Japan Medical Data Center Database Research Articles

Prevalence and incidence rates and treatment patterns of non-infectious uveitis in Japan: real-world data using a claims database.

To estimate the nationwide, longitudinal prevalence and incidence rates and assess treatment patterns of non-infectious uveitis (NIU) in Japan. A retrospective study. Health insurance claims' data of patients with NIU were extracted from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database and analyzed descriptively (data extraction period, January 2011 to May 2017). Behçet's disease (BD), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, and sarcoidosis were selected as the primary diseases of NIU. From 2011 to 2016, the mean and median age of patients increased. Most (> 90%) patients were categorized as "undifferentiated NIU" (NIU without specific primary disease information after excluding BD-, VKH disease-, and sarcoidosis-associated NIU). Over 60% of patients with NIU were treated at non-hospital clinics, while the rest were treated at university, public, or other hospitals. The estimated prevalence rate of NIU was 386.5 per 100,000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 374.5-398.6) in 2011 and 439.3 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 432.3-446.3) in 2016; the estimated incidence rate was 189.7 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 181.2-198.5) in 2012 and 207.8 per 100,000 persons (95% CI, 202.2-213.5) in 2016. Most patients' prescribed uveitis drugs were ophthalmic drops over the first 6months after patient presentation and entry into the JMDC database, followed by systemic corticosteroids. The estimated prevalence of NIU in Japan in recent years was approximately 400 with incidence of 200 per 100,000 persons.

Medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Japan: A retrospective cohort study of label compliance.

AimTo assess label compliance in prescription of medications approved for treatment of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Japan at the time of this study: methylphenidate (MPH), atomoxetine, and guanfacine.MethodsRetrospective descriptive study was conducted in prevalent‐user cohorts from the Japan Medical Data Center database. Patients who were prescribed a study drug between January 1, 2013 and September 30, 2018 and were in the database for ≥30 days were included. A prescription was considered compliant if all 4 criteria were satisfied: appropriate age, daily dose not exceeding the approved maximum, no contraindicated concurrent medications, and no contraindicated conditions.ResultsAmong 17 418 patients who were prescribed a study drug during 2013‐2018, 73% were male and 53% were children (aged <18 years). Fewer than 2% of prescriptions were for patients outside the approved age, 10%‐13% of patients in the atomoxetine and MPH cohorts received ≥1 prescription exceeding maximum approved dose, no patients were co‐prescribed a contraindicated medication, and 16%–18% of patients in the MPH cohorts had ≥1 contraindicated condition. During their first 500 days of use, for approximately 73%‐86% of patients, all prescriptions were compliant with all label requirements.ConclusionsAmong patients exposed to ADHD medications in Japan during 2013‐2018, nearly all prescriptions for these medications were label‐compliant for age. For >85% of patients, all prescriptions were label‐compliant for dose, and for approximately 80%, all prescriptions were label‐compliant for contraindicated conditions. We did not find evidence of widespread abuse or noncompliant use of prescribed ADHD medications.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Patients with Multiple Myeloma Using the Japan Medical Data Center Database

