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Background: We investigated the association between post‐hospital discharge use of sodium glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT‐2is) compared to dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (DPP‐4is) and the incidence of hospitalization for acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked hospital and prescription data. Our cohort included people aged ≥30 years with type 2 diabetes discharged from a hospital in Victoria, Australia, from December 2013 to June 2018. We compared new users of SGLT‐2is with new users of DPP‐4is following discharge. People were followed from first dispensing of a SGLT‐2i or DPP‐4i to a subsequent hospital admission for ARF or CKD. We used competing risk models with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to estimate subhazard ratios. Results: In total, 9620 people initiated SGLT‐2is and 9962 initiated DPP‐4is. The incidence rate of ARF was 12.3 per 1000 person‐years (median years of follow‐up [interquartile range [IQR] 1.4 [0.7–2.2]) among SGLT‐2i initiators and 18.9 per 1000 person‐years (median years of follow‐up [IQR] 1.7 [0.8–2.6]) among DPP‐4i initiators (adjusted subhazard ratio with IPTW 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–0.86). The incidence rate of CKD was 6.0 per 1000 person‐years (median years of follow‐up [IQR] 1.4 [0.7–2.2]) among SGLT‐2i initiators and 8.9 per 1000 person‐years (median years of follow‐up [IQR] 1.7 [0.8–2.6]) among DPP‐4i initiators (adjusted subhazard ratio with IPTW 0.83; 95% CI 0.73–0.94). Conclusions: Real‐world data support using SGLT‐2is over DPP‐4is for preventing acute and chronic renal events in people with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bisphosphonates prevent future hip fractures. However, we found that one in six patients with hip fractures had a delay in bisphosphonate initiation and another one-sixth discontinued treatment within 12 months after discharge. Our results highlight the need to address hesitancy in treatment initiation and continuous monitoring. Purpose: Suboptimal antiresorptive use is not well understood. This study investigated trajectories of oral bisphosphonate use following first hip fractures and factors associated with different adherence and persistence trajectories. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all patients aged ≥ 50 years dispensed two or more bisphosphonate prescriptions following first hip fracture in Victoria, Australia, from 2012 to 2017. Twelve-month trajectories of bisphosphonate use were categorized using group-based trajectory modeling. Factors associated with different trajectories compared to the persistent adherence trajectory were assessed using multivariate multinomial logistic regression. Results: We identified four patterns of oral bisphosphonate use in 1811 patients: persistent adherence (66%); delayed dispensing (17%); early discontinuation (9%); and late discontinuation (9%). Pre-admission bisphosphonate use was associated with a lower risk of delayed dispensing in both sexes (relative risk [RR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21–0.39). Older patients (≥ 85 years old versus 50–64 years old, RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22–0.64) had a lower risk of delayed dispensing. Males with anxiety (RR 9.80, 95% CI 2.24–42.9) and females with previous falls had increased risk of early discontinuation (RR 1.80, 95% CI 1.16–2.78). Conclusion: Two-thirds of patients demonstrated good adherence to oral bisphosphonates over 12 months following hip fracture. Efforts to further increase post-discharge antiresorptive use should be sex-specific and address possible persistent uncertainty around delaying treatment initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted seeking and delivery of healthcare. Different Australian jurisdictions implemented different COVID‐19 restrictions. We used Australian national pharmacy dispensing data to conduct interrupted time series analyses to examine the incidence and prevalence of opioid dispensing in different jurisdictions. Following nationwide COVID‐19 restrictions, the incidence dropped by −0.40 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.50, −0.31), −0.33 (95% CI: −0.46, −0.21) and −0.21 (95% CI: −0.37, −0.04) per 1000 people per week and the prevalence dropped by −0.85 (95% CI: −1.39, −0.31), −0.54 (95% CI: −1.01, −0.07) and −0.62 (95% CI: −0.99, −0.25) per 1000 people per week in Victoria, New South Wales and other jurisdictions, respectively. Incidence and prevalence increased by 0.29 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.44) and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.11, 1.33) per 1000 people per week, respectively in Victoria post‐lockdown; no significant changes were observed in other jurisdictions. No significant changes were observed in the initiation of long‐term opioid use in any jurisdictions. More stringent restrictions coincided with more pronounced reductions in overall opioid initiation, but initiation of long‐term opioid use did not change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2Is) reduce heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in general type 2 diabetes populations. The objective of this study was to determine whether SGLT-2Is vs. