The Relative Value of Anti-Obesity Medications Compared to Similar Therapies.

Purpose: To demonstrate a need for improved health insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications (AOMs) by comparing clinical and economic benefits of obesity treatments to covered medications for selected therapeutic areas.

Methods: Using a grey literature search, we identified and prioritized therapeutic areas and treatment analogues for comparison to obesity. A targeted literature review identified clinical and economic outcomes research across the therapeutic area analogues.

Development of an Assessment Tool for Completion by Patients with Overweight or Obesity.

Introduction: Discussions of weight-management strategies between patients and healthcare providers can yield positive outcomes for people with overweight or obesity. Nonetheless, people with overweight or obesity encounter communication challenges and other barriers to pursuing effective weight-management strategies with their healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to develop a new self-completed assessment tool to initiate and facilitate conversations related to weight management between patients and healthcare providers.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of semaglutide 2.4 mg for the treatment of adult patients with overweight and obesity in the United States.

The rising prevalence and associated public health burden of obesity has led to advancements in pharmaceuticals for weight management. Semaglutide 2.4 mg, an anti-obesity medication (AOM) recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, has demonstrated clinically relevant weight loss in its phase 3 clinical trials.

Real-world HIV diagnostic testing patterns in the United States.

Objectives: To understand real-world implementation of the updated CDC HIV diagnostic testing algorithm.

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Methods: Using data from Quest Diagnostics, we identified patients with at least 1 HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation test (BioRad Geenius HIV 1/2 Supplemental Assay [Geenius]) between January 1 and December 31, 2017.

Penile surgery for patients with Peyronie's disease initially treated with collagenase clostridium histolyticum or surgery: a claims database analysis.

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) is an injectable therapy targeting collagen present in penile plaques in Peyronie's disease (PD). Data comparing CCH to penile surgery are limited, and long-term therapeutic outcomes are unknown. This retrospective analysis used a US claims database (January 2014-June 2017) to determine the percentage of men with subsequent penile surgery among those who initially received CCH (n = 1227) or surgery (index treatment; n = 620) for PD.

The Incidence, Prevalence, and Associated Costs of Anemia, Malignancy, Venous Thromboembolism, Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, and Infections in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients by Treatment History in the United States.

Objective: Comorbidities in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can influence treatment selection, impact treatment persistency, and increase health care costs. This study assessed the magnitude of comorbidity burden via epidemiology (incidence and prevalence) and associated costs of select comorbidities in RA patients: anemia, malignancy, venous thromboembolism (VTE), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and infections, stratified by history of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) exposure.

Methods: From the IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus database, we selected adult patients with RA (2 or more RA diagnostic codes at least 30 days apart) at initiation of a new DMARD (DMARD-naïve), after the first conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) or after the first biologic DMARD (bDMARD).

Effect of a Patient Support Program for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients on Medication Persistence: A Retrospective Database Analysis.

Introduction: In 2015, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) created a support program for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treated with nintedanib, to help patients obtain their prescription, learn about their disease and medication, and provide support in the management of their IPF. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of the program on nintedanib persistence among patients with IPF newly treated with the medication.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of BI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Treatment Patterns and Healthcare Outcomes with Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum vs Surgery in Peyronie's Disease: A Retrospective Claims Database Analysis.

Introduction: Treatments for Peyronie's disease (PD) include surgical management and collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH).

Aims: To evaluate PD treatment trends after CCH approval and compare clinical outcomes in CCH- and surgery-treated cohorts.

Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with PD between January 2011 and December 2017 were identified in a U.

The Impact of a Forced Non-Medical Switch of Inhaled Respiratory Medication Among Patients with Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Patient Survey on Experience with Switch, Therapy Satisfaction, and Disease Control.

Purpose: Budesonide/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) was removed from a Medicare Part D formulary, and patients switched to fluticasone-based dry powder inhaler (DPI) therapies. This study describes the experience, satisfaction, and disease control among patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who switched due to removal from the formulary.

Patients And Methods: A patient survey was conducted among adults with asthma or COPD who used budesonide/formoterol pMDI for ≥3 months prior to the formulary block and the new medication for ≥3 weeks after switching, recruited by providers in a research panel.