Background: The incidence of Multiple Myeloma (MM) is increasing in Asia, although it's still less common compared to the incidence in Western countries. Information on clinical characteristics and current treatments is important to inform future clinical research.Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment patterns of patients aged ≥18 years with MM in Japan.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database, an employment insurance claims database covering approximately 3.78 million patients (non-government employees and their family members, <75 years of age) from July 1, 2009-December 31, 2016. Adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MM as well as at least one treatment for MM after the initial diagnosis were included in the analysis. Patients with any existing primary cancer other than MM were excluded. Eligible patients were followed up until death, or study end, whichever came first.Results: A total of 164 confirmed MM patients were include in the analyses, of which 73% were employees, 27% were family members, and 65% were male. 77% of patients were aged 36-65 years, reflecting the characteristics of the employment database. The median follow up period after the diagnosis was 26 months (range 1-75). The most common co-morbidities at diagnosis were hypertension (36%), bone fracture (21%), peripheral neuropathy (15%), renal failure (11%) and anemia (10%). The median time from diagnosis until commencing treatment was 27 days (range 0-1937), with 66% of patients commencing treatment within 0-90 days after diagnosis. 43% of patients (47% of employees versus 32% of family members) commenced initial MM treatment with bortezomib: most frequently bortezomib + dexamethasone without (21%, 33/160) or with (22%, 35/160) chemotherapy. Three patients received radiotherapy and one received autologous stem cell transplant as initial treatment. Median duration of treatment with a bortezomib-based regimen was 156 days (range 18-1270). Almost half (49%) of all patients received initial treatment with steroids alone. Median duration of non-bortezomib based initial treatment was 120 days (range 1-1837). By the end of the study period, 34% of patients were still using first-line treatment, 32% received no further treatment, 15% began second-line therapy, 12% received an autologous stem cell transplant, 4% commenced radiotherapy, 2% were re-treated and 1% died. Second-line treatment was with bortezomib-based therapies in 46% (11/24) of patients. A total of 23% of all patients received an autologous stem cell transplant over the study period. 20% (34/164) of patients developed at least one second tumor over the observation period: 17 patients developed a hematologic malignancy and 22 developed a solid tumor.Conclusion: The JDMC database covers approximately 1% of the Japanese population and all members are <75 years of age. Patients with MM are therefore likely to be younger with less advanced disease than the general population. Half of MM patients were initially treated with steroids, with 43% receiving bortezomib. The study suggests a relatively low rate of progression to advanced line treatment or retreatment in this young cohort of Japanese patients with MM. DisclosuresSiggins:Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Qiu:Janssen Research & Development: Employment, Other: holds shares in Janssen Research & Development . Zhang:Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Huang:Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Rothwell:Janssen Research & Development: Employment. Liu:Janssen Research & Development: Employment, Other: hold shares in Janssen Research & Development .

Metabolically Healthy Obesity and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the General Population - Analysis of a Nationwide Epidemiological Database.

Obesity and metabolic disorders frequently coexist, and both are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the phenotype of obesity without metabolic disorders, referred to as metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), is attracting clinical interest, the pathophysiological impact of MHO remains unclear. Using the Japan Medical Data Center database, we studied 802,288 subjects aged ≥20 years without any metabolic disorders or a prior history of CVD. MHO, defined as obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) with no metabolic disorders, was observed in 9.8% of the study population. The subjects' mean (±SD) age was 42.8±9.4 years and 44.7% were men. The mean follow-up period was 1,126±849 days. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that MHO alone did not significantly increase the risk of any CVD. However, abdominal obesity alone increased the risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Moreover, the coexistence of MHO and abdominal obesity increased the risk of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. The incidence of stroke was not associated with the presence of MHO and abdominal obesity. Among individuals with no metabolic disorders, MHO alone did not significantly increase the subsequent CVD risk. However, individuals with comorbid MHO and abdominal obesity had a higher risk of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, suggesting the prognostic importance of abdominal obesity in subjects with MHO.

Increased risk of infective endocarditis after traumatic skin wound

ObjectiveCurrent data suggest that a history of traumatic open skin wounds may be a risk factor for infectious endocarditis, with limited evidence. We tested the hypothesis that traumatic skin wound...

Real-World Prescription Pattern and Healthcare Cost Among Patients with Ulcerative Colitis in Japan: A Retrospective Claims Data Analysis.

