Persistence with Biological Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs and Its Associated Resource Utilization and Costs

Impact of a Patient Support Program on time to discontinuation of adalimumab in Australian adult patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases-an observational study

This observational study evaluated the impact of a sponsor company-provided Patient Support Program (PSP) on discontinuation of adalimumab in adult Australian patients eligible for Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS)-reimbursed adalimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), Crohn's Disease (CD), Ulcerative Colitis (UC), or Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). Patients initiating adalimumab between May 2018 and September 2019 were enrolled into two prospective cohorts based on their decision to opt for or decline the PSP (PSP or non-PSP cohorts). In addition, a historical, retrospective Non-PSP cohort was established from the Services Australia 10% PBS dataset by extracting data of patients initiating adalimumab prior to the introduction of adalimumab PSPs and based on adalimumab PBS listing dates (AS: April 2007 to March 2009; PsA/RA: January 2007 to December 2008; CD: January 2009 to December 2010; HS and UC indications not included). Follow-up for all cohorts was 12 months. The primary endpoint was the time to discontinuation, compared between the prospective PSP cohort and the prospective or retrospective Non-PSP cohort. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to balance the cohorts. A Cox proportional hazards model indicated no difference in time to discontinuation between the prospective PSP (n = 162) and non-PSP (n = 65) cohorts (HR [95% CI] = 1.256 [0.616-2.563], p = 0.5304). The 12-month adalimumab persistence rates (95% CI) were 78% (69%, 84%) and 82% (67%, 90%), respectively. In contrast, discontinuation was less likely in the prospective PSP (n = 151) compared with the retrospective non-PSP (n = 297) cohort (HR [95% CI] = 0.44 [0.28-0.68], p<0.001). The 12-month persistence rates (95% CI) were 81% (76%, 90%) and 61% (56%, 67%), respectively. Overall, this study suggests that optimal adalimumab persistence can be achieved with either a structured PSP or healthcare support from other sources, but this was not the case more than a decade ago.

Socioeconomic impact of treatment with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES

We evaluate the socioeconomic impact of treatment with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

We analysed data retrospectively from the prospective observational CorEvitas RA Japan Registry (March 2016-February 2020). Patients were categorised into paid workers (PWs) and home workers (HWs) and further based on drug classes. We assessed medication persistence, treatment outcomes, health care resource utilisation, and socioeconomic impact over 12 months, including direct (drugs and health care resource utilisation) and indirect (loss of productivity) costs.

RESULTS

Overall, 187 PWs and 114 HWs were identified. Over 12 months, medication persistence was high, treatment outcomes improved, and outpatient visits reduced in both groups. Following treatment initiation, direct costs increased, whereas indirect (loss of productivity) costs decreased in both groups. The unadjusted socioeconomic impact [Japanese yen (JPY)] increased across all drug classes in PWs (range: 29,700-151,700) and HWs (range: -28,700 to 83,000). Adjusted change in monthly socioeconomic impact was JPY 29,700-138,900 for PWs and JPY -28,000 to 92,800 for HWs.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the socioeconomic burden increased across patient groups and drug classes. The decrease in indirect (loss of productivity) costs partially offset the increase in direct costs.

Real-world effectiveness and persistence of reference etanercept versus biosimilar etanercept GP2015 among rheumatoid arthritis patients: A cohort study

