Trends in RA patients' adherence to subcutaneous anti-TNF therapies and costs
Borah BJ et al. – Study reports that etanercept (ETA) users had longer treatment duration, were more likely to adhere to their medication regimen and had lower rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related pharmacy and RA-related total costs compared with adalimumab (ADA) users. Methods- Main objectives of study were:
- To examine adherence to ADA and ETA and health care costs in RA pts, and
- To explore the association between adherence, utilization and costs
- RA pts treated with etanercept or adalimumab during Jan 2005-Dec 2005 were identified
- Patient adherence and costs were assessed during the 1 yr post-index period (first dispensing date)
- Nonadherence was modeled using logistic regression
- Hazard ratios (HR) comparing time to discontinuation were estimated using Cox proportional hazard (PH) models
Results- Compared with ADA users, ETA users had longer average treatment duration
- Unadjusted adherence rates for naïve and existing users were 63% and 70% (ADA), and 65% and 73% (ETA)
- Compared with ETA users, ADA users were more likely to be nonadherent
- Existing ADA users were more likely to discontinue their medication than existing ETA users
- Compared with ADA users, ETA users had lower RA-related pharmacy costs and RA-related total costs
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