IntroductionThe prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing in Japan but recent disease burden estimates are unavailable. This study was conducted to explore the prescription pattern and to estimate the economic burden in Japanese patients with UC.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was conducted from 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2018 using healthcare claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database. Patients with a UC diagnosis before the index date (the first UC treatment claim) or within 6 months after the index date, a UC treatment claim registered within ≥ 6 months during the selection period, and a continuous enrollment for 6 months pre-index and 12 months follow-up period were included in the study. Prescription pattern was analyzed by calendar years and lines of treatment (LoT). Healthcare resource utilization and cost per month were determined by LoTs.ResultsAmong 10,337 patients with UC diagnosis, 1,861 (18.0%) met the eligibility criteria for this study. 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was the most used treatment over the study period and across all LoTs. 5-ASA was also the most prescribed treatment (88.7%) across all the first LoTs, followed by steroids (20.4%). Use of biologics increased over the study period (biologics + 5-ASA: 0.0% in 2009 to 3.0% in 2018). Biologics were most used as the sixth LoT (7.1%, biologics + 5-ASA; 7.1%, biologics + 5-ASA + steroids). Mean total cost per month was JPY 52,782, with the highest (JPY 112,997) total healthcare cost per month in the fourth LoT and the lowest in the first LoT (JPY 56,782).ConclusionPrescription pattern in Japanese patients with UC enrolled in the JMDC database were largely consistent with the clinical guidelines in Japan. UC puts a substantial economic burden on patients, and an effective treatment is warranted to reduce the UC disease burden.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-020-01615-4.

Patterns of hypnotic prescribing for residual insomnia and recurrence of major depressive disorder: a retrospective cohort study using a Japanese health insurance claims database

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in Japan and frequently accompanied by insomnia that may persist even with MDD remission. Hypnotics are used for the pharmacological treatment of insomnia, but their influence on MDD recurrence or residual insomnia following MDD remission is unclear. This retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study utilized a large Japanese health insurance claims database to investigate patterns of hypnotic prescriptions among patients with MDD, and the influence of hypnotic prescription pattern on MDD recurrence.MethodsEligible patients (20–56 years) were those registered in the Japan Medical Data Center database between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2018, and prescribed antidepressant and hypnotic therapy after being diagnosed with MDD. Patients who had ceased antidepressant therapy for > 180 days were followed for 1 year to evaluate depression recurrence, as assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Logistic regression modelling was used to analyze the effect of hypnotic prescription pattern on MDD recurrence.ResultsOf the 179,174 patients diagnosed with MDD who initiated antidepressant treatment between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2017, complete prescription information was available for 2946 eligible patients who had been prescribed hypnotics. More patients were prescribed hypnotic monotherapy (70.8%) than combination therapy (29.2%). The most prescribed therapies were benzodiazepine monotherapy (26.2%), non-benzodiazepine monotherapy (28.9%), and combination therapy with two drugs (21.1%). Among patients prescribed multiple hypnotics, concomitant prescriptions for anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and sedative antidepressants were more common. The 1-year recurrence rate for MDD was approximately 20%, irrespective of hypnotic mono- versus combination therapy or class of hypnotic therapy. Being a spouse (odds ratio [OR], 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–2.02) or other family member (OR, 1.46, 95% CI, 0.99–2.16) of the insured individual, or being prescribed a sedative antidepressant (OR, 1.50, 95% CI, 1.24–1.82) conferred higher odds of MDD recurrence within 1 year of completing antidepressant therapy.ConclusionsBenzodiazepines are the most prescribed hypnotic among Japanese patients with MDD, though combination hypnotic therapy is routinely prescribed. Hypnotic prescription pattern does not appear to influence real-world MDD recurrence, though hypnotics should be appropriately prescribed given class differences in efficacy and safety.

Treatment patterns for retinal diseases in patients newly-treated with anti-VEGF agents: A retrospective analysis of claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center database.

To describe treatment patterns in patients diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), or diabetic macular edema (DME), newly-treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents as recorded in the Japanese Medical Data Center (JMDC) database. This non-interventional, descriptive, retrospective, observational cohort study included insured Japanese patients aged ≥ 21 and ≤ 75years at index date (anti-VEGF treatment initiation). Patients with minimum one claim in JMDC database with a diagnosis code for nAMD, RVO, or DME between October 2007-May 2015 and with minimum of one claim for anti-VEGF agents on or after the date of diagnosis were included. Frequency and proportion of claims submitted for anti-VEGF injections were assessed during 12months post-index date. The median (interquartile range) number of claims for anti-VEGF injections during 12months post-index date were 3 (1, 4) for nAMD (n = 255), 2 (1, 3) for RVO (n = 223) and 2 (1, 4) for DME (n = 125) patients. Frequencies of nAMD, RVO and DME patients with one or more claims for a retinal disease treatment other than an anti-VEGF agent were 4 (1.57%), 59 (26.46%) and 68 (54.40%) during the 12months pre-index date and 21 (8.24%), 85 (38.12%) and 62 (49.60%) in the 12months post-index date, respectively. The median number of anti-VEGF injections per patient was lower than those reported in clinical trials. Although various pre- and concomitant treatments were used in RVO and DME, anti-VEGF monotherapy was the first-line treatment in > 90% of nAMD patients.

