Burden of chronic corticosteroid use among patients with ulcerative colitis initiated on targeted treatment or conventional therapy in the United States
Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 2024
Background
Chronic corticosteroid use is common in ulcerative colitis (UC); however, real-world evidence of its burden to the health care system is limited.
Objective
To quantify chronic corticosteroid use burden in UC.
Methods
Adults with UC initiated on targeted treatments (ie, biologics and advanced/small molecule therapies) or conventional therapy (index date) were selected from a deidentified US insurance claims database (January 1, 2004, to September 30, 2021). Targeted treatments and conventional therapy initiators were stratified into chronic (>90 days corticosteroid use 12 months post-index [landmark]) and nonchronic corticosteroid users. Patient characteristics 12 months pre-index were balanced with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Health care resource use, costs (US$ 2021), and corticosteroid-related complications were compared in the 12 months post-landmark. RESULTS: Targeted treatment initiators included 1,886 chronic and 1,911 nonchronic corticosteroid users; conventional therapy initiators included 4,980 chronic and 5,199 nonchronic users. Chronic vs nonchronic users had 94% more inpatient days and 16% more outpatient visits among targeted treatment initiators, and 135% more inpatient days and 30% more outpatient visits among conventional therapy initiators (all P < 0.01). Mean all-cause total costs per patient per year were $73,491 for chronic vs $58,884 for nonchronic users ($14,607 higher; P < 0.01) for targeted treatment initiators, and $39,335 for chronic vs $21,271 for nonchronic users ($18,065 higher; P < 0.01) for conventional therapy initiators. Odds of infection and bone loss were 14% and 113% higher, respectively, in chronic vs nonchronic users among targeted treatment initiators and 29% and 47% higher in chronic vs nonchronic users among conventional therapy initiators (all P < .01).
Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that chronic corticosteroid use is associated with substantial clinical and economic burden and may indicate unmet needs in the management of UC progression.
Authors
Zhdanava M, Zhao R, Manceur AM, Ding Z, Boudreau J, Kachroo S, Kerner C, Izanec J, Pilon D