Although several randomized clinical trials have confirmed that there is no difference in efficacy between etanercept and its biosimilar versions in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), limited real-world evidence is available. We conducted a cohort study to compare the effectiveness and treatment persistence between the reference etanercept (ETN) and the biosimilar GP2015 in RA patients in a real-life setting. Adults with a diagnosis of RA who initiated treatment with ETN or GP2015, between January 2007 and December 2019, were included. The follow-up period was 52 weeks. The primary outcome was the mean of change in the DAS28-CRP values and the adjusted mean difference from baseline to 52 weeks between ETN and GP2015. Other effectiveness endpoints assessed were the rate of patients who achieved remission or low disease activity (LDA) at week 52, who showed a reduction of DAS28-CRP value greater than or equal to 1.2 from baseline to week 52 and rate of good responder patients (those meeting both effectiveness measures) at week 52. Treatment effectiveness over time (baseline, 26 and 52 weeks) was compared between the ETN and GP2015 groups using mixed effects models. Treatment persistence (probability of maintaining the same treatment over time) was also evaluated and shown using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. A total of 115 RA patients were included (ETN, n = 90; GP2015, n = 25). No differences were observed in the primary outcome: DAS28-CRP score decreased from baseline to week 52 [5.1 to 2.7 (mean of change -2.37) in ETN group and 5.0 to 2.2 (mean of change -2.84) in GP2015 group, p-value = 0.372] and the adjusted mean difference was −0.37 (−1.03 to 0.29). No differences were also observed in the other effectiveness endpoints assessed among patients treated with ETN or GP2015: rate of patients who achieved remission (54.1% vs. 66.7%, p-value = 0.303) and LDA (71.6% vs. 80.9%, p-value = 0.391) at week 52, reduction of DAS28-CRP value greater than or equal to 1.2 from baseline to week 52 (75.6% vs. 80.9%, p-value = 0.613) and rate of good responder patients (58.1% vs. 76.1%, p-value = 0.202). Drug survival was 82% and 80% for ETN and GP2015, respectively (log-rank p-value = 0.804). Etanercept and its biosimilar GP2015 show similar effectiveness and treatment persistence in RA patients in a real-life setting.

Health-Care and Societal Costs Associated with Non-Persistence with Subcutaneous TNF-α Inhibitors in the Treatment of Inflammatory Arthritis (IA): A Retrospective Observational Study

Objective

A few studies have suggested that patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) who remain persistent with subcutaneous TNF-α inhibitors (SC-TNFi) incur lower health care costs than patients who discontinue treatment, whereas data on the impact of non-persistence on indirect costs are largely lacking. Furthermore, existing estimates are based on fixed follow-ups, in relation to treatment initiation, and therefore do not measure costs in direct relation to treatment discontinuation. Therefore, by capturing costs in direct relation to treatment discontinuation, this study aimed to estimate direct and indirect costs associated with non-persistence with SC-TNFis in IA.

Methods

Adult Swedish biologic-naïve IA patients initiating biologic treatment with a SC-TNFi (adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab or golimumab) between May 6, 2010, and December 31, 2017, were identified in population-based registers with almost complete coverage. IA was defined as a diagnosis of rheumatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis/unspecified spondyloarthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Non-persistent patients were matched on propensity score to patients persistent with treatment by at least an additional 12 months. This enabled comparisons of direct healthcare costs and indirect costs for sick leave and disability pension, respectively, 12 months before and 12 months after treatment discontinuation.

Results

A balanced cohort of 486 matched pairs was generated. The total direct and indirect costs were significantly higher among non-persistent patients already during the 12 months before index ($20,802 [18,335–23,429] vs. $16,600 [14,331–18,696]). However, while non-persistent patients increased their total direct and indirect costs, persistent patients significantly decreased the same, further widening the difference in costs during the 12-month period after index date ($22,161 [19,754–24,556] vs. $13,465 [11,415–15,729]).

Conclusions

Among biologic-naïve Swedish IA patients treated with SC-TNFis, persistent patients incurred about 40% lower aggregated direct and indirect costs compared to non-persistent patients the year following SC-TNFi discontinuation. This highlights the impact of treatment persistence from an economic viewpoint, adding further aspects to the clinical perspective.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-021-01970-w.

Clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology studies with real-world databases

Hospital-based registry data, including patients' information collected by academic societies or government based research groups, were previously used for clinical research in Japan. Now, real-world data routinely obtained in healthcare settings are being used in clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology. Real-world data include a database of claims originating from health insurance associations for reimbursement of medical fees, diagnosis procedure combinations databases for acute inpatient care in hospitals, a drug prescription database, and electronic medical records, including patients' medical information obtained by doctors, derived from electronic records of hospitals. In the past ten years, much evidence of clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology studies using real-world data has been accumulated. The purpose of this review was to introduce clinical epidemiology and pharmacoepidemiology approaches and studies using real-world data in Japan.