Standard table direct anterior approach within an early discharge protocol for cementless total hip arthroplasty: experience from a Japanese hospital

Aims Clinical and economic outcomes associated with an early discharge protocol for cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) via a direct anterior approach (DAA) on a standard table without a dedicated traction table) were assessed. These outcomes were compared against a benchmark of THA care approximated from a national database. Materials and methods This retrospective, observational, comparative cohort study evaluated 250 patients receiving THA with a standard table DAA approach under an early discharge protocol at a medical center in Japan between 2016 and 2017 (intervention). Patients were propensity score-matched to a standard care control group comprised of THA patients within the Japan Medical Data Center database. A generalized linear model (GLM) using gamma distribution with log-link compared hospital length of stay (LOS) and total cost. Post-operative function and pain (Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score [JOA] and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip Disease Evaluation Questionnaire [JHEQ]) were assessed for DAA patients. Results After propensity score matching, 239 patients were included in each cohort. The patients in the intervention and control group were comparable in regard to age, gender, comorbidities, and procedure year. Adjusted hospital LOS for DAA as part of an early discharge protocol was significantly shorter than for control patients (4.76 vs. 25.36 days). Adjusted total costs were significantly lower (29%) for the intervention group (¥1,613,800 vs. ¥2,254,757; US$14,390 vs. US$20,105). The 3-month follow-up complication rate was 0.42% (superficial infection) for intervention vs. 3.35%. The intervention group had no readmissions and post-operative function and pain scores significantly improved (JHEQ pain score 7.2 ± 5.0 to 24.2 ± 4.6, JOA 48.4 ± 12.8 to 94.3 ± 7.0; p-value < .001). Limitations The study is not randomized and EMR and administrative claims data may lack information (i.e. some clinical variables) required for inference. Also, the data may not represent the whole Japanese population. Conclusions An early discharge protocol demonstrated compatibility with standard table DAA in a Japanese hospital, providing cost savings, while maintaining reliable clinical outcomes.

1497. Epidemiology of RSV infection in Japan: A nationwide claims database analysis

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major global cause of hospitalization for bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infancy around the globe. In Japan, the occurrence of RSV infection is monitored under the national pediatric sentinel surveillance system. However, this system does not provide detailed information about patient distribution by month of birth and clinical features. We aimed to describe the national epidemiology and clinical features of RSV infection in children < 24 months of age utilizing a nationwide healthcare claims database in Japan.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed anonymized claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) of medical insurance beneficiaries who had at least one confirmed RSV-related diagnosis by ICD10 codes between January 2017 and December 2018. In children < 24 months of age, the number of patients by age in Japan was estimated using the prevalence of patients in the database and national population data by age.ResultsIn the JMDC database, 9,711 and 8,509 children < 24 months of age had an RSV-related diagnosis in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Of which, 2,473 (25%) and 2,083 (24%) were hospitalized. When extrapolated to the entire Japanese population, an estimated 138,059 and 119,205 RSV-related diagnoses and 33,355 and 27,339 RSV-associated hospitalizations occurred in Japan in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Infants < 6 months of age accounted for between 39% and 42% of total hospitalisations for RSV. A peak in RSV hospitalization was observed at age 2 months. Only 10% of all children < 24 months of age who were hospitalised with an RSV infection had a specific underlying medical condition (preterm infant, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Down syndrome, chronic heart disease, immunodeficiency). The estimated rate of RSV-associated hospitalization was 35.4 per 1000 population per year among infants < 6 months of age.ConclusionIn conclusion, 3 to 4 out of every 100 Japanese children aged < 6 months were hospitalized for RSV. Ninety percent of children < 24 months of age hospitalised with RSV infection did not have a recognised underlying medical condition. The peak of hospitalization for RSV infection occurred at 2 months of age. Thus, broad-based prevention strategies targeting young infants are needed.DisclosuresYasuhiro Kobayashi, MS, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) Kanae Togo, PhD, Pfizer (Employee) Yasmeen Agosti, MD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder) John M. McLaughlin, PhD, Pfizer (Employee, Shareholder)