Correction to: Real-World Treatment Patterns, Adverse Events, Resource Use, and Costs Among Commercially Insured, Younger Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the USA: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

In the original article, it has been noticed that the abbreviation ''CLL'' is incorrectly published throughout the paper as the abbreviation "CCL". The correct abbreviation is "CLL".

Real-World Treatment Patterns, Adverse Events, Resource Use, and Costs Among Commercially Insured, Younger Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the USA: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Amidst a changing treatment landscape, real-world evidence on the burden of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe treatment patterns, adverse events (AEs), and economic burden among treated patients with CLL.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with IQVIA PharMetrics Plus.

Real-world treatment patterns for patients with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with immuno-oncology therapy.

Background: Real-world use of immuno-oncology (IO) therapies (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) in metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (mHNSCC) has not been well studied.

Methods: mHNSCC patients treated with an IO therapy were identified from a large US claims database from 2016 to 2017. Treatment patterns before and after initiation of IO therapy (index date) were described.

Real-World Economic Outcomes of Brexpiprazole and Extended-Release Quetiapine Adjunctive Use in Major Depressive Disorder.

Purpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic mental disorder with a substantial clinical and economic burden. Despite the efficacy of adjunctive atypical antipsychotics (AAP) for augmentation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who failed first-line antidepressant therapy (ADT), little is known of the impact of AAP choices on healthcare resource use and costs in real-world practice. Therefore, this study compared real-world healthcare utilization and costs in patients with MDD treated with brexpiprazole or extended-release (XR) quetiapine as adjunctive treatment to ADT.

Treatment patterns, adverse events, healthcare resource use and costs among commercially insured patients with mantle cell lymphoma in the United States.

Introduction: There are limited data on treatment patterns, adverse events (AEs), and economic burden in younger, commercially insured patients treated for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Methods: Adults with ≥1 treatment for MCL between 1 November 2013-31 December 2017 were identified from IQVIA Real-World Data Adjudicated Claims-US; index date was first treatment. Patients carried ≥1 MCL diagnosis, were newly treated, and were enrolled continuously for ≥12 months prior to and ≥30 days following index.

Clinical outcomes associated with pathogenic genomic instability mutations in prostate cancer: a retrospective analysis of US pharmacy and medical claims data.

Prostate cancer (PC) is a clinically heterogenous disease, and genetic mutations may be useful for patient risk stratification. This retrospective cohort study compared clinical outcomes, pharmacy use, and outpatient resource use in PC patients with and without pathogenic genomic instability mutations, including DNA repair deficiency (DRD) mutations and those in , , and . Patients ≥18 years newly-diagnosed with PC between June 2011-March 2016 were identified in medical and prescription claims databases linked to a genomic dataset.

Assessment and effect of a gap between new-onset epilepsy diagnosis and treatment in the US.

Objective: To estimate the treatment gap between a new epilepsy diagnosis and antiepileptic drug (AED) initiation in the United States.

Methods: Retrospective claims-based cohort study using Truven Health MarketScan databases (commercial and supplemental Medicare, calendar years 2010-2015; Medicaid, 2010-2014) and a validation study using PharMetrics Plus Database linked to LRx claims database (2009-2014). Persons met epilepsy diagnostic criteria, had an index date (first epilepsy diagnosis) with a preceding 2-year baseline (1 year for persons aged 1 to <2 years; none for persons <1 year), and continuous medical and pharmacy enrollment without epilepsy/seizure diagnosis or AED prescription during baseline.

Comparative effectiveness of teriflunomide and dimethyl fumarate in patients with relapsing forms of MS in the retrospective real-world Teri-RADAR study.

Aim: Head-to-head clinical trials of teriflunomide (TFM) versus dimethyl fumarate (DMF) have not been conducted.

Objectives: To compare the real-world effectiveness of TFM versus DMF.

Methods: Anonymized data were collected from patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) initiating treatment with teriflunomide (N = 50) or DMF (N = 50).

The impact of copay assistance on patient out-of-pocket costs and treatment rates with ALK inhibitors.

Introduction: The patient cost burden of oral anticancer medicines has been associated with prescription abandonment, delayed treatment initiation, and poorer health outcomes in the US. Since 2011, several small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with rearrangement of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of copay assistance on patient cost sharing and treatment patterns in patients prescribed oral ALK inhibitors (ALKi's).

Evaluation of patient support program and adherence to long-acting injectable aripiprazole for patients utilizing injection local care centers.

