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Trends in RA patients' adherence to subcutaneous anti-TNF therapies and costs
Current Medical Research and Opinion, 06/24/09

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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