PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S N Stolley

Publications and source records attributed to S N Stolley.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Rationale, design, and baseline results of the Pravastatin-to-Simvastatin Conversion Lipid Optimization Program (PSCOP).

A program designed to increase the percentage of patients at a Department of Veterans Affairs health system who meet their cholesterol goals as recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) is described, and baseline results are reported. Patients with an active prescription for pravastatin between February 4 and June 4, 1997, were identified for conversion to simvastatin by means of the Pravastatin-to-Simvastatin Conversion Lipid-Optimization Program; 1361 patients were eligible for conversion. Each patient was mailed a survey for determining risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and NCEP-recommended low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal and was asked to provide a fasting blood sample for determination of lipid profile, liver function, and serum creatine phosphokinase concentration. The patients were asked to make a follow-up laboratory visit six to seven weeks after they had started taking simvastatin. The percentage change from baseline and the percentage of patients who meet their LDL cholesterol goal before and after the conversion will be determined. A total of 1115 patients were converted to simvastatin. Only 35.4% of patients taking pravastatin to prevent a second CHD-related event met or exceeded their LDL cholesterol goal. Only 36.2% of patients with two or more CHD risk factors who were taking pravastatin for primary prevention met or exceeded their LDL cholesterol goal. In a veterans population, less than half of patients receiving a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor had LDL cholesterol concentrations that met goals recommended by the NCEP.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

A matter of taste.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
PubMed1999

The effect of converting from pravastatin to simvastatin on the pharmacodynamics of warfarin.

Forty-six adult patients maintained on warfarin therapy were converted from pravastatin to simvastatin. Mean international normalized ratio (INR) significantly increased from 2.42 to 2.74, p = 0.002. Although warfarin doses were reduced in 7 patients and increased in 4 patients following the post-conversion INR measurements, the pre- and postconversion median weekly warfarin dose of all 46 patients did not differ significantly. The number of patients with an INR > 3.0 increased significantly from 6 to 16 following the conversion. There was no report of unusual episodes of bleeding. The results indicate that antihyperlipidemic therapy can be changed safely from pravastatin to simvastatin in patients who are taking warfarin concomitantly. Additional anticoagulation monitoring is not necessary in institutions where patients are followed in formal anticoagulation clinics.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Assessment of patient satisfaction with a formulary switch from omeprazole to lansoprazole in gastroesophageal reflux disease maintenance therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if patients perceived a difference in the efficacy, side effects, and value of omeprazole versus lansoprazole for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) maintenance therapy after a formulary conversion, and to evaluate the costs of the conversion. STUDY DESIGN: An unblinded questionnaire was mailed to patients who were currently receiving GERD maintenance therapy with lansoprazole from the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred patients who had been on omeprazole for a minimum of 2 months prior to the formulary conversion and on lansoprazole for a minimum of 2 months after the formulary conversion were surveyed. Patients were asked to rate the severity and frequency of their symptoms (pain, heartburn, and regurgitation) on a scale from 0 to 9 for each medication. Questions regarding side effects, medication preference, and satisfaction with the formulary conversion process were also addressed. RESULTS: Fifty-two percent of the surveys were returned. There was no statistically significant difference between median total symptom scores for omeprazole and lansoprazole (1.33 vs. 1.34, respectively). More patients reported side effects to lansoprazole (P < 0.001) than to omeprazole. Sixty-four percent of patients preferred omeprazole (P < 0.005). The formulary conversion was estimated to save $29,000 per year. CONCLUSIONS: Omeprazole was the medication preferred by patients for GERD maintenance therapy. Patients were willing to pay an additional fee for their preferred agent. Fewer adverse events were reported with omeprazole. The potential cost savings of the formulary conversion may have been at the expense of patient satisfaction.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