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Bell CF, Wu B, Huang SP, Rubin B, Averell CM, Chastek B, Hulbert EM. Healthcare resource utilization and costs in patients with a newly confirmed diagnosis of lupus nephritis in the United States over a 5-year follow-up period. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:691. [PMID: 38822336 PMCID: PMC11143616 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11060-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and healthcare costs in patients with newly confirmed lupus nephritis (LN) in the United States over a 5-year follow-up period. METHODS This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study (GSK Study 214102) utilized administrative claims data to identify individuals with a newly confirmed diagnosis of LN between August 01, 2011, and July 31, 2018, based on LN-specific International Classification of Diseases diagnosis codes. Index was the date of first LN-related diagnosis code claim. HCRU, healthcare costs, and incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares were reported annually among eligible patients with at least 5 years continuous enrollment post-index. RESULTS Of 2,159 patients with a newly confirmed diagnosis of LN meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria, 335 had at least 5 years continuous enrollment post-index. HCRU was greatest in the first year post-LN diagnosis across all categories (inpatient admission, emergency room [ER] visits, ambulatory visits, and pharmacy use), and trended lower, though remained substantial, in the 5-year follow-up period. Among patients with LN and HCRU, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) number of ER visits and inpatient admissions were 3.7 (4.6) and 1.8 (1.5), respectively, in Year 1, which generally remained stable in Years 2-5; the mean (SD) number of ambulatory visits and pharmacy fills were 35.8 (25.1) and 62.9 (43.8), respectively, in Year 1, and remained similar for Years 2-5. Most patients (≥ 91.6%) had ≥ 1 SLE flare in each of the 5 years of follow-up. The proportion of patients who experienced a severe SLE flare was higher in Year 1 (31.6%) than subsequent years (14.3-18.5%). Total costs (medical and pharmacy; mean [SD]) were higher in Year 1 ($44,205 [71,532]) than subsequent years ($29,444 [52,310]-$32,222 [58,216]), driven mainly by inpatient admissions (Year 1: $21,181 [58,886]; subsequent years: $7,406 [23,331]-$9,389 [29,283]). CONCLUSIONS Patients with a newly confirmed diagnosis of LN have substantial HCRU and healthcare costs, particularly in the year post-diagnosis, largely driven by inpatient costs. This highlights the need for improved disease management to prevent renal damage, improve patient outcomes, and reduce costs among patients with renal involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher F Bell
- GSK, US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, 410 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
| | - Benjamin Wu
- GSK, US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, 410 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Shirley P Huang
- GSK, US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, 410 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Bernard Rubin
- GSK, US Medical Affairs and Immuno-Inflammation, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Carlyne M Averell
- GSK, US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, 410 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
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Garal-Pantaler E, Schultze M, Georgiou ME, Pignot M, Gairy K, Hunnicutt JN. Real-World Burden of Immunosuppressant-Treated Lupus Nephritis: A German Claims Database Analysis. Rheumatol Ther 2024; 11:113-127. [PMID: 38001304 PMCID: PMC10796872 DOI: 10.1007/s40744-023-00623-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This retrospective cohort study (GSK213737) aimed to characterize treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) initiating immunosuppressant therapy in clinical practice in Germany, to better understand the full picture of the real-world burden of LN. METHODS Adult patients with LN who initiated mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC), azathioprine (AZA), tacrolimus, cyclosporin A, or rituximab therapy in 2011-2017 (index therapy) were identified from the Betriebskrankenkassen German Sickness Fund database. Treatment patterns, including immunosuppressant discontinuations, and therapy switches, were assessed (maximum follow-up 4 years). Corticosteroid use, HCRU, and total economic costs were also evaluated. HCRU and costs were compared with matched controls (individuals without systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE]/LN matched by age, sex, and baseline Charlson Comorbidity Index). RESULTS Among 334 patients with LN, the median (interquartile range) duration of index immunosuppressant therapy use was 380.5 (126, 1064) days. Of those patients with 4 years complete enrollment, 70.8% had ≥ 1 discontinuation and 28.8% switched therapy. While most patients (71.2%) received only one immunosuppressant, gaps in treatment were common. After 1 year of follow-up, 41.6% of patients had a prednisone-equivalent corticosteroid dose of ≥ 7.5 mg/day. Patients with LN had greater HCRU use for most categories assessed and increased mean total costs per person-year versus controls (€15,115.99 versus €4,081.88 in the first year of follow-up). CONCLUSIONS This real-world analysis demonstrated the considerable burden of immunosuppressant-treated LN in Germany, with a high rate of discontinuations, frequent use of high-dose corticosteroids, and substantial HCRU/costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Garal-Pantaler
- Health Care Research and Health Economics (Versorgungsforschung und Gesundheitsökonomie), Team Gesundheit GmbH, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Schultze
- Berlin Center for Epidemiology and Health Research, ZEG Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Marc Pignot
- Berlin Center for Epidemiology and Health Research, ZEG Berlin GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerry Gairy
- Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Brentford, Middlesex, UK
| | - Jacob N Hunnicutt
- Value Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA.
