Health Outcomes Among Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia in the US Veterans Health Administration Population Who Transitioned from Once-Monthly to Once-Every-3-Month Paliperidone Palmitate: An Observational Retrospective Analysis

Second-Generation Antipsychotics’ Effectiveness and Tolerability: A Review of Real-World Studies in Patients with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

Despite methodological limitations, real-world studies might support clinicians by broadening the knowledge of antipsychotics’ (APs) effectiveness and tolerability in different clinical scenarios and complement clinical trials. We conducted an extensive literature search in the PubMed database to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability profiles of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) from real-world studies to aid clinicians and researchers in selecting the proper treatment for patients with schizophrenia and related disorders. The present review evidenced that SGAs demonstrated superior effectiveness over first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) in relapse-free survival and psychiatric hospitalization rate and for treating negative symptoms. Persistence and adherence to therapy were higher in SGAs than FGAs. Most studies concluded that switching to long-acting injectables (LAIs) was significantly associated with a lower treatment failure rate than monotherapy with oral SGAs. Considerable improvements in general functionality, subjective well-being, and total score on global satisfaction tests, besides improved personal and social performance, were reported in some studies on patients treated with LAI SGAs. Clozapine was also associated with the lowest rates of treatment failure and greater effectiveness over the other SGAs, although with more severe side effects. Effectiveness on primary negative symptoms and cognitive deficits was rarely measured in these studies. Based on the data analyzed in the present review, new treatments are needed with better tolerability and improved effectiveness for negative, affective, and cognitive symptoms.

One-Month versus Three-Month Formulation of Paliperidone Palmitate Treatment in Psychotic Disorders: Patients', Relatives', and Mental Health Professionals' Perspectives

Purpose

Paliperidone palmitate is the only available long acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic with a monthly and three-monthly formulation. LAIs may help battle non-adherence. Studies about the experiences of switching from the monthly (PP1M) to the three-monthly formulation (PP3M) of paliperidone are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the perspectives of patients, relatives, and mental health professionals on PP3M compared with PP1M.

Material and Methods

This was a multicenter, retrospective, non-interventional one-time questionnaire survey among patients with psychotic disorders who switched from PP1M to PP3M (n = 38), their relatives (n = 13) and mental health professionals (n = 38). General satisfaction and (un)desired effects were measured using the Medication Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) and the Subjects' Reaction to Antipsychotics (SRA), respectively. Additional questionnaires assessed socio-demographic variables, preference, effectiveness, side-effects, and confidence in PP3M compared to PP1M.

Results

Mean number of received PP3M injections was 4.2 (SD 2.5). The three study groups reported a high level of confidence in PP3M. High general satisfaction rates about PP3M among patients (69%) and mental health professionals (95%) were reported. The majority of patients, relatives, and mental health professionals reported similar or in some cases even greater effectiveness and similar or in some cases even less side-effects of PP3M compared to PP1M. Sixty-seven percent of the relatives reported less concerns about non-adherence after switching to PP3M.

Conclusion

Most patients, relatives, and mental health professionals prefer PP3M over PP1M. The positive attitudes of all parties may facilitate the more frequent use of PP3M and potentially the clinical outcomes.

Patient Journey of Veterans with Schizophrenia: An Analysis of Treatment Patterns, Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about the burden of schizophrenia among United States veterans early after diagnosis. This retrospective study describes treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and healthcare costs among veterans with a recent schizophrenia diagnosis.

METHODS

Adults with a schizophrenia diagnosis recorded between 1 April 2014 and 31 December 2017 and no history of schizophrenia over the preceding 12 months were identified from a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) database. Continuous enrollment in the VHA was required for ≥ 12 months before and after the index date when the first schizophrenia diagnosis code was identified. Baseline characteristics and follow-up treatment patterns, HRU and costs were examined descriptively.

RESULTS

The study population (20,389 patients) had a high baseline mental health comorbidity burden. Despite a schizophrenia diagnosis, 32.1% of patients received no antipsychotic medication during the follow-up period. Among those with ≥ 1 antipsychotic prescription fill, 64.0% received ≥ 1 oral antipsychotic (OAP) therapy and 11.6% received ≥ 1 long-acting injectable (LAI). A delay was observed between diagnosis and treatment for both OAPs (39.0 ± 67.2 days) and LAIs (69.4 ± 96.2 days). Adherence to therapy (defined as proportion of days covered ≥ 80%) was greater with LAIs (34.5%) vs OAPs (27.3%). Inpatient stays were reported for 33.8% of patients during the 12-month follow-up period, and 5.5% of patients had readmissions. All-cause inpatient stay costs with 12-month follow-up equaled $7999 per patient per year.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that pharmacotherapy after a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia in the VHA system is suboptimal, and that these patients face a considerable burden in terms of hospitalization, other HRU, and healthcare costs.

Transitioning from Once-Monthly to Once-Every-3-Months Paliperidone Palmitate Among Veterans with Schizophrenia

PURPOSE

Compared to once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M), once-every-3-months paliperidone palmitate (PP3M) reportedly increases treatment adherence. The objective of this study was to compare treatment patterns, utilization, and costs among Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients with schizophrenia who transitioned to PP3M versus those remaining on PP1M.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult VHA patients with ≥2 health care encounters (inpatient or outpatient) that included a schizophrenia diagnosis who initiated PP1M between January 1, 2015, and March 31, 2018 (identification period) were included in this exploratory retrospective cohort study. Propensity scores were used to match cases (PP1M users who transitioned to PP3M during the identification period) with controls (any patient initiating PP1M during the identification period). Data were assessed until death, health plan disenrollment, or study end. Outcomes were compared using chi-square and t-tests.

RESULTS

A total of 257 eligible PP3M and 2973 eligible PP1M patients were identified among adult VHA patients; mean ages were 53.1 and 53.7 years, respectively. After propensity score matching, the PP3M and PP1M cohorts each held 111 patients. Comorbidities of patients treated with PP3M versus PP1M, respectively, included anxiety (12.5% vs 20%; standardized difference [STD] = 20.6), tobacco use (28.4% vs 43.2%; STD = 31.2), depressive disorder (26.5% vs 36.2%; STD = 21.1), and substance abuse (37.4% vs 44.2%; STD = 13.9). For the PP3M cohort, adherence (proportion of days covered ≥80%) to any antipsychotic agent was higher (78.4% vs 57.7%, P = 0.0009), and all-cause inpatient lengths of stay (LOS) were shorter (3.0 vs 8.3 days, P = 0.0354). Increased all-cause pharmacy costs with PP3M were offset by reduced all-cause medical costs, resulting in overall health care cost-neutrality.

CONCLUSION

Relative to those remaining on PP1M, VHA patients with schizophrenia who transitioned to PP3M experienced improved antipsychotic medication adherence and significantly shorter all-cause inpatient LOS; costs remained neutral.