Impact of Non-Persistence on Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs in Patients With Immune-Mediated Rheumatic Diseases Initiating Subcutaneous TNF-Alpha Inhibitors: A Before-and-After Study

Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are chronic progressive immune-mediated rheumatic diseases (IMRD) that can cause a progressive disability and joint deformation and thus can impact in healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs. The main outcome of the study was to assess the effect of non-persistence to treatment with subcutaneous tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (SC-TNFis) on HCRU costs in naïve patients with IMRD who started treatment with adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab or certolizumab pegol during 12 months after initiation of treatment. The impact of persistence and non-persistence of SC-TNFis on HCRU costs was compared between 12 months before and 12 months after initiating SC-TNFis. Persistence was defined as the duration of time from initiation to discontinuation of therapy. The study was conducted in an acute care teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Data for the period between 2015 and 2018 were extracted from the hospital cost management control database. HCRU costs comprised outpatient care, outpatient specialized rheumatology care, in-patient care, emergency care, laboratory testing and other non-biological therapies. The study population included 110 naïve SC-TNFis patients, divided into the cohorts of persistent (n = 85) and non-persistent (n = 25) patients. Fifty-six percent of patients were women, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 47.6 (14.8) years. Baseline clinical features and HCRU costs over the 12 months before the index prescription were similar in the two study groups. Before-and-after differences in mean (standard deviation) HCRU costs were significantly higher in the non-persistence group as compared to the persistence group for outpatient rheumatology care (€110.90 [234.56] vs. €20.80 [129.59], p = 0.023), laboratory testing (−€193.99 [195.88] vs. −€241.3 [217.88], p = 0.025), other non-biological drugs (€3849.03 [4046.14] vs. −€10.90 [157.42], p < 0.001) and total costs (€3268.90 [4821.55] vs. −€334.67 (905.44), p < 0.001). Treatment persistence with SC-TNFis may be associated with HCRU cost savings in naïve IMRD patients. Prescribing SC-TNFis with the best long-term persistence is beneficial.

Drug efficacy and safety of biologics and Janus kinase inhibitors in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are frequently associated with higher disease activity and impaired physical function, although they show intolerance for conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), such as methotrexate, because of their comorbidities. However, the present treatment recommendation based on randomized controlled trials is not distinguished by age or comorbidities. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) in elderly patients. Present bDMARDs, including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4-immunoglobulin (abatacept), interleukin (IL)-6 receptor antibody (tocilizumab and salirumab), and anti-CD20 antibody (rituximab), may be similarly or slightly less effective or safe in elderly patients compared with younger patients. Oral glucocorticoid use, prolonged disease duration, and very old patients appear to be associated with an increased risk of adverse events, such as serious infection. Some recent cohort studies demonstrated that non-TNFi showed better retention than TNFi in elderly patients. Both TNFi and non-TNFi agents may not strongly influence the risk of adverse events such as cardiovascular events and malignancy in elderly patients. Regarding JAKi, the efficacy appears to be similar, although the safety (particularly for serious infections, including herpes zoster) may be attenuated by aging.

Health resource utilization and associated healthcare costs of biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs in German patients with psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate healthcare costs associated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in a German real-world cohort of adult biologic-naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

Claims data from the InGef research database for patients with a PsA diagnosis and bDMARD claims record (index date) between January 1^st , 2014 and December 31^st , 2017; and no bDMARD prescription for 365 days before the index date, were retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were determination of healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and associated annual healthcare costs for overall and individual bDMARDs in the 12-month pre- and post-index periods. These outcomes were compared between persistent and non-persistent groups. Non-persistence was defined as treatment gap or switch to bDMARD other than the index therapy.