Long-Term Pain Management and Health Care Resource Use Among an Employed Population in Japan with Knee Osteoarthritis Combined with Low Back Pain.

ObjectiveAssess long-term comorbidity burden and pain management patterns among working-age patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) only without low back pain (LBP) (KOA-noLBP) and patients with KOA plus LBP (KOA+LBP) in Japan.MethodsRetrospective claims data analyses were conducted on data from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database. Adult patients (≥40 years) with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) (January 1, 2011–December 31, 2012) and 5 years of follow-up were evaluated. The first claim with a KOA diagnosis defined the index date. Longitudinal pain management patterns were assessed in both cohorts.ResultsOverall, 1,828 patients met study criteria (717 with KOA-noLBP; 1,111 with KOA+LBP). The mean age of patients with KOA-noLBP was 52.1 years, and that of patients with KOA+LBP was 53.1 years, with more females in the KOA+LBP cohort (49.4% vs. 55.0%). Regardless of cohort, >90% of patients received pharmacological intervention during the 5-year follow-up period. The most common regimen first received was either topical or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A higher mean number of pharmaceutical treatments were received by patients in the KOA+LBP cohort (3.6) than by patients in the KOA-noLBP cohort (2.7) during the follow-up period. Regardless of cohort, most of the direct medical cost was derived from medication.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that a greater proportion of the JMDC population of working individuals with KOA were comorbid with LBP and received pain-related treatment in the long-term perspective relative to patients with KOA without LBP. Appropriate pain management for both KOA and LBP would be key for effective resource utilization in an aging society facing socioeconomic burdens

Cardiovascular health metrics of 122,788 couples: analysis of a nationwide epidemiological database

Abstract Introduction The American Heart Association suggests that cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics based on established risk factors and behaviors to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. Couples share environmental and lifestyle habits, and therefore, there can be an intra-couple correlation of CVH metrics. However, the clinical data on the association of the CVH metrics among couples are limited. Purpose We aimed to explore the intra-couple relationship of the AHA-defined cardiovascular health metrics using a nationwide epidemiological database. Methods This study is a retrospective observational cross-sectional analysis using the health claims database of the Japan Medical Data Center between January 2005 and December 2016. We modified the American Heart Association CVH metrics and defined ideal CVH component as following: 1) nonsmoking, 2) body mass index &amp;lt;25 kg/m2, 3) physical activity at goal, 4) untreated blood pressure &amp;lt;120/80 mm Hg, 5) untreated fasting glucose &amp;lt;100 mg/dL, and 6) untreated total cholesterol &amp;lt;200 mg/dL. Results We analyzed 122,788 heterosexual couples enrolled in the Japan Medical Data Center database. The average age of participants was 50.2±9.5 years in men and 48.6±8.9 years in women. Good correlation was observed between couples in terms of the modified ideal CVH metrics (Figure 1A). The prevalence of meeting ≥5 ideal components in the female partners increased from 31% in the male partners meeting no ideal components to 55% in those meeting 6 ideal components. The concordance ratio is particularly higher in the component of smoking status, blood pressure, and fasting glucose level. A man who meets ≥5 ideal components probably had a woman partner who meets ≥5 ideal components (Odds ratio 1.6, 95% CI: 1.6–1.7, p&amp;lt;0.001). The P value for the McNemar test was significant for all components, indicating that women apparently met ideal metrics for metrics in discordant Couples (Figure 1B). Conclusion Our investigation showed that there was a good intra-couple correlation of the ideal modified CVH metrics, suggesting the potential of couple-based assessment and management for improving CVH status. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Predictive Validity of Body Mass Index Cutoff Values Used in the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition Criteria for Discriminating Severe and Moderate Malnutrition Based on In‐Patients With Pneumonia in Asians

