PMS46 USE OF HEALTHCARE RESOURCES IN A COHORT OF COLOMBIAN PATIENTS TREATED WITH BIOLOGIC DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS OR TOFACITINIB, 2014–2018

Abstract

To compare the treatment patterns and use of healthcare resources in a cohort of Colombian patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (B-DMARDs) or tofacitinib. Descriptive study from a retrospective cohort of adult patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Colombian healthcare service provider (HSP) who are being treated with B-DMARDs or tofacitinib after failure conventional DMARDs (C-DMARDs) or first B-DMARD. Patients, aged ≥18 years, who were receiving pharmacological treatment for RA at HSP between 01 January 2014 and 30 June 2018 were included. Data were collected since patients index date defined as prescription of the drug of interest until 12 post-index date. Demographic, and clinical data were collected. The cost of healthcare resource were estimated from the billing expense of HSP. We evaluated 588 RA patients on treatment with B-DMARDs (505 patients) or tofacitinib (83 patients), most of them were in combination with C-DMARDs (85.4%). Female patients were more frequent (88.1%) and mean age of 57.3±12.5 years. The median evolution of the disease was 9 years (IQR: 4-17.2 years). The mean duration of use during follow up of the B-DMARDs or tofacitinib was similar with a mean of 9.8±1.9 months (292.7±61.3 days covered). It was identified that 394 (67.0%) discontinued therapy. The average annual direct cost for the care of RA per patient was USD 8,996.8±2,171.7 where 97.2% was due to drug costs. The average annual cost of treatment per patient with B-DMARDs was US$ 8,604 and tofacitinib was US$ 6,377. In the face of a first failure of C-DMARD, B-DMARD are frequently added, with a high rate of clinical improvement, but a high frequency of patients do not persist or stop treatment during the first year of follow-up. The pharmacological treatment is the most representative cause of healthcare resource in the management of RA.