Could Reduce HIV Epidemic by 2030
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New HIV infections could be reduced and prevalence could begin to decline by 2030 with sufficient investment, including meeting 95 percent targets for diagnosis, care retention, and viral suppression by 2025, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in AIDS and Behavior.
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Sertraline Tops CBT for Reducing Depression in Dialysis Patients
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis, an engagement interview on treatment acceptance has no effect on acceptance of depression treatment, and depression scores are modestly better with sertraline treatment versus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) after 12 weeks of treatment, according to a study published online Feb. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Prognostic Bleeding Risk Models Developed for Aspirin Use
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Prognostic bleeding risk models that can estimate the absolute bleeding harms of aspirin have been developed for individuals in whom aspirin is being considered for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Feb. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Serious Medical Outcomes Reported With Kratom Exposure
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, exposure is associated with serious medical outcomes, especially as part of multiple-substance exposure, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Clinical Toxicology.
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Nonmedical Rx Opioid Use in Teens Linked to Parental Use
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Nonmedical prescription opioid (NMPO) use in adolescents is associated with parental NMPO use and with smoking and parent-adolescent conflict, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Pediatrics.
Opioid-Related Mortality Up From 1999 to 2016 in Eastern U.S.
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In the eastern United States, opioid-related mortality, particularly mortality associated with synthetic opioids, has increased, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Network Open.
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Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarctions Up Among Young Women
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The incidence of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) has increased among younger women, and sedentary time is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among women, according to two studies published in the Feb. 19 issue of Circulation, a “Go Red for Women” theme issue on cardiovascular disease in women.
Abstract/Full Text – Arora
Editorial
Abstract/Full Text – Bellettiere
National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5 Percent Annually
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — National health spending is projected to increase at an annual rate of 5.5. percent from 2018 to 2027, with fundamental economic and demographic factors the main drivers, according to a report published online Feb. 20 in Health Affairs.
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Since Early 2000s, Overdose Death Rates Are Highest in U.S.
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Since the early 2000s, the United States has had the highest drug overdose death rates among its peer countries, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in the Population and Development Review.
FDA: Gout Drug Uloric Increases Risk of Death
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The gout medicine Uloric (febuxostat) carries a higher risk of death than allopurinol, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Most Patients Do Not Disclose Complementary Medicine Use
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just one-third of users of biologically based complementary medicine (CM) disclose their use to traditional health care providers, according to a review published online Feb. 7 in Scientific Reports.
Guideline Covers Extracutaneous Manifestations of Psoriasis
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The extracutaneous manifestations of psoriasis and guidance on use of biologic treatment for management of psoriasis are discussed in two new guidelines published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract/Full Text – Elmets
Abstract/Full Text – Menter
Odds of Receiving Tx for CAD Up With Medicare Advantage
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), those enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) are more likely to receive secondary prevention treatments than those enrolled in traditional fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Cardiology.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
44.4 Million Estimated to Be Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer by 2069
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In the absence of further intervention, in the next 50 years, an estimated 44.4 million women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer globally, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in The Lancet Oncology.
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U.S. Agencies Probing Johnson & Johnson Over Asbestos in Talc
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Johnson & Johnson is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over possible asbestos contamination of the company’s baby powder and other talc-based products.
The New York Times Article
More Information – American Cancer Society
Sacituzumab Govitecan Promising in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An antibody-drug conjugate, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy, shows promise in refractory metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, according to a study published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Rivaroxaban Does Not Reduce VTE Incidence in High-Risk Cancer Patients
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In high-risk ambulatory patients with cancer, the incidence of venous thromboembolism or death due to venous thromboembolism during 180 days is not significantly reduced for rivaroxaban compared with placebo, according to a study published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Vertical Integration Has Little Impact on Quality Measures
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Vertical integration between hospitals and physicians has little impact on quality measures, while increased hospital market concentration is strongly associated with reduced quality in measures of patient satisfaction, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Medical Care Research and Review.
Plazomicin Noninferior to Meropenem for Complicated UTI
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Plazomicin is noninferior to meropenem for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to a study and a research letter published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Wagenlehner (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – McKinnell (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Head Says Feds May Intervene to Cut Vaccine Exemptions
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. government may have to take steps to reduce vaccine exemptions for children if states do not do it, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested. His comments come as measles outbreaks rage in a number of states. Those outbreaks could have been prevented if children had all been vaccinated. But nearly all states allow children to attend school even if their parents opt out of inoculation programs, CNN reported.
Experimental Test May Quickly Diagnose Sepsis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A blood test that can quickly diagnose dangerous sepsis infections has been developed, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
Early Intensive Treatment May Improve Long-Term MS Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Long-term outcomes are more favorable for early intensive treatment (EIT) versus first-line moderate-efficacy disease-modifying therapy (DMT) in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published online Feb. 18 in JAMA Neurology.
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Prenatal Fluconazole Exposure Increases Neonatal Risks
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Maternal exposure to fluconazole during pregnancy may increase the risk for spontaneous abortion, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Combo Regimens Effective for Tx of Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For first-line therapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, pembrolizumab plus axitinib and avelumab plus axitinib both show improved survival versus sunitinib, according to two studies published online Feb. 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, held from Feb. 14 to 16 in San Francisco.
Abstract/Full Text – Rini
Abstract/Full Text – Motzer
Editorial
More Information
Inappropriate Use of Fentanyl Preps Seen Despite Awareness
TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Despite adequate levels of prescriber, pharmacist, and patient knowledge regarding transmucosal immediate-release fentanyls (TIRFs), the rates of inappropriate use are high, according to a study published in the Feb. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
HealthDay Article
FDA Approves First Customizable Insulin Pump
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The Tandem Diabetes Care t:Slim X2 insulin pump, which allows a patient to customize treatment, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Hospital Prices Growing Faster Than Physician Prices
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Growth in hospital prices and payments outpaced growth in physician prices and payments from 2007 through 2014, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
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Risk Factors ID’d for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Mortality
Homicide, Suicide, and Overdose Leading Causes of Maternal Death 
Model Predicts Poor Outcomes Within 30 Days of a Before Medically Advised Discharge 
Fewer Than Half of Drug Overdose Survivors Go to the Hospital 
2000 to 2023 Saw Rise in Pediatric Exposure to Medications, Supplements 
Holding DMARDs at Time of COVID-19 Vaccine Not Warranted in Those With Inflammatory Arthritis 
1 in 3 With Lupus Take Supplements, Medications With Potential for Interactions 
2013 to 2024 Saw Decrease in Benzodiazepine Prescribing 
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, SGLT-2is Slow Renal Function Decline in T2D With Albuminuria 
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