This study aimed to investigate the predictive validity of the previously reported body mass index (BMI) cutoff values of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria for patients with pneumonia in Asians, using a nationwide registry database. The study included 26,098 (2282 patients aged <70 years and 23,784 patients aged ≥70 years) patients with pneumonia aged ≥65 years who were enrolled in the Japan Medical Data Center database between April 2014 and December 2018. Malnutrition was diagnosed using the GLIM criteria, and the severity of malnutrition was diagnosed by using a BMI cutoff value of <17.0 and <17.8 for patients aged <70 and ≥70 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine whether the severity of malnutrition based on BMI was associated with poor clinical outcomes, such as 30-day in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), and 30-day readmission. A total of 14.7% and 24.1% of patients aged <70 and ≥70 years, respectively, experienced severe malnutrition. Severe malnutrition was independently associated with 30-day in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19; 95% CI, 1.05-1.34), prolonged LOS (coefficient, 5.13; 95% CI, 4.31-5.94), and 30-day readmission (HR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.89-2.75) in patients aged ≥70 years; however, only prolonged LOS was independently associated with patients aged <70 years (coefficient, 3.27; 95% CI, -0.24-6.78). The BMI cutoff values might be valid for patients with pneumonia aged ≥70 years in Asians. Further investigation is required to validate the cutoff value for older adults aged <70 years.

Longitudinal Assessment of Pain Management Among the Employed Japanese Population with Knee Osteoarthritis.

PurposeTo assess comorbidity burden and pain-management patterns among working-aged patients with knee osteoarthritis only (KOA/O) and patients with knee osteoarthritis plus osteoarthritis at another site (KOA/+) in Japan.Patients and MethodsRetrospective claims data analysis was conducted using the Japan Medical Data Center database. Working-aged adults (aged 40 to 71 years) with 5 years of follow-up and diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, were evaluated. The first claim with a KOA diagnosis defined the index date. Patients were divided into two mutually exclusive cohorts: KOA/O and KOA/+. Longitudinal pain-management patterns during each year of follow-up were analyzed.ResultsA total of 2542 patients met study criteria: 1575 KOA/O and 967 KOA/+. Mean age and number of comorbidities were higher among the KOA/+ versus KOA/O cohort. Pharmaceutical treatment was received by 91.5% of patients in the KOA/+ compared with 85.1% of patients in the KOA/O cohort during the first year of follow-up. The most common pharmacological treatment received during the first year of follow-up was either topical or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for both cohorts. During each year of follow-up, the KOA/+ cohort had greater proportion of patients with at least one health-care encounter (ie, hospital admissions, outpatient and pharmacy visits) and higher direct medical costs compared with the KOA/O cohort.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that a greater proportion of the working population with KOA/+ received pain-related treatment compared with patients with KOA/O. Further studies are necessary to evaluate appropriate pain management for both KOA only and KOA with other sites.

Treatment patterns and healthcare resource utilization in palmoplantar pustulosis patients in Japan: A claims database study.

BackgroundPalmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory autoimmune condition, characterized by sterile pustules on the palms and soles. The treatment patterns of PPP and total health care resource utilization in Japan are not well described. Investigating these areas is needed to understand current PPP management in Japan.ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics, medication treatment and health care resource utilization patterns, and associated costs of PPP patients in Japan.MethodsA retrospective analysis of insurance claims data was conducted using the Japan Medical Data Center database. Adult Patients with at least two claims with a PPP diagnosis from January 1, 2011 to March 30, 2017 and six months of follow-up after the first diagnosis were included. Patient characteristics described include age, gender, and comorbid conditions. Treatment patterns assessed include the types of treatment, sequence of treatment, and rates of discontinuation, switching, persistence and use of concomitant medications.ResultsA total of 5,162 adult patients met all inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) patient age was 49.7 (11.6) years and 43.2% were male. A total of 2441 patients (47.8%) received systemic non-biologic drugs during the entire follow up period, 2,366 (46.4%) were prescribed topical therapy, 273 (5.4%) were prescribed phototherapy, while 18 (0.4%) of patients with other autoimmune comorbidities were eligible for prescribed biologics. For treatment-naïve patients with mild PPP, topical therapy was most commonly (77.1%) prescribed, whereas in moderate to severe cases of PPP, systemic non-biologic drugs (65%) were most often used. The frequency of switching was similar (64.3% to 75.3%) across various therapies and treatment lines.ConclusionThis study describes the treatment patterns and health care resource utilization for Japanese PPP patients using a large claims database, and highlights an unmet need to derive better treatment strategies for PPP and address disease burden in Japan.

