Economic Burden of Switching to Different Biologic Therapies Among Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor-Experienced Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis
Rheumatology and Therapy, 2019
Introduction
Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who receive an initial tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) may switch to another TNFi or a non-TNFi biologic therapy. This study compared the healthcare resource use (HRU), expenditures, and time to discontinuation among TNFi-experienced patients with PsA who switched to different biologic therapies in the United States (US).
Methods
Adults with PsA who discontinued an initial TNFi (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, golimumab, or certolizumab pegol) and switched to another TNFi or a non-TNFi (ustekinumab or secukinumab) were identified in the Symphony Health Solutions database [Quarter (Q)1 2010-Q2 2017]. Eligible patients had claims data activity for ≥ 12 months before (baseline) and after (study period) the switching date. All-cause HRU, costs (2017 US dollars), and time to discontinuation during the study period were compared between patients switching to another TNFi vs. a non-TNFi (index drug). Multivariable regression models adjusted for baseline covariates (index year, age, sex, initial TNFi, comorbidities, baseline HRU, and PsA-related treatment history).
Results
Of 2107 patients switching to another TNFi and 253 switching to a non-TNFi, adalimumab and etanercept were the most common initial TNFi in both cohorts. During the study period, patients switching to another TNFi had significantly fewer dermatologists visits (0.43; p < 0.01) but more rheumatologist visits (1.56, p < 0.01) than patients switching to a non-TNFi. Patients switching to another TNFi vs. a non-TNFi incurred significantly lower total average healthcare expenditures (adjusted difference: $17,625; p < 0.01), driven by lower prescription drug (adjusted difference: $17,172; p < 0.01) and hospitalization expenditures (adjusted difference: $5772; p = 0.04). Patients who switched to another TNFi vs. a non-TNFi continued on their index therapy significantly longer (median time to discontinuation: 8.31 vs. 5.68 months; log-rank p < 0.01).
Conclusions
Patients with PsA who switched to another TNFi had lower total healthcare expenditures and longer persistence compared with patients who switched to a non-TNFi biologic.