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Mommers I, van Boven JFM, Schuiling-Veninga CCM, Bos JHJ, Koetsier M, Hak E, Bijlsma MJ. Real-World Dispensing Patterns of Inhalation Medication in Young Adult Asthma: An Inception Cohort Study. Clin Epidemiol 2023; 15:721-732. [PMID: 37337562 PMCID: PMC10276997 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s410036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) suggests a step-wise approach for pharmacological treatment of asthma. Valid study of real-world treatment patterns using dispensing databases includes proper measurement of medication adherence. We aim to explore such patterns by applying a time-varying proportion of days covered (tPDC)-based algorithm. Patients and Methods We designed a retrospective inception cohort study using the University of Groningen IADB.nl community pharmacy dispensing database. Included were 19,184 young adults who initiated asthma medication anywhere between 1994 and 2021, in the Netherlands. Main treatment steps were defined as: 1 - SABA/ICS-formoterol as needed, 2 - low dose ICS, 3 - low dose ICS + LABA or tiotropium, or intermediate dose ICS, 4 - intermediate to high dose ICS + LABA or tiotropium, triple therapy, or high dose ICS, 5 - treatment prescribed by a specialist. Changes in treatment steps were determined using a time-varying proportion of days covered (tPDC)-based algorithm. Individual drug treatment trajectories were visualized over time using a lasagna plot. Results At initiation, of the 19,184 included individuals, 52%, 7%, 15%, 16%, and 10% started treatment in steps 1 to 5, respectively. The median (IQR) follow-up time was 3 (1-7) years. Median (IQR) number of switches was 1 (0-3). Comparing starting step to last observed step, 37% never switched between treatment steps, 20% of individuals stepped down and 22% stepped up. Conclusion The low proportion of treatment switches between steps indicates that tailoring of treatment to patients' needs might be suboptimal. The tPDC-based algorithm functions well in translating dispensing data into continuous drug-utilization data, enabling a more granular assessment of treatment patterns among asthma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Mommers
- Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and -Economics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Job F M van Boven
- Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jens H J Bos
- Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and -Economics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marten Koetsier
- Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and -Economics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eelko Hak
- Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and -Economics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten J Bijlsma
- Pharmacotherapy, Epidemiology and -Economics, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Population Health, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
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Yousif A, Forget A, Beauchesne MF, Lemière C, Dugré N, Fénélon-Dimanche R, Blais L. Development of an operational definition of treatment escalation in adults with asthma adapted to healthcare administrative databases: A Delphi study. Respir Med 2021; 185:106510. [PMID: 34182265 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been growing interest in studying asthma treatment escalation patterns in the real-world setting, particularly with the advent of expensive biologic therapies. Healthcare administrative claims databases can be used to study treatment escalation patterns at a population-level; however, the reported definitions for claims-based asthma treatment escalation are highly variable in the literature. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to develop an operational definition of treatment escalation in adults with asthma that can be applied to healthcare administrative data. METHODS A mixed-methods research design incorporating the Delphi process was used to establish an expert consensus for this definition. A multi-disciplinary expert panel participated in three iterative rounds of online questionnaires covering treatment escalation criteria inspired by a systematic review, which was conducted as part of this study. The final definition was constructed using criteria for which a 75% level of agreement was achieved among the experts. RESULTS We developed a claims-based treatment escalation definition that was adapted from the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy. The definition comprised seven treatment steps, as well as escalation options for treatments that are not typically included in clinical guidelines. The definition also incorporated methods to identify treatments in severe asthma, such as oral corticosteroid maintenance therapy and chronic azithromycin use. CONCLUSIONS The operational definition of treatment escalation developed in this study bridges the gap between clinical guidelines and real-world clinical practice and lays the groundwork for future observational studies on treatment escalation patterns among patients with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alia Yousif
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Amélie Forget
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Marie-France Beauchesne
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Estrie-CHUS, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
| | - Catherine Lemière
- Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Nicolas Dugré
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Rébecca Fénélon-Dimanche
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Lucie Blais
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Research Centre, Centre Intégré Universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'île-de-Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Endowment Pharmaceutical Chair, AstraZeneca in Respiratory Health, Canada.
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Ishii T, Shiota S, Yamamoto K, Abe K, Miyazaki E. Inhaled Corticosteroid-Containing Regimens Reduce Hospitalizations and Healthcare Costs among Elderly Asthmatics: Real-World Validation Using the National Health Insurance Claims Database. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2021; 251:135-145. [PMID: 32595201 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.251.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The high rates of mortality and hospitalization among elderly asthmatics, as well as their increasing healthcare costs have become an important public health issue. It would be worthwhile to assess whether inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) can resolve these problems. To explore ICS prescription rates for elderly asthmatics and the factors influencing them and to investigate their association with hospitalization and healthcare costs, we analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Claims Database for the same time frame (December 1 to February 28) across three different periods (2011-2012; 2014-2015; and 2017-2018), from which we identified 6,619, 5,619, and 6,880 elderly individuals, respectively. The prescription rates of ICS increased (52.8%, 65.5% and 68.8%, in the first, second and third survey period, respectively) and inversely the hospital admission rates declined (3.7%, 3.2% and 2.5%, in the first, second and third survey period, respectively). The total healthcare costs per month were significantly lower for patients who received ICS-containing regimens than for those who did not. A multivariate analysis revealed that increasing age, rural residence, receiving a prescription from a clinic, hospital admission, and prescription of asthma medications other than ICS were associated with non-prescription of ICS, whereas cross-boundary treatment increased the ICS-prescription rate. Our study suggests that increases in the prescription rate of ICS are associated with reduced hospital admission rates and lower medical costs in the real-world. ICS prescription rates in rural areas and at clinics, which remain low, need to be increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Ishii
- Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine.,Center for Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine
| | - Seiji Shiota
- Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine.,Center for Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine
| | - Kyoko Yamamoto
- Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine.,Medical Education Center, Oita University Faculty of Medicine
| | - Koh Abe
- Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine.,Center for Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine
| | - Eishi Miyazaki
- Department of General Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine.,Center for Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine
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