Treatment patterns and medical cost of systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Japan: a retrospective claims database study

Aim: To describe the characteristics and medication treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and associated costs in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods: Claims data from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database were used to identify patients with SLE-related claims from 2010 to 2017. Algorithms were developed to retrospectively categorize patients by disease severity, treatment experience, and SLE-related manifestations such as lupus nephritis and central nervous system lupus. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were used to describe treatment pattern and estimate HRU and associated costs for the SLE cohort overall and by disease severity and complications.Results: Among 4,733 eligible patients, 2,072 (43.8%) were treatment naïve, 2,214 (46.8%) were previously treated for SLE, and 447 (9.4%) did not receive any treatment. Mean (SD) age of the total SLE cohort was 45.2 (13.1) years and mean (SD) follow-up duration was 1,137.3 (758.0) d. Based on disease severity, 1,383 (29.2%) patients had mild, 2,619 (55.3%) patients had moderate, and 731 (15.4%) patients had severe SLE. Patients on glucocorticoids (both oral and parenteral) received add-on medications the most (35.5%, p < .001). Mean annual cost per SLE patient in the post-index period, inclusive of hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and pharmacy was ¥436,836; ¥1,010,772; and ¥2,136,780 for patients with mild, moderate, and severe SLE, respectively.Limitations: The database only captured information on patients up to 75 years of age. Due to the nature of the database, biases regarding conditions that attribute to the spectrum of SLE severity, flare incidences, or individual physical status cannot be ruled out.Conclusions: This study describes the treatment patterns and economic burden experienced by Japanese patients with SLE. The results highlight an unmet need to derive better treatment strategies for patients with SLE to effectively address the disease burden in Japan.

Treatment patterns and characteristics of patients with migraine in Japan: A retrospective analysis of health insurance claims data.

To describe treatment patterns of migraine patients in the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database. Patients aged ≥18 years with ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient migraine diagnoses, ≥1 outpatient diagnosis and ≥1 migraine-specific acute treatment (triptan or ergotamine), or ≥2 migraine-specific acute treatments from 1 May 2011 to 30 April 2014 were identified. Patients were required to be enrolled in a health plan for ≥1 year before and after the index date. The first migraine diagnosis or acute treatment defined the index date. Patients were stratified by the migraine treatments observed after the index date (i.e. migraine-specific acute treatment only [AT], prophylactic with or without migraine-specific acute treatment [PT], or no treatment [NT]) and described regarding the first migraine treatment regimen and subsequent treatment patterns during up to 1 year of follow-up. A total of 16,443 patients met the eligibility criteria (9873 AT, 3022 PT, and 3548 NT). AT patients had mean (SD) 10.3 (20.5) acute treatment days during 1-year follow-up, and 81.9% received triptans. When assessing the first migraine treatment regimen during follow-up in PT patients, 29.2% received prophylactic treatment only and 51.7% received both acute and prophylactic treatment. Calcium-channel blockers with or without concomitant triptans (34.4%) were the most common first regimen. Approximately 62.2% discontinued initial prophylactic treatment after an average of 61.2 days (SD = 65.3) of persistent treatment. Among discontinuers, 15.2% reinitiated original treatment and 7.0% switched treatment post-discontinuation within a year, while the remaining patients did not receive prophylactic therapy following discontinuation. Among Japanese migraine patients, prophylactic use was low and associated with a high rate of discontinuation following a brief treatment period. Many patients reinitiated or switched treatment following discontinuation, while a significant proportion of patients remained discontinued from prophylactic therapy, suggesting a high unmet need.

