Patients with allergic asthma have lower risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes than patients with nonallergic asthma.

Background: Although asthma does not appear to be a risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), outcomes could vary for patients with different asthma subtypes. The objective of this analysis was to compare COVID-19 outcomes in real-world cohorts in the United States among patients with asthma, with or without evidence of allergy.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis of the COVID-19 Optum electronic health record dataset (February 20, 2020-January 28, 2021), patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with a history of moderate-to-severe asthma were divided into 2 cohorts: those with evidence of allergic asthma and those without (nonallergic asthma).

Real-world treatment, clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization among persons with hemophilia A by age.

Examine real-world characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes among treated persons with hemophilia A (PwHA) stratified by age. This study utilized US claims data from 1 January 2007-31 July 2018 from the Humana Research Database. Unadjusted comparisons were conducted across PwHA (<18, 18-55, 56-89 years) enrolled in commercial or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans.

Development and Initial Validation Analyses of the Living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Questionnaire.

Several new drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are in development. Tools are needed to assess whether these drugs benefit patients on outcomes that matter most to them. Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is one such outcome.

Model of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Emicizumab Prophylaxis Treatment for Persons with Hemophilia A.

Background: Hemophilia A (HA) can result in bleeding events because of low or absent clotting factor VIII (FVIII). Prophylactic treatment for severe HA includes replacement FVIII infusions and emicizumab, a bispecific factor IXa- and factor X-directed antibody.

Objective: To develop an economic model to predict the short- and long-term clinical and economic outcomes of prophylaxis with emicizumab versus short-acting recombinant FVIII among persons with HA in the United States.

Patient and site characteristics associated with pirfenidone and nintedanib use in the United States; an analysis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients enrolled in the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry.

Background: Pragmatic use of the anti-fibrotic medications pirfenidone and nintedanib for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in the United States (US) has not been studied and may be different from international settings due to structural differences between health care systems. This study examined the relationship between patient- and site-level characteristics and anti-fibrotic (a) use and (b) selection.

Methods: Data from the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry was used to perform univariable and multivariable regressions with generalized linear mixed models.

Economic impact model of delayed inhibitor development in patients with hemophilia a receiving emicizumab for the prevention of bleeding events.

Cumulative exogenous factor VIII (FVIII) exposure is an important predictor of developing neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) to FVIII in patients with persons with hemophilia A (PwHA). The aim of this study was to model the costs of emicizumab versus FVIII prophylaxis and total treatment costs for patients with severe HA. An Excel-based decision model was developed to calculate cumulative costs in PwHA over a 20-year time horizon from the US payer perspective.

Rheumatoid Arthritis-Interstitial Lung Disease in the United States: Prevalence, Incidence, and Healthcare Costs and Mortality.

Objective: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and can have significant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to calculate the prevalence, incidence, healthcare costs, and mortality of RA-related ILD (RA-ILD) in the United States.

Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis used the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental health insurance databases from 2003 to 2014 and the Social Security Administration death database.

Real-World Practice Patterns for Prevention and Management of Potential Adverse Events with Pirfenidone in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Introduction: Pirfenidone is an oral antifibrotic agent approved for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Real-world data on adverse event (AE) management for pirfenidone are limited. Strategies for managing potential antifibrotic therapy AEs were examined in a sample of US pulmonologists.

Epidemiology of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis among an Insured Population in the United States: A Claims-based Cohort Analysis.

Rationale: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a complex lung disease resulting from repeated inhalation of a variety of antigens. Limited data exist regarding its epidemiology.

Objectives: To describe the trends in the annual incidence and prevalence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the United States.

All-cause Healthcare Costs and Mortality in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis with Lung Involvement.

Objective: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) often develop interstitial lung disease (ILD) and/or pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The effect of ILD and PAH on healthcare costs among patients with SSc is not well described. The objective of this analysis was to describe healthcare costs in patients with newly diagnosed SSc and SSc patients newly diagnosed with ILD and/or PAH in the United States.

Patient Outcomes, Health Care Resource Use, and Costs Associated with High Versus Low HEDIS Asthma Medication Ratio.

Background: The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality measures for asthma include the asthma medication ratio (AMR) as a marker of quality of care for patients with asthma. Few data are available to describe the association between health care use and costs in patients with high versus low AMR.

