Abstract | OBJECTIVE: STUDY DESIGN: An observational, retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with multiple prescriptions for oxycodone CR or oxymorphone ER tablets. These patients also had International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for low back pain. Pharmacy prescription medication claims data were obtained from a large commercially insured health plan in the U.S. Mean daily consumption was calculated for a 90-day period. METHODS: We used descriptive statistics to evaluate patient demographics and health plan characteristics. Univariate analyses were used to examine the data as observed. A generalized linear model with a gamma distribution and log-link function provided a sensitivity measure, adjusting for heterogeneity among patients and the skewed nature of the DACON variable. RESULTS: CONCLUSION: The use of oxycodone CR, measured as mean daily consumption over a 90-day period, was significantly higher than that for oxymorphone ER in these patients, a finding that could have financial implications for health care systems.
|
Authors | Todd Berner, Heather Thomson, Ann Hartry, R Amy Puenpatom, Rami Ben-Joseph, Sheryl L Szeinbach |
Journal | P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management
(P T)
Vol. 36
Issue 3
Pg. 139-44
(Mar 2011)
ISSN: 1052-1372 [Print] United States |
PMID | 21572765
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|