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Hunnicutt JN, Georgiou ME, Ma L, Levy RA, Gairy K. Real-World Immunosuppressant Treatment Patterns for Patients with Lupus Nephritis in the United States. Rheumatol Ther 2023; 10:1305-1318. [PMID: 37477809 PMCID: PMC10468458 DOI: 10.1007/s40744-023-00577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lupus nephritis (LN) treatment aims to control and prevent flares and irreversible kidney damage. Around 30% of patients are unresponsive to treatment; however, real-world LN treatment patterns have not been reported. Objectives of this retrospective cohort study (GSK 209758) were to quantify the time to switching/re-initiating induction therapy in patients with LN initiating immunosuppressant therapy and conversion from induction to maintenance immunosuppressant therapy, and to assess corticosteroid use. METHODS Patients with LN initiating induction or maintenance immunosuppressant therapy were identified using claims data. Patients were followed up from the index date (immunosuppressant initiation date) until treatment discontinuation, death, disenrollment, administrative censoring, or the end of follow-up period. The cumulative incidence of switching/re-initiating induction therapy and conversion to maintenance therapy was estimated using outpatient pharmacy claims and procedure codes. Corticosteroid use was estimated using pharmacy claims; a mean daily dose of ≥ 7.5 mg/day was considered high. RESULTS In total, 5000 patients with LN contributed 5516 treatment episodes (induction cohort, N = 372; maintenance cohort, N = 5144). In the induction cohort, the cumulative incidence (95% confidence interval) of switching between induction therapies was 24.6% (20.1-30.0) at 12 months, while 59.6% (52.4-66.1) of patients converted to maintenance therapy at 12 months. In the maintenance cohort, 21.2% (19.9-22.5) re-initiated induction therapy at 12 months. Oral corticosteroid use decreased during the follow-up in both cohorts, but 21.5% of patients remained on a high dose at 12 months in the induction cohort, while 15.8% in the maintenance cohort were taking a high dose at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS Around a quarter of patients with LN initiating immunosuppressant therapy switched within 12 months, while a fifth re-initiated induction therapy within 12 months. Use of high corticosteroid doses were observed during 24 months of follow-up. These data suggest that many patients do not respond to existing standard LN therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob N Hunnicutt
- GSK, Value Evidence and Outcomes, 1250 South Collegeville Road, Collegeville, PA, 19426, USA.
| | | | - Liyuan Ma
- GSK, Value Evidence and Outcomes, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Roger A Levy
- GSK, Global Medical Affairs, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Kerry Gairy
- GSK, Value Evidence and Outcomes, Brentford, Middlesex, UK
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Bell CF, Wu B, Huang SP, Rubin B, Averell CM, Chastek B, Hulbert EM, Von Feldt J. Healthcare Resource Utilization and Associated Costs in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Diagnosed With Lupus Nephritis. Cureus 2023; 15:e37839. [PMID: 37214060 PMCID: PMC10198302 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lupus nephritis (LN) is among the most severe organ manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting between 31% and 48% of patients, usually within five years of SLE diagnosis. SLE without LN is associated with a high economic burden on the healthcare system, and although data are limited, several studies have shown that SLE with LN could increase this burden. Aim: We aimed to compare the economic burden of LN versus SLE without LN among patients managed in routine clinical practices in the USA and describe the clinical course of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective observational study of patients with commercial or Medicare Advantage health insurance. It included 2310 patients with LN and 2310 matched patients who had SLE without LN; each patient was followed for 12 months after diagnosis (the patient's index date). Outcome measures included healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), direct healthcare costs, and SLE clinical manifestations. Results: In all healthcare settings, the mean (SD) use of all-cause healthcare resources was significantly higher in the LN versus SLE without LN cohort, including the mean number of ambulatory visits (53.9 (55.1) vs 33.0 (26.0)), emergency room visits (2.9 (7.9) vs 1.6 (3.3)), inpatient stays (0.9 (1.5) vs 0.3 (0.8)), and pharmacy fills (65.0 (48.3) vs 51.2 (42.6)) (all p<0.001). Total all-cause costs per patient in the LN cohort were also significantly higher compared with the SLE without LN cohort ($50,975 (86,281) vs $26,262 (52,720), p<0.001), including costs for inpatient stays and outpatient visits. Clinically, a significantly higher proportion of patients with LN experienced moderate or severe SLE flares compared with the SLE without LN cohort (p<0.001), which may explain the difference in HCRU and healthcare costs. CONCLUSION All-cause HCRU and costs were higher for patients with LN than for matched patients with SLE without LN, highlighting the economic burden associated with LN.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Wu