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4Is) are associated with reductions in MACE, HF hospitalizations and mortality in frail people with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We conducted a cohort study of all patients aged =30 years with type 2 diabetes discharged from a hospital in Victoria, Australia between January 2014 and March 2018 who received SGLT-2Is or DPP-4Is within 60 days of discharge. Follow-up commenced 60 days after initial discharge, and MACE, HF hospitalization and mortality were recorded. Cox proportional hazards regression with competing risks and stabilized inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs), was used to generate subdistribution hazard ratios (sHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyses were stratified into frailty quartiles according to Hospital Frailty Risk Scores (HFRS). Results: Of the 32,043 patients, (41.9% female and 5.9% =80 years) in the cohort, 5,152 (16.1%) received SGLT-2Is. Overall, SGLT-2I versus DPP-4I recipients had lower rates of MACE (sHR 0.51; 95% CI 0.46-0.56), HF hospitalization (sHR 0.42; 95% CI 0.36-0.49) and mortality (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.33-0.43). People with HFRSs in the fourth quartile who received SGLT-2Is versus DPP-4Is also had reduced rates of MACE (sHR 0.37; 95% CI 0.29-0.46), HF hospitalization (sHR 0.43; 95% CI 0.33-0.56) and mortality (HR 0.32; 95% CI 0.25-0.41). Conclusion: SGLT-2Is may be preferred to DPP-4Is for preventing MACE, HF hospitalizations and mortality in frail people with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: delivering appropriate care for patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy is increasingly challenging. Challenges for individual healthcare professions are known, but only little is known about overall healthcare team implementation of best practice for these patients. Objective: to explore current approaches to multimorbidity management, and perceived barriers and enablers to deliver appropriate medications management for community-dwelling patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy, from a broad range of healthcare professional (HCP) perspectives in Australia. Methods: this qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to gain in-depth understanding of HCPs' perspectives on the management of multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The interview guide was based on established principles for the management of multimorbidity in older patients. HCPs in rural and metropolitan Victoria and South Australia were purposefully selected to obtain a maximum variation sample. Twenty-six HCPs, from relevant medical, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and allied health backgrounds, were interviewed between October 2013 and February 2014. Fourteen were prescribers and 12 practiced in primary care. Interviews were digitally audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a constant comparison approach. Results: most participants did not routinely use structured approaches to incorporate patients' preferences in clinical decision-making, address conflicting prescriber advice, assess patients' adherence to treatment plans or seek to optimise care plans. Most HCPs were either unaware of medical decision aids and measurements tools to support these processes or disregarded them as not being user-friendly. Challenges with coordination and continuity of care, pressures of workload and poorly defined individual responsibilities for care, all contributed to participants' avoiding ownership of multimorbidity management. Potential facilitators of improved care related to improved culture, implementation of electronic health records, greater engagement of pharmacists, nurses and patients, families in care provision, and the use of care coordinators. Conclusion: extensive shortcomings exist in team-based care for the management of multimorbidity. Delegating coordination and review responsibilities to specified HCPs may support improved overall care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale, aims and objectives The prevalence of polypharmacy in residential aged care facilities ( RACFs) is high and increasing. Although not necessarily inappropriate, polypharmacy has been associated with drug interactions, adverse drug events, geriatric syndromes and hospital admissions. The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize factors contributing to the increasing prevalence of polypharmacy in RACFs. Methods Seventeen health care professionals from metropolitan and regional Victoria and South Australia identified and prioritized factors using a modified nominal group technique. Results The top five factors ranked from most important to fifth most important were 'changes in resident mix', 'increasing numbers of prescribers and the reluctance of one prescriber to discontinue a medicine commenced by another prescriber', 'better