RESULTS

Among 10,954 patients with a PsA diagnosis, 348 were eligible. Although mean (SD) post-index costs were significantly higher in the persistent group than the non-persistent group (€27,869 [8,001] vs. €21,897 [10,600]; P<0.001) due to higher bDMARD acquisition costs (€23,996 [4,818] vs. €16,427 [9,033]; P<0.001), persistence reduced inpatient treatment costs (-€760), outpatient treatment costs (-€192), other drug costs (-€724), and sick leave costs (-€601).

CONCLUSION

Although initiation of bDMARDs increased the total healthcare costs irrespective of persistence status, partial cost offsets were observed in the persistent patient population.

Real-World Treatment Persistence with Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs Among German Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis-A Retrospective Database Study

INTRODUCTION

To investigate drug survival for biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in a real-world cohort of German adult biologic-naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

Claims data for patients with a diagnosis of PsA, a bDMARD claims record (index date) between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017, and no bDMARD prescription for 365 days before the index date were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcomes were the overall and individual bDMARD persistence rates over 12 months. Nonpersistence was defined as a treatment gap exceeding the days of supply plus 60 days or switching to a bDMARD other than the index therapy. Sensitivity analysis was performed, wherein the treatment gap was found to vary depending on the bDMARD regimen. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to determine persistence; the log-rank test was used to evaluate differences in the persistence rate. Factors associated with treatment discontinuation were evaluated using Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 10,954 patients with a PsA diagnosis, 348 were eligible. The overall bDMARD persistence rate was 57.5%; individual bDMARD persistence rates were 81.3% for ustekinumab, 66.7% for infliximab, and 60.0% for golimumab. The mean (SD) overall persistence with bDMARDs was 289 (103) days; the mean persistence was 334 (72) days for ustekinumab, 309 (82) days for golimumab, and 305 (92) days for infliximab. The main reasons for nonpersistence were switching to another bDMARD (15.8%) and treatment discontinuation (26.7%). Male gender was significantly associated with a lower risk of treatment discontinuation (hazard ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.39-0.77; P < 0.001). The sensitivity analysis yielded similar results.

CONCLUSION

The one-year persistence rate for bDMARDs in German PsA patients is modest, although the persistence rate depends on the bDMARD considered.

Persistence With Biologic Therapy and Associated Costs of Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A German Retrospective Claims Data Analysis

Background

In recent years, biologic agents became a relevant and promising treatment option for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). However, high treatment costs and moderate remission rates lead to a high interest in treatment persistence and corresponding economic consequences.

Methods

A retrospective health claims data analysis was conducted including biologic naive patients diagnosed with IBD between 2013 and 2018. Observation points were at 12 and 18 months of follow-up, starting from the first biologic prescription. Nonpersistence was defined as either no further prescription or prescription of another biologic agent within the days of supply per original prescription. Biologic agents included were Adalimumab, Golimumab, Infliximab, Ustekinumab, and Vedolizumab.

Results

In total, 1444 patients with IBD were included in this analysis, mostly treated with Adalimumab (46.9%) and Infliximab (39.9%) as their first biologic treatment. After 12 months, 72.2% of patients were still persistent with their initial biologic treatment with the highest shares for Infliximab (74%) and Vedolizumab (72.4%). 27.8% of patients were nonpersistent, mostly due to a switch of biologic agent (75.8%). Cox regression identified female, hospitalizations, and simultaneous prescriptions of corticosteroids and immunomodulators as risk factors for nonpersistence. Treatment costs per year were approximately 3000€ higher for nonpersistent patients (27,146€) than for persistent patients (23,839€), mostly due to inpatient treatment costs.

Conclusions

The persistence of biologic therapy in this study was rather high at 72% after 12 months, while nonpersistence was mostly due to switches to other biologic agents. Lack of persistence is associated with increased cost, mostly due to nonbiologic medication and inpatient treatment.

