A real-world analysis of characteristics and lipid-lowering therapy use in patients initiating treatment with evolocumab in Sweden

Background/Introduction

Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in clinical trials. In January 2019, evolocumab reimbursement recommendation in Sweden was broadened to include patients on maximally tolerated oral lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and either ASCVD and LDL-C ≥2.5 mmol/L, or familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) with no ASCVD and LDL-C ≥3.0 mmol/L.

Purpose

Describe characteristics and LLT use in patients initiating treatment with evolocumab in the context of the 2019 reimbursement recommendation in Sweden.

Methods

Cross-sectional, population-based, retrospective, observational study of patients initiating treatment with evolocumab between January 2019 and June 2020. Data were obtained from national healthcare registers and electronic medical records, covering more than half of the Swedish population.

Results

Out of 1560 patients included, 41% had LDL-C available ≤3 months prior to treatment initiation with evolocumab. Among those with LDL-C available, 79% had ASCVD and 19% had definite, probable or possible FH with no ASCVD. Mean pre-treatment LDL-C levels were 3.7 and 5.0 mmol/L for patients with ASCVD, and FH with no ASCVD, respectively. Most of the patients, 84.6% and 80.0%, respectively, had been ever treated with both statins and ezetimibe. However, 28.0% and 38.3% of them, respectively, were not on oral LLT at the time of treatment initiation with evolocumab. Patient characteristics and LLT use are presented in Table 1.

Conclusions

Patients initiating treatment with evolocumab in Sweden had pre-treatment LDL-C levels far from treatment targets, despite being at very high risk for cardiovascular events. Most of the patients had been treated with both statins and ezetimibe in the past. However, almost a third of them were not using oral LLT at the time of treatment initiation with evolocumab. The conditions in the 2019 evolocumab reimbursement recommendation in Sweden were generally met.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Amgen

Cost of osteoporotic hip fracture in Spain per Autonomous Region

OBJECTIVE

We estimated the health resource utilization (HRU) and associated costs during the 12months after a first osteoporotic hip fracture (OHF) in six Spanish Regions.

METHODS

Observational, prospective study including patients ≥65years-old hospitalized due to a first OHF in: Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Galicia, Madrid and the Basque Country. HRU related to OHF, quality of life and patient autonomy were collected, and HRU-associated costs were estimated.

RESULTS

Four hundred and eighty-seven patients (mean age: 83.1years, 77% women) were included, with demographic characteristics that were similar across the Regions. Mean hospital stay was longest in Madrid and Galicia (women/men: 15.0/18.6 and 16.9/12.6days, respectively) and shortest in Andalusia and the Valencian Community (8.2/7.2 and 8.4/9.4days). There were more rehabilitation sessions and formal home care days in Catalonia and Madrid (women/men: 16/21 and 17/29 sessions; 19/20 and 30/27days) and fewer in Andalusia and Galicia (4/1 and 3/0 sessions; 3/1 and 1/0days). Mean HRU costs were higher in Madrid and lower in Andalusia (women/men: 12,321€/12,297€ and 7,031€/6,115€, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

OHF place a large burden on Spanish Regional Health Systems, including high economic costs. We found notable differences in mean costs across the Regions, mainly caused by the differential length of the first hospital stay and the outpatient care in subsequent months. These differences may be associated with differences in surgical delay. A national consensus on the management of OHF is desirable; moreover, agreeing common guidelines could have major socio-economic and healthcare benefits.