adherence to clinical practice guidelines', 'increasing reliance on locums' and 'greater recognition and pharmacological management of pain'. Conclusions Reasons for the increase in polypharmacy are multifactorial. Understanding the factors contributing to polypharmacy may help to guide future research and develop interventions to manage polypharmacy in RACFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare workers' COVID-19 vaccination coverage is important for staff and patient safety, workforce capacity and patient uptake. We aimed to identify COVID-19 vaccine intentions, factors associated with uptake and information needs for healthcare workers in Victoria, Australia. We administered a cross-sectional online survey to healthcare workers in hospitals, primary care and aged or disability care settings (12 February–26 March 2021). The World Health Organization Behavioural and Social Drivers of COVID-19 vaccination framework informed survey design and framing of results. Binary regression results adjusted for demographics provide risk differences between those intending and not intending to accept a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3074 healthcare workers completed the survey. Primary care healthcare workers reported the highest intention to accept a COVID-19 vaccine (84%, 755/898), followed by hospital-based (77%, 1396/1811) and aged care workers (67%, 243/365). A higher proportion of aged care workers were concerned about passing COVID-19 to their patients compared to those working in primary care or hospitals. Only 25% felt they had sufficient information across five vaccine topics, but those with sufficient information had higher vaccine intentions. Approximately half thought vaccines should be mandated. Despite current high vaccine rates, our results remain relevant for booster programs and future vaccination rollouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We evaluated the association between frailty and medication receipt following MI. • Frailty was associated with lower receipt of P2Y12i, RAASi, and statins. • Frail people had more conservative management following MI. • Whether this conservative treatment is justified warrants further study. To evaluate the association between frailty and initiating, continuing, or discontinuing secondary prevention medications following myocardial infarction (MI). We conducted a cohort study using linked health data, including all adults aged ≥65 years who discharged from hospital following MI from January 2013 to April 2018 in Victoria, Australia (N = 29,771). The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) was used to assess frailty. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations of frailty with initiation, continuation, and discontinuation of secondary prevention medications (P2Y12 inhibitor antiplatelets, beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, and lipid-lowering therapies) in the 90 days from discharge post-MI, by HFRS, adjusted for age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Increasing frailty was associated with lower probability of initiating and continuing P2Y12 inhibitors, RAAS inhibitors, and lipid-lowering therapies, but not beta-blockers. At at an HFRS of 0, the predicted probabiliy of having all four medications initiated or continued was 0.59 (95 %CI 0.57–0.62) for STEMI and 0.35 (0.34–0.36) for non-STEMI, compared to 0.38 (0.33–0.42) and 0.16 (0.14–0.18) at an HFRS of 15. Increasing frailty was associated with higher probability of discontinuing these medications post-MI. The predicted probability of discontinuing at least one secondary prevention medication post-MI at an HFRS of 0 was 0.10 (0.08–0.11) for STEMI and 0.14 (0.13–0.15) for non-STEMI, compared to 0.27 (0.22–0.32) and 0.34 (0.32–0.36) at an HFRS of 15. People with higher levels of frailty were managed more conservatively following MI than people with lower levels of frailty. Whether this conservative treatment is justified warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe changes in glucose-lowering drug (GLD) dispensing by frailty status for people with diabetes following admission for hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. This study included all people with probable type 2 diabetes in the state of Victoria, Australia, admitted to hospital for hypoglycaemia (n = 2,506 admissions) or hyperglycaemia (n = 1,693) between 1 July 2013 and 29 June 2017. Frailty was defined via the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS). We examined differences in dispensing of GLDs in the year before and after admission using linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status. Dispensing of GLDs decreased following hypoglycaemia admission. Decreased dispensing was strongly associated with frailty status, with a change in mean annual GLD dispensing count of −4.11 (−5.05, −3.17) for an HFRS of 15 vs. −0.99 (−1.47, −0.50) for an HFRS of 0. Changes were greatest for metformin and sulfonylureas. Following hyperglycaemia admission, the mean number of annual GLD dispensings increased, with a smaller increase with increasing frailty: 2.44 (1.32, 