Time to Treatment Discontinuation in German Patients with Schizophrenia: Long-Acting Injectables versus Oral Antipsychotics

Background and Objective

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are associated with better treatment adherence and persistence than oral antipsychotics (OAPs) in patients with schizophrenia. However, real-world evidence assessing the impact of treatment with LAIs in Germany is limited. To fill this gap, we compared antipsychotic medication adherence and risk of treatment discontinuation (TD) among schizophrenia patients newly initiated on LAI or who switched their OAP regimen (overall cohort; OC).

Methods

Claims data of German schizophrenia patients who initiated LAIs or switched their OAP during 2012–2016 (index date) were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment switch was defined as add-on medication to existing prescription or terminating the existing prescription and initiating another OAP. Adherence and time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) were estimated. Determinants of treatment discontinuation were analyzed using two Cox regression models. Model 1 controlled for age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI); model 2 also included insurance status, and medication, visit, and psychiatric inpatient stay costs. Sensitivity analysis on patients who terminated existing prescriptions and initiated new OAPs (complete switch cohort; CSC) was performed.

Results

In OC (n = 2650), LAI users had better adherence (35.4% vs. 11.6%), persistence (no 60-day gap; 40.7% vs. 19.8%), and longer TTD (median [95% confidence interval (CI)] 216 [193–249] vs. 50 [46–56] days) than OAP users. OAP usage (hazard ratio [HR] 1.89, 95% CI 1.73–2.06; p < 0.001) and greater CCI (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.07; p = 0.023) were associated with greater risk of TD in model 1. Model 2 showed similar results. LAI users in CSC also had better adherence, persistence, and longer TTD. In CSC too, OAP usage and greater CCI were associated with greater risk of TD in model 1, but only CCI was significant in model 2. Higher pre-index psychiatric inpatient costs were associated with lower risk of TD (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–1.00; p = 0.014).

Limitations

Inherent limitations of claims data and lack of control on OAP administration may have influenced the results.

Conclusion

This real-world study associates LAIs with better medication adherence and lower antipsychotic discontinuation risk than OAPs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40261-020-00990-8.

Drug retention of 7 biologics and tofacitinib in biologics-naïve and biologics-switched patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the ANSWER cohort study

Background

This multi-center, retrospective study aimed to clarify retention rates and reasons for discontinuation of 7 biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and tofacitinib (TOF), one of the janus kinase inhibitors, in bDMARDs-naïve and bDMARDs-switched patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

This study assessed 3897 patients and 4415 treatment courses with bDMARDs and TOF from 2001 to 2019 (2737 bDMARDs-naïve courses and 1678 bDMARDs-switched courses [59.5% of switched courses were their second agent], female 82.3%, baseline age 57.4 years, disease duration 8.5 years; rheumatoid factor positivity 78.4%; Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using erythrocyte sedimentation rate 4.3; concomitant prednisolone [PSL] dose 6.1 mg/day [usage 42.4%], and methotrexate [MTX] dose 8.5 mg/week [usage 60.9%]). Treatment courses included abatacept (ABT; n = 663), adalimumab (ADA; n = 536), certolizumab pegol (CZP; n = 226), etanercept (ETN; n = 856), golimumab (GLM; n = 458), infliximab (IFX; n = 724), tocilizumab (TCZ; n = 851), and TOF (n = 101/only bDMARDs-switched cases). Drug discontinuation reasons (categorized into lack of effectiveness, toxic adverse events, non-toxic reasons, or remission) and rates were estimated at 36 months using Gray’s test and statistically evaluated after adjusted by potential clinical confounders (age, sex, disease duration, concomitant PSL and MTX usage, starting date, and number of switched bDMARDs) using the Fine-Gray model.

Results

Cumulative incidence of drug discontinuation for each reason was as follows: lack of effectiveness in the bDMARDs-naïve group (from 13.7% [ABT] to 26.9% [CZP]; P < 0.001 between agents) and the bDMARDs-switched group (from 18.9% [TCZ] to 46.1% [CZP]; P < 0.001 between agents); toxic adverse events in the bDMARDs-naïve group (from 4.6% [ABT] to 11.2% [ETN]; P < 0.001 between agents) and the bDMARDs-switched group (from 5.0% [ETN] to 15.7% [TOF]; P = 0.004 between agents); and remission in the bDMARDs-naïve group (from 2.9% [ETN] to 10.0% [IFX]; P < 0.001 between agents) and the bDMARDs-switched group (from 1.1% [CZP] to 3.3% [GLM]; P = 0.9 between agents).