A retrospective cohort study evaluating healthcare resource utilization in patients with asthma in Japan

Although the global economic burden of asthma is well described, detailed data regarding Asia, particularly for Japan, are relatively scarce. This retrospective study aims to fill this evidence gap by evaluating asthma-associated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and economic burden in Japanese patients aged ≥16 years, identified using anonymized patient data from the Japan Medical Data Center (JMDC) database from April 2009 to March 2015. Asthma severity was classified according to asthma treatment guidelines from the Japanese Society of Allergology. HCRU was calculated based on hospitalizations, emergency room visits, outpatient visits, and prescriptions. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for HCRU and per-patient-per-year direct costs were reported. In addition, differences across HCRU and cost variables for severe versus non-severe asthma patients were also compared. Of 541,434 asthma cases identified from the JMDC database during the study period, 54,433 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this analysis. HCRU and costs were heavily concentrated within severe asthma, a subgroup comprising 12.7% of total study population. Moreover, patients with severe asthma had significantly higher all-cause hospitalizations, outpatient visits, outpatient prescriptions (IRR [95% CI], 1.60 [1.46–1.76]; 1.43 [1.41–1.45]; 1.24 [1.22–1.25], respectively), and total medical costs (mean ± SD costs, US$ 4345 ± 11,104 versus US$ 1528 ± 3989, P < 0.001 (t-test); US$ 1 = 110 JPY) compared with those with non-severe asthma. The burden of asthma is significantly and disproportionately concentrated in Japanese severe asthma patients, suggesting clinical failure to achieve adequate disease control. This study highlights the unmet needs for severe asthma in Japan and provides a catalyst for important dialogues in advancing public health.

Safety and effectiveness of Japanese herbal Kampo medicines for treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum.

To investigate whether Japanese Kampo medicines, including Sho-hange-kabukuryou-to, Touki-syakuyaku-san, and Hange-kouboku-to, are safe for fetuses, and whether these medicines reduce hospitalizations and medical costs in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum. We used the Japan Medical Data Center database to extract data for pregnant women (aged ≥19years) admitted to obstetric clinics or hospitals for delivery between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2016. Eligible patients were classified into three groups: Kampo medicines for hyperemesis gravidarum, other medicines for hyperemesis gravidarum, and without hyperemesis gravidarum. Safety outcome measures were neonatal outcomes (congenital anomalies, low birthweight, and preterm birth), and effectiveness measures were mother's unplanned hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum and total medical costs within 20weeks of gestation. We identified 121287 eligible mothers. No significant differences in the safety measures were observed among the groups. The Kampo medication group had a significantly lower proportion of mothers with unplanned hospital admission (odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-0.92) and lower total costs (coefficient [US$] 12.8, 95% CI -23.2 to -2.4) than the other medication group. Kampo medicines may reduce unplanned admissions and medical costs among pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: R000037298 UMIN000032706.

Recent Prescription Patterns for Children With Acute Infectious Diarrhea.

This study investigated recent trends in antibiotic use and factors associated with antibiotic use among children with acute infectious diarrhea. We obtained records of outpatients aged under 18 years diagnosed with acute infectious diarrhea from the Japan Medical Data Center database during 2012-2015. We investigated prescription patterns of antibiotics at their initial visit and evaluated factors associated with antibiotic usage using multivariable log-binomial regression models. Overall, we identified 4493 patients diagnosed with acute infectious diarrhea; 29.6% received antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic is fosfomycin (20.3%). In multivariable log-binomial regression analysis, out-of-hour visits, clinical diagnoses of suspected bacterial enterocolitis, private outpatient clinics, and pediatric departments are significantly associated with higher prevalence of antibiotic use. Antibiotics are over-prescribed for children with acute infectious diarrhea. Our investigation provides important information to promote education of physicians and of health policy considerations for appropriate antibiotic prescription practices.