3.56) for an HFRS of 0 vs. 1.16 (0.18, 2.14) for an HFRS of 15. Frailty was associated with more conservative diabetes medication management following hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia admissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Few studies have examined prescription drug monitoring programs outside the US. • Intended effects were not seen, with no change in high-opioid dose prescribing. • No reduction in prescribing of high-risk medication combinations was observed. • Possible substitution prescribing appears to be an unintended effect. Australian prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) provide information about a patient's recent medication history for controlled drugs at the point of prescribing and dispensing. Despite their increasing use, the evidence for PDMPs is mixed, and is almost exclusively from the United States. This study examined the impact of PDMP implementation on opioid prescribing among general practitioners in Victoria, Australia. We examined data on analgesic prescribing using electronic records of 464 medical practices in the Australian state of Victoria between 01/04/2017 and 31/12/ 2020. We used interrupted time series analyses, to examine immediate and longer-term trends in medication prescribing following voluntary (from April 2019) and mandatory PDMP implementation (from April 2020). We examined changes in three outcomes (i) 'high' opioid dose (50-100mg oral morphine equivalent daily dose (OMEDD) and over 100mg (OMEDD) prescribing (ii) prescribing of high-risk medication combinations (opioids with either benzodiazepines or pregabalin), and (iii) initiation of non-controlled pain medications (tricyclic antidepressants, pregabalin and tramadol). We found no effect of voluntary or mandatory PDMP implementation on 'high-dose' opioid prescribing with reductions only seen in those prescribed <20mg OMEDD (i.e., the lowest dose category). Co-prescribing of opioids with benzodiazepines (additional 11.87 [95%CI 2.04 to 21.67] patients/10,000 and pregabalin (additional 3.54 [95% CI 0.82 to 6.26] patients/10,000 increased following mandatory PDMP implementation among those prescribed opioids. In contrast to trends of reduced initiation prior to PDMP implementation, we found increased new initiation of non-monitored medications following PDMP implementation (e.g., an immediate increase of 2.32 [95%CI 0.02 to 4.54], patients/10,000 received pregabalin and 3.06 [95%CI 0.54 to 5.5] patients/10,000 received tricyclic antidepressants after mandatory PDMP implementation), and increased tramadol initiation during the voluntary PDMP period (an increase of 11.26 [95%CI: 5.84, 16.67] patients /10,000). PDMP implementation did not appear to reduce prescribing of high opioid doses or high-risk combinations. Increased initiation of tricyclic antidepressants, pregabalin and tramadol may indicate a possible unintended effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimated the 1-year incidence of readmission to hospital and 1-year all-cause mortality following ischaemic stroke (IS), by diabetes status, sex, and socioeconomic disadvantage. This study included all individuals aged ≥30 years who were discharged from hospital following an IS between July 2012 and June 2017 in Victoria, Australia (n = 25,421). Individuals were followed from discharge until readmission (for all-causes, cardiovascular readmission, and readmission for IS) or death, censoring at 1-year of follow-up. The 1-year cumulative incidence of all-cause readmission following an IS was 56.1% (95% CI: 55.5–56.7); 24% of first all-cause admission were attributed to cardiovascular disease. People with diabetes were at an excess risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and IS readmission following an IS (adjusted sub-HRs: 1.13 [95% CI: 1.09–1.17], 1.14 [1.07–1.21], and 1.17 [1.06–1.29], for people with vs. without diabetes, respectively) and 1-year mortality (adjusted HR: 1.11 [1.03–1.19]). There was no significant difference between men and women in all-cause and cardiovascular readmission risk, while women were at higher risk of IS readmission (sub-HR: 1.10 [1.01–1.21] for women vs. men) and mortality (HR: 1.12 [1.05–1.20]). There was no relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and risk of cardiovascular or IS readmission, while 1-year mortality risk did increase with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage (HR for most vs. least disadvantaged quintile: 1.15 [1.03–1.27]; p trend = 0.006), and all-cause readmission risk decreased (sub-HR: 0.94 [0.90–0.99]; p trend = 0.001). There is a high risk of readmission following IS. Decreasing the readmission rate will require more complex interventions than solely improving post-discharge cardiovascular management. • Readmission rates following an ischaemic stroke are high. • Most readmissions are not for CVD, highlighting a high comorbidity burden. • People with diabetes, and women, are at higher risk for mortality following stroke. • People living in more disadvantaged areas have higher mortality following stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]