Objective: To characterize health care use and costs associated with high versus low AMR in patients participating in commercial health plans.

Mechanical ventilation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a nationwide analysis of ventilator use, outcomes, and resource burden.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with increased risk of respiratory-related hospitalizations. Studies suggest mechanical ventilation (MV) use in IPF does not improve outcomes and guidelines recommend against its general use. Our objective was to investigate MV use and association with cost and mortality in IPF.

Pirfenidone Reduces Respiratory-related Hospitalizations in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Rationale: Respiratory-related hospitalizations of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are more frequent than those for acute IPF exacerbations and are associated with poor outcomes.

Objectives: To compare the risk of nonelective hospitalization by type (all-cause, respiratory related, and non-respiratory related) and death after hospitalization with use of pirfenidone versus placebo over 52 weeks using data derived from three phase III IPF clinical trials.

Methods: Individual patient data was pooled from three phase III randomized, placebo-controlled studies of pirfenidone for IPF (the two CAPACITY [Clinical Studies Assessing Pirfenidone in IPF: Research of Efficacy and Safety Outcomes] trials and the ASCEND [Assessment of Pirfenidone to Confirm Efficacy and Safety in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis] trial), including all patients randomized to pirfenidone 2,403 mg/d (n = 623) or placebo (n = 624).

Hospital cost and length of stay in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: To provide a detailed picture of the economic impact of hospitalization in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to identify factors associated with cost and length of stay (LOS).

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), this study included hospitalizations for IPF (ICD-9-CM 516.3) with a principal diagnosis of respiratory disease (ICD-9-CM 460-519) from 2009-2011; lung transplant admissions were excluded.

Angioedema in the omalizumab chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria pivotal studies.

Background: Angioedema, present in some patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria (CIU/CSU), may have a negative effect on patient quality of life.

Objective: To describe patient-reported angioedema and its management in the pivotal omalizumab studies (ASTERIA I, ASTERIA II, GLACIAL).

Methods: Enrolled patients with CIU/CSU remained symptomatic despite treatment with histamine (H)-antihistamines at licensed doses (ASTERIA I, ASTERIA II) or H-antihistamines at up to 4 times the approved dose plus H-antihistamines and/or a leukotriene receptor antagonist (GLACIAL).

Clinical and economic burden of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating condition with a variable course. Not uncommonly, IPF patients are hospitalized for respiratory-related causes, including disease worsening. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence, and economic and health care burden of IPF.

Clinical and Economic Burden of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis in the United States.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of major relapse and healthcare costs among patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA); to find patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in administrative databases, because no MPA diagnosis code exists; and to describe the clinical and economic burden associated with MPA.

Methods: Adults (≥ 18 yrs) with ≥ 2 diagnoses of GPA [International Classification of Diseases-9-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM 446.4)] during 2009-2013 were extracted from the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases.

Timing and duration of omalizumab response in patients with chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria.

Background: Few data are available that describe response patterns in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU)/chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) treated with omalizumab.

Objective: We sought to describe response patterns by using data from the 3 pivotal omalizumab CIU/CSU trials.

Methods: Every 4 weeks, randomized patients received dosing with placebo or 75, 150, or 300 mg of omalizumab (ASTERIA I: n = 318, 24 weeks; ASTERIA II: n = 322, 12 weeks) or placebo or 300 mg of omalizumab (GLACIAL: n = 335, 24 weeks).

Changes in asthma control, work productivity, and impairment with omalizumab: 5-year EXCELS study results.

Background: Asthma poses a significant disease burden worldwide. Current guidelines emphasize achieving and maintaining asthma control.

Objective: To describe longitudinal changes of asthma control and asthma-related work, school, and activity impairment for patients with moderate-to-severe asthma treated with omalizumab and those who did not receive omalizumab in a real-world setting.

Risk of corticosteroid-related adverse events in asthma patients with high oral corticosteroid use.

Background: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are a mainstay of asthma treatment. Their use increases the risk of various corticosteroid-related adverse events, but the extent of risk is poorly characterized.

Objective: To determine the incremental risk of possible corticosteroid-related adverse events (AE) in asthma among patients with high OCS use compared with patients who do not use OCS.