Real-world evidence of improved healthcare utilization in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder after early treatment of paliperidone palmitate once-monthly treatment in Hong Kong

Effects of Paliperidone Palmitate on Healthcare Utilization and Costs for Patients with Schizophrenia: A Claim-based Mirror-image Study in South Korea

Objective

Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics, such as paliperidone palmitate (PP), are known to improve treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia, which can lead to reductions in relapse and hospitalization rates. However, relatively few studies have demonstrated the economic impact of LAIs, especially in Asian populations.

Methods

We conducted a claim-based mirror-image study to explore changes in healthcare utilization and associated costs, among 1,272 South Korean patients with schizophrenia (ICD-10-CM code F20), between the 1-year periods before and after the initiation of PP treatment.

Results

Patients accessed outpatient services more frequently after versus before starting PP treatment, with the number of prescription days increasing by 133.45 (p < 0.0001) and the associated costs increasing by USD 1,497.15 (p < 0.0001). The number of admission days was reduced by 11.33 after starting PP treatment (p < 0.0001) and the associated costs were reduced by USD 1,220.75 (p < 0.0001). However, admission cost savings were different according to patients’ oral drug compliance. The daily dosages for benztropine, procyclidine, and propranolol decreased, showing that there were fewer side-effects after PP-treatment (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Although the high acquisition cost of PP has been regarded as an obstacle to its clinical use, our results imply that the high prescription costs for PP may be counterbalanced by the reduced admission costs associated with its use. Economic outcomes for patients treated with LAIs should be investigated further to help healthcare decision-makers and providers to determine the value of LAIs relative to other treatment medications.

Case Report: Paliperidone Palmitate in the Management of Bipolar I Disorder With Non-compliance

Background: Medication non-adherence is prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) are widely used to improve compliance with treatment. This study aimed to illustrate the effectiveness, compliance, and safety profile of once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M), a novel therapeutic LAIA, in the management of bipolar I disorder (BDI). Method: A prospective follow-up was arranged to 11 BDI patients who were prescribed PP1M as monotherapy or adjunctive treatment. Severity of symptoms, disturbing behavior, status of employment, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) were evaluated at the baseline and the endpoint of follow-up. Clinical Global Impression-Bipolar Disorder-Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-BP) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) were measured at each injection of PP1M. Compliance, relapse or switch, and new hospitalization were monitored through the period of follow-up. Results: The median duration of treatment was 14 months, ranging from 5 to 22 months. The scores (mean ± standard deviation) of HAMD-17, YMRS, and CGI-BP generally decreased from the baseline (16.1 ± 10.3, 30.9 ± 12.6, 5.3 ± 0.7) to the endpoint (7.4 ± 5.7, 3.7 ± 3.2, 2.3 ± 0.7). No disturbing behavior was detected at the endpoint. Neither new hospitalization nor manic/mixed episode occurred during treatment, whereas mild to moderate depressive episodes were reported in three cases. The status of employment of 10 participants (90.9%) was improved, and no new safety concern was detected. Conclusion: PP1M might offer a new valid treatment option in the long-term management of BDI, especially for those with poor compliance with oral medication. However, more studies are needed to further justify such role.