Analysis Group Researchers Assess Clinical Benefits of Early Initiation of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics in Patients with Schizophrenia
July 25, 2023
An Analysis Group team, in collaboration with researchers from Zucker Hillside Hospital and Janssen Scientific Affairs, coauthored an article published in Schizophrenia assessing the clinical outcomes of the timing of long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI) initiation among adult patients with schizophrenia. Using dynamic marginal structural models, the coauthors showed that starting patients on an LAI prior to evidence of nonadherence to an oral antipsychotic (OAP) or the occurrence of a schizophrenia-related clinical event – such as an inpatient admission or emergency room (ER) visit – was associated with greater clinical benefits – fewer all-cause inpatient admissions, days of inpatient stay, and ER visits – than initiating LAIs after the occurrence of nonadherence or a clinical event. The article reported consistent results across age, sex at birth, and race subgroups.
The coauthors – who included Analysis Group Managing Principal Patrick Lefebvre, Vice Presidents Bruno Émond and Marie-Hélène Lafeuille, and Associate Laura Morrison – noted that the “results of this study should help raise awareness among clinicians and payers about potential benefits associated with LAI initiation prior to OAP nonadherence or the occurrence of adverse schizophrenia-related clinical events and highlight the need to re-examine current schizophrenia treatment guideline recommendations pertaining to LAI initiation.”