Conclusions

Remarkable differences were observed in drug retention of 7 bDMARDs and TOF between bDMARDs-naïve and bDMARDs-switched cases.

Impact of persistence with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors on healthcare resource utilization and costs in chronic inflammatory joint diseases

AIM

To assess persistence with subcutaneous (SC) tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors as well as the impact of persistence on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients with chronic inflammatory joint diseases.

METHODS

In this cohort study using population-based French claims data (from 2011 to 2014), we measured persistence with SC TNF inhibitors within 12 months (M0-12) following treatment initiation in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced users (divided into three cohorts: rheumatoid arthritis [RA], ankylosing spondylitis [AS] and psoriatic arthritis [PsA]). Persistent patients were propensity score matched to nonpersistent patients at M12. The impact of persistence status on HCRU and costs was assessed during M12-24.

RESULTS

Of treatment-naïve (n = 3,804) and treatment-experienced (n = 2,279) users, only 56.1% and 46.8% were persistent at M12, respectively. Nonpersistent patients had more outpatient visits, computerized tomography scans, spine or joint magnetic resonance imaging procedures and disease-related hospitalizations, while persistent patients had more rheumatologist visits. Nonpersistent patients had lower drug costs but higher nondrug-related healthcare and hospitalization costs than persistent patients. In AS and PsA, overall healthcare costs were similar in persistent and nonpersistent patients. In RA, overall healthcare costs were lower in persistent patients (15,753€ vs 17,590€ in treatment-naïve and 17,622€ vs 21,177€ in treatment-experienced).

CONCLUSION

Persistence with SC TNF inhibitors within first 12 months following treatment initiation was low in both treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients. Differences were observed in distribution of costs between persistent and nonpersistent patients, showing that nonpersistence with SC TNF inhibitors can lead to increased HCRU and higher costs.

The clinical and economic burden of cytomegalovirus management post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Japan - a retrospective database study

Introduction: Reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major threat and it causes significant morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). There remains, however, a paucity of evidence regarding the economic burden of current CMV management in Japan. The aim of this study is to characterize the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and cost incurred for CMV management post allo-HSCT, using a Japanese hospital claims database.Methods: Patients who underwent allo-HSCT between April 2010 and March 2018 were identified and followed up for 180 days.Results: In total, 916 patients were included for analysis and categorized into CMV (-) group and CMV (+) group based on the presence of a CMV episode within 100 days post allo-HSCT. A CMV episode was defined as evidence of receiving at least one dose of the following anti-CMV drugs, ganciclovir, foscarnet, or valganciclovir. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) total length of stay was 93.6 (± 43.7) days in the CMV (+) group, which was significantly longer than 55.9 (±40.6) days in the CMV (-) group, and this trend was more pronounced in patients with multiple CMV episodes. The mean (±SD) total medical cost within 180 days post allo-HSCT was US$122,328 (±56,977) in the CMV (+) group, while the mean total medical cost was US$75,344 (±43,821) in the CMV (-) group. Moreover, transfusion and antimicrobial use was observed as the major medication cost component, which is suggestive of the indirect effect of CMV episodes.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that CMV episodes post allo-HSCT were associated with increased HCRU and cost.

Drug Survival of Biological Therapies for Psoriasis Treatment in Germany and Associated Costs: A Retrospective Claims Database Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Our aim was to study drug survival and associated costs of biologic treatment in a German real-world cohort of biologic-naïve psoriasis patients.

METHODS

We utilized a German claims database base with 3,682,561 enrolled patients between 2001 and 2015. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to show the persistence of different biologics. To determine factors that influence persistence, a Cox regression analysis was performed. In addition, associated costs were calculated 12 months before and after treatment start with biologics.