- US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, GSK, Durham, USA
| | | | | | | | - Benjamin Chastek
- Life Sciences, Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Optum, Eden Prairie, USA
| | - Erin M Hulbert
- Life Sciences, Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Optum, Eden Prairie, USA
| | - Joan Von Feldt
- US Medical Affairs, GSK, Philadelphia, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
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Dall’Era M, Kalunian K, Eaddy M, Ogbonnaya A, Farrelly E, Turowski E, Birardi V, Solomons N, Randhawa S, Mina-Osorio P. Real-world treatment utilization and economic implications of lupus nephritis disease activity in the United States. J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2023; 29:36-45. [PMID: 36190835 PMCID: PMC10657222 DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2022.21496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with approximately 40% of patients with SLE developing LN. Even with treatment, 10%-30% of patients will progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although many studies have assessed the clinical value of low disease activity in LN, the economic implications are less defined. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment utilization and health care costs associated with active disease, low disease activity, and ESRD in patients with LN. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of Optum pharmacy and medical claims data from 2015 to 2019 was performed and included patients with a diagnosis of SLE (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision or Tenth Revision codes 710.0 or M32, respectively) and additional prespecified criteria for LN. Total health care payer costs for medical and pharmacy services and treatment utilization for commonly prescribed medications were determined for periods of low disease activity, active disease, or ESRD. RESULTS: A total of 21,251 patients (mean age 60.3 years; 87% female; 55% White patients and 18% Black patients) with a mean follow-up period of 30.6 months were included; the majority of patients had active disease (67.3%), followed by low disease activity (51.3%), and ESRD (10.5%). Glucocorticoids were used 2 times more often and mycophenolate mofetil was used 4 times more often in patients with active disease vs low disease activity. Glucocorticoids, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus were more commonly used in patients with ESRD vs those with low disease activity. Mean medical costs were $4,777 per month in active disease and $18,084 per month in ESRD vs $2,523 per month in low disease activity. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment burden and costs are high for patients with active disease and ESRD in LN. Treatments that allow patients to achieve and maintain low disease activity may help improve patient outcomes and reduce medication use and overall health care costs. DISCLOSURES: Maria Dall'Era and Kenneth Kalunian are consultants of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals. Eric Turowski, Vanessa Birardi, Neil Solomons, Simrat Randhawa, and Paola Mina-Osorio are employees and stockholders of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals. Michael Eaddy is a former employee of Xcenda, LLC. Augustina Ogbonnaya and Eileen Farrelly are employees of Xcenda, LLC, which was contracted by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals to assist in the conduct of this study and the writing of this manuscript. Aurinia Pharmaceuticals provided funding for this study and the preparation of the manuscript. Aurinia Pharmaceuticals had a role in writing the report and decision to submit for publication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dall’Era
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Kenneth Kalunian
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Michael Eaddy
- Xcenda, LLC, Carrollton, TX
- Abbvie, North Chicago, IL
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Al-Shujairi A, Elbadawi F, Al-Saleh J, Hamouda M, Vasylyev A, Khamashta M. Literature review of lupus nephritis From the Arabian Gulf region. Lupus 2023; 32:155-165. [PMID: 36331103 PMCID: PMC9810828 DOI: 10.1177/09612033221137248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The severity of lupus nephritis (LN) varies between different ethnicities. However, there are limited data regarding disease severity for LN in patients from the Arabian Gulf region; moreover, there are no treatment guidelines developed specifically for this population. The objective of this review was to characterise the incidence of LN, current treatment practices, the severity of LN, and the pathophysiology and biomarkers associated with LN in the Arabian Gulf region. METHODS A literature search using EMBASE was conducted in October, 2021 to identify publications reporting on the incidence, treatment practices, severity, pathophysiology or biomarkers associated with LN, from countries in the Arabian Gulf region (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). Additional relevant publications were provided by collaborators. A manual review of the publications was conducted to determine their relevance and data on the outcomes of interest were extracted. RESULTS Of 3705 publications, 54 publications were identified as relevant. LN is one of the most commonly diagnosed