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Cost-utility analysis of de-escalating biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Recent guideline updates have suggested de-escalating DMARDs when patients with rheumatoid arthritis achieve remission or low disease activity. We aim to evaluate whether it is cost-effective to de-escalate the biological form of DMARDs (bDMARDs). METHODS:Using a Markov model, we performed a cost-utility analysis for RA patients on bDMARD treatment. We compared continuing treatment (standard care) to a tapering approach (i.e., an immediate 50% dose reduction), withdrawal (i.e., an immediate 100% dose reduction) and tapering followed by withdrawal of bDMARDs. The parametrization is based on a comprehensive literature review. Results were computed for 30 years with a cycle length of three months. We applied the payer's perspective for Germany and conducted deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS:Tapering or withdrawing bDMARD treatment resulted in ICERs of €526,254 (incr. costs -78,845, incr. QALYs -0.1498) or €216,879 (incr. costs -€121,691, incr. QALYs -0.5611) compared to standard care. Tapering followed by withdrawal resulted in a loss of 0.4354 QALYs and savings of €107,969 per patient, with an ICER of €247,987. Deterministic sensitivity analysis revealed that our results remained largely unaffected by parameter changes. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggests that tapering, withdrawal and tapering followed by withdrawal were dominant in 39.8%, 28.2% and 29.0% of 10,000 iterations. CONCLUSION:Our findings suggest that de-escalating bDMARDs in patients with RA may result in high cost savings but also a decrease in quality of life compared to standard care. If decision makers choose to implement de-escalation in daily practice, our results suggest the tapering approach.

SUBMITTER: Birkner B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6939943 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundKnowledge of factors that contribute to non-persistence with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (NP) is essential to improve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outcomes. Aims of the study were to investigate patient's motivations and risk factors for NP in a cohort of early RA patients.MethodsUp to September 2012, data from 149 patients, who had at least 1 year of follow-up, at least one drug indication, and at least 2 consecutive six-months-apart rheumatic evaluations that included assessment of compliance were reviewed. NP and patient's motivations of NP were evaluated according to a questionnaire. NP was defined when patients referred that they had completely stop RA medication, "Sometimes", "Almost always" or "Always". Patients had to pay for their medication.Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used. Statistical significance was set at a p value of less than 0.05. The study was approved by the internal review board.ResultsUp to cut-off, 715 questionnaires were applied to 149 patients, who had follow-up of 58.7?±?27.9 months and were indicated 2.4?±?0.7 DMARDs/patient/follow-up.Patients were most frequently female (88.6%), middle-aged ([mean?±?SD] age of 38.5?±?12.8 years) with lower-middle/lower socio-economic status (87.9%) and scholarship of 11?±?3.9 years.Ninety-nine (66.4%) patients were NP and filled 330 questionnaires. Multivariate analysis showed that years of formal education (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.1-1.24, p?=?0.03), perception of at least some difficulty to find arthritis medication (OR: 5.68, 95% CI: 2.48-13, p?=?0.000) and perception that arthritis medication is expensive (OR: 5.27, 95% CI: 2.1-13.84, p?=?0.001) at the first evaluation of patient's compliance were all predictors of NP.Among the 99 NP patients, 25 (25.3%) were recurrent-NP and accumulated more disease activity. The combination of both reasons of NP ("Because it was not available at the drugstore" and "Because the medication is very expensive") when selected at the first evaluation of compliance was the only variable to predict recurrent NP, OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 1.1-20.8, p?=?0.04.ConclusionsHealth systems should provide (first line) treatment for RA as a strategy to improve compliance with therapy and clinical outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations.

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Cost-utility analysis of de-escalating biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

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