RESULTS

Among 75,561 patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis, we identified 347 patients who received a biologic; 176 of them were biologic-naïve prior to initiating therapy. Overall, the 1-year persistence rate was 56%. The highest persistence rate was observed for ustekinumab (80%). Younger patients, and those with a high comorbidity index, had a numerically increased risk of treatment discontinuation. However, parameter values were not statistically significant. While the overall costs after treatment start increased due to the acquisition costs of biologics, we found a strong decrease (- 41%) in sick leave after treatment with biologics had been initiated.

CONCLUSION

Observed drug survival rates in this real-world setting were relatively low. In line with previous studies, ustekinumab had a higher persistence rate than other biologics.

FUNDING

Janssen-Cilag.

Drug tolerability and reasons for discontinuation of seven biologics in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis -The ANSWER cohort study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to evaluate the retention rates and reasons for discontinuation for seven biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in a real-world setting of elderly patients (65 years of age or older) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

This multi-center, retrospective study assessed 1,098 treatment courses of 661 patients with bDMARDs from 2009 to 2018 (females, 80.7%; baseline age, 71.7 years; disease duration 10.5 years; rheumatoid factor positivity 81.3%; Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 4.6; concomitant prednisolone dose 2.8 mg/day (45.6%) and methotrexate dose 4.4 mg/week (56.4%); and 60.2% patients were bio-naïve). Treatment courses included abatacept (ABT; n = 272), tocilizumab (TCZ; n = 234), etanercept (ETN; n = 184), golimumab (GLM; n = 159), infliximab (IFX; n = 101), adalimumab (ADA; n = 97), and certolizumab pegol (CZP; n = 51). Drug retention rates and discontinuation reasons were estimated at 36 months using the Kaplan-Meier method and adjusted for potential clinical confounders (age, sex, disease duration, concomitant PSL and MTX, starting date and switched number of bDMARDs) by Cox proportional hazards modeling.

RESULTS

A total of 51.2% of treatment courses were stopped, with 25.1% stopping due to lack of effectiveness, 11.8% due to toxic adverse events, 9.7% due to non-toxic reasons, and 4.6% due to remission. Drug retention rates for each discontinuation reason were as follows; lack of effectiveness [from 55.4% (ETN) to 81.6% (ABT); with significant differences between groups (Cox P<0.001)], toxic adverse events [from 79.3% (IFX) to 95.4% (ABT), Cox P = 0.043], and remission [from 94.2% (TCZ) to 100.0% (CZP), Cox P = 0.58]. Finally, overall retention rates excluding non-toxic reasons and remission for discontinuation ranged from 50.0% (ETN) to 78.1% (ABT) (Cox P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ABT showed lowest discontinuation rate by lack of effectiveness and by toxic adverse events, which lead to highest overall retention rates (excluding non-toxic reasons and remission) among seven bDMARDs in adjusted model of elderly RA patients.

Co-insurance and health care utilization in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a discontinuity regression approach

Background

Co-insurance rates in Japan decrease when patients turn 70 years of age. We aim to compare changes in medical demand for Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at age 70 prior to 2014, when there was a reduction in co-insurance rates from 30 to 10%, with changes in medical demand at age 70 after 2014 when co-insurance rates decreased from 30% to only 20%.

Methods

We used administrative data from large Japanese hospitals. We employed a discontinuity regression (RD) approach to control for unobserved endogeneity in the data.

Results

We identified a total of 7343 patients with RA, 4905 (67%) turned age 70 before April, and found that a 20% decrease in co-insurance was associated with increased utilization of more expensive biologic RA drugs, more outpatient visits and higher total medical costs. However, a 10% decrease in co-insurance for patients who turned 70 after 2014 did not significantly change demand for medical services.

Conclusions

For the younger cohort, we did not observe any changes in medical demand after a price decrease. We therefore conclude that the economic goal of cost sharing, namely a behavioural change towards lower health-care utilization, is not achieved in this particular cohort of chronic patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12939-019-0920-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.