A methodological comparison of two European primary care databases and replication in a US claims database: inhaled long-acting beta-2-agonists and the risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Results from observational studies on inhaled long-acting beta-2-agonists (LABA) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk are conflicting, presumably due to variation in methodology. We aimed to evaluate the impact of applying a common study protocol on consistency of results in three databases.

METHODS:

In the primary analysis, we included patients from two GP databases (Dutch-Mondriaan, UK-CPRD GOLD) with a diagnosis of asthma and/or COPD and at least one inhaled LABA or a "non-LABA inhaled bronchodilator medication" (short-acting beta-2-agonist or short-/long-acting muscarinic antagonist) prescription between 2002 and 2009. A claims database (USA-Clinformatics) was used for replication. LABA use was divided into current, recent (first 91 days following the end of a treatment episode), and past use (after more than 91 days following the end of a treatment episode). Adjusted hazard ratios (AMI-aHR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) were estimated using time-dependent multivariable Cox regression models stratified by recorded diagnoses (asthma, COPD, or both asthma and COPD).

RESULTS:

For asthma or COPD patients, no statistically significant AMI-aHRs (age- and sex-adjusted) were found in the primary analysis. For patients with both diagnoses, a decreased AMI-aHR was found for current vs. recent LABA use in the CPRD GOLD (0.78; 95 % CI 0.68-0.90) and in Mondriaan (0.55; 95 % CI 0.28-1.08), too. The replication study yielded similar results. Adjusting for concomitant medication use and comorbidities, in addition to age and sex, had little impact on the results.

CONCLUSIONS:

By using a common protocol, we observed similar results in the primary analysis performed in two GP databases and in the replication study in a claims database. Regarding differences between databases, a common protocol facilitates interpreting results due to minimized methodological variations. However, results of multinational comparative observational studies might be affected by bias not fully addressed by a common protocol.

• Authors: A Afonso, S Schmiedl, C Becker, S Tcherny-Lessenot, P Primatesta, E Plana, P Souverein, Y Wang, J C Korevaar, J Hasford, R Reynolds, M C H de Groot, R Schlienger, O Klungel, M Rottenkolber
• Journal: European journal of clinical pharmacology (Eur J Clin Pharmacol) Vol. 72 Issue 9 Pg. 1105-16 (Sep 2016) ISSN: 1432-1041 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 27216032 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Asthma (drug therapy)
• Databases, Factual
• Europe
• Humans
• Myocardial Infarction (chemically induced)
• Primary Health Care
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (drug therapy)
• Research Design
• United States