renal diseases within the Arabian Gulf and approximately 10%-36% of all renal biopsies are for LN. Treatment patterns within the region appear to vary and generally follow treatment guidelines recommended by the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO). The majority of patients receive cyclophosphamide for induction therapy, whilst others receive mycophenolate mofetil. Most studies showed that the most frequently diagnosed class of LN within the Arabian Gulf region was Class IV (up to 63% of patients with LN). Sustained or increased levels of serum creatinine and proteinuria; and depressed levels of complement C3/C4 were commonly seen among patients with LN from the Arabian Gulf region. CONCLUSIONS This review identified that LN may manifest more severely among patients from the Arabian Gulf region than in other populations, such as Caucasian populations. A greater understanding of LN and the treatment practices within the region, as well as the development of more specific treatment guidelines for this population may help improve outcomes for patients with LN in the Arabian Gulf region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Faisal Elbadawi
- Department of Rheumatology,
Dubai
Hospital, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates
| | - Jamal Al-Saleh
- Department of Rheumatology,
Dubai
Hospital, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates
| | | | | | - Munther Khamashta
- GSK, Medical
Affairs, Dubai, United Arab Emirates,Department of Women and Children’s
Health, Kings College
London, St Thomas' Hospital, London,
UK,Munther Khamashta; GSK, Medical Affairs,
ARENCO Tower 19th Floor, Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, 50199, Dubai.
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Mandrik O, Fotheringham J, Ren S, Tice JA, Chapman RH, Stevenson MD, Pearson SD, Herron-Smith S, Agboola F, Thokala P. The Cost-Effectiveness of Belimumab and Voclosporin for Patients with Lupus Nephritis in the United States. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 17:385-394. [PMID: 35115304 PMCID: PMC8975035 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.13030921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Despite existing therapies, people with lupus nephritis progress to kidney failure and have reduced life expectancy. Belimumab and voclosporin are two new disease-modifying therapies recently approved for the treatment of lupus nephritis. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS A de novo economic model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of these therapies, including the following health states: "complete response," "partial response," and "active disease" defined by eGFR and proteinuria changes, kidney failure, and death. Short-term data and mean cohort characteristics were sourced from pivotal clinical trials of belimumab (the Belimumab International Study in Lupus Nephritis) and voclosporin (the Aurinia Urinary Protection Reduction Active-Lupus with Voclosporin trial and Aurinia Renal Response in Active Lupus With Voclosporin). Risk of mortality and kidney failure were on the basis of survival modeling using published Kaplan-Meier data. Each drug was compared with the standard of care as represented by the comparator arm in its respective pivotal trial(s) using US health care sector perspective, with a societal perspective also explored. RESULTS In the health care perspective probabilistic analysis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for belimumab compared with its control arm was estimated to be approximately $95,000 per quality-adjusted life year. The corresponding incremental ratio for voclosporin compared with its control arm was approximately $150,000 per quality-adjusted life year. Compared with their respective standard care arms, the probabilities of belimumab and voclosporin being cost effective at a threshold of $150,000 per quality-adjusted life year were 69% and 49%, respectively. Cost-effectiveness was dependent on assumptions made regarding survival in response states, costs and utilities in active disease, and the utilities in response states. In the analysis from a societal perspective, the incremental ratio for belimumab was estimated to be approximately $66,000 per quality-adjusted life year, and the incremental ratio for voclosporin was estimated to be approximately $133,000 per quality-adjusted life year. CONCLUSIONS Compared with their respective standard care arms, belimumab but not voclosporin met willingness-to-pay thresholds of $100,000 per quality-adjusted life year. Despite potential clinical superiority in the informing trials, there remains high uncertainty around the cost-effectiveness of voclosporin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Mandrik
- Health Economic and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - James Fotheringham
- Health Economic and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Shijie Ren
- Health Economic and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey A. Tice
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Matthew D. Stevenson
- Health Economic and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Foluso Agboola
- Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Praveen Thokala
- Health Economic and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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