Objective: Patient support programs, such as the ASSURE Program for long-acting injectable aripiprazole, are designed to help support access to medications, including long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics for patients with schizophrenia. This study was conducted to evaluate adherence to long-acting injectable aripiprazole among patients utilizing the program local care centers (LCC).

Methods: Data collected from participating LCC between October 2014 and February 2018 were utilized.

Adherence rates and health care costs in Crohn's disease patients receiving certolizumab pegol with and without home health nurse assistance: results from a retrospective analysis of patient claims and home health nurse data.

Background: Patient support programs have a positive effect on adherence to therapy. Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is a tumor necrosis factor antagonist for the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Objectives: To assess, using real-world claims data, whether home health nurse assistance had an effect on patients' adherence to CZP and to measure its impact on health care use and costs.

Changes in healthcare resource use and costs associated with early versus delayed initiation of atypical antipsychotic adjunctive treatment in major depressive disorder.

Aims: The study compared all-cause and major depressive disorder (MDD)-related healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs in patients with MDD treated with atypical antipsychotic (AAP) adjunctive therapy early or later in treatment.

Materials And Methods: Adults with MDD and antidepressant treatment (ADT) who newly initiated adjunctive aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, lurasidone, or quetiapine between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015 were identified in the IQVIA Real-World Data Adjudicated Claims database; the index date was the date of the first AAP claim. Patients were stratified into three cohorts: AAP initiated in the first year (Y1); in the second year (Y2); and more than 2 years (Y3) of first ADT use.

A Real-World Evidence Study Assessing the Impact of Adding the Aerobika Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Device to Standard of Care Upon Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs in Post-Operative Patients.

Introduction: The aim of this real-world study was to measure the benefit of the Aerobika oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) device when added to standard of care (defined as incentive spirometry [IS]) for post-operative patients.

Methods: Adults aged ≥ 18 years who were hospitalized for cardiac, thoracic or upper abdominal surgery between 1 September 2013 and 30 April 2017 were identified from IQVIA's Hospital Charge Detail Master (CDM) database; the index date was the date of the first hospitalization for surgery. The control cohort (IS) included patients who had ≥ 1 CDM record within 12 months prior to the index date and ≥ 1 record after discharge, evidence of IS use during index hospitalization and no evidence of use of a PEP or OPEP device at any time during the study period.

The impact of non-medical switch on type 2 diabetes patients treated with canagliflozin in the commercially insured US population.

Objective: To assess the impact of non-medical switch (NMS) from canagliflozin on antihyperglycemic agent (AHA) medication taking behavior.

Methods: This retrospective real-world database analysis included patients with type 2 diabetes with a prescription claim for canagliflozin (CANA) between August 2015 and January 2016 using administrative claims and longitudinal prescription data. Patients with NMS from canagliflozin were identified as those with discontinuation or switch of canagliflozin and enrolled in a pharmacy benefit manager that removed CANA from formulary in 2016.

A Retrospective Study of the Effectiveness of the AeroChamber Plus Flow-Vu Antistatic Valved Holding Chamber for Asthma Control.

Introduction: Electrostatic charge in valved holding chambers (VHCs) may lead to inconsistent metered-dose inhaler (MDI) asthma drug delivery. We compared the AeroChamber Plus Flow Vu Antistatic Valved Holding Chamber (ACFV AVHC) with non-antistatic control VHCs in terms of asthma exacerbations, resource use, and cost in an asthma population.

Methods: Patients included in an adjudicated claims database with ACFV AVHC or non-antistatic VHC (control VHC) use between 1/2010 and 8/2015 (index) who were treated with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) or a combination of an ICS and a long-acting β2 agonist MDI within 60 days before or after the index date, were diagnosed with asthma, and had ≥12 months of pre- and ≥30 days of post-index health plan enrollment were included.

A Database Cohort Study to Assess the Risk of Angioedema Among Patients with Heart Failure Initiating Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in the USA.

Introduction: Real-world evidence on the risk of angioedema associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in patients with heart failure (HF) is scarce.

Objective: This non-interventional study aimed to estimate the incidence of and risk factors for angioedema in patients with HF initiating an ACEI in real-world practice.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using claims data from the PharMetrics Plus database, supplemented with consumer health data, from 1 January 2007 to 31 March 2015.