Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to describe comorbidities, healthcare costs, and resource utilization among patients with chronic non-infectious uveitis initiating corticosteroid, immunosuppressants, or biologics.In this retrospective cohort study, patients with a non-infectious uveitis diagnosis and continuous insurance coverage during a 6-month baseline were selected from a privately insured claims database with 80.7 million enrollees. Index dates were defined as the first prescription/administration of a corticosteroid, immunosuppressant, or biologic between 2003 and 2009. Comorbidities, healthcare costs, and utilization were analyzed in a per-member-per-month (PMPM) framework to account for varying between-patient treatment periods, defined as continuous medication use within the same class. Wilcoxon rank-sum and chi-square tests were used for comparisons of costs and categorical outcomes.ResultsPatients on corticosteroids (N = 4,568), immunosuppressants (N = 5,466), and biologics (N = 1,694) formed the study population. Baseline PMPM inpatient admission rates were 0.029 for patients on corticosteroids, 0.044 for patients on immunosuppressants, and 0.045 for patients on biologics (p < 0.001 immunosuppressants or biologics versus corticosteroids); during treatment, PMPM inpatient admissions increased to 0.044 and 0.048 for patients taking corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, respectively, but decreased to 0.024 for patients taking biologics (p < 0.001 versus corticosteroids and p = 0.003 versus immunosuppressants). Baseline average PMPM costs for patients taking corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and biologics were US$935, US$1,738, and US$1,439 (p < 0.001 between groups), while on-treatment PMPM costs excluding drug costs increased to US$1,129 for patients taking corticosteroids but lowered to US$1,592 for patients taking immunosuppressants, and US$918 for patients taking biologics (p < 0.001 versus corticosteroids or immunosuppressants).ConclusionsThere is significant economic burden associated with existing treatments of uveitis. Corticosteroids may be overused as a treatment for uveitis.

Highlights

  • The purpose of this study was to describe comorbidities, healthcare costs, and resource utilization among patients with chronic non-infectious uveitis initiating corticosteroid, immunosuppressants, or biologics

  • There is significant economic burden associated with existing treatments of uveitis

  • Corticosteroids may be overused as a treatment for uveitis

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to describe comorbidities, healthcare costs, and resource utilization among patients with chronic non-infectious uveitis initiating corticosteroid, immunosuppressants, or biologics. Uveitis is an inflammatory condition of the eye that is typically characterized by redness, pain, light sensitivity, and blurred/decreased vision and is associated with numerous ocular diseases and systemic conditions. This inflammation can be categorized by the location of inflammation, including anterior uveitis (e.g., iritis), intermediate uveitis (e.g., pars planitis, vitritis), and posterior uveitis (e.g., choroiditis, retinitis). Goals of treatment include suppressing inflammation and achieving remission [7]

Objectives
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.