Identifying Measures of Suboptimal Healthcare Interaction (SOHI) to Develop a Claims-Based Model for Predicting Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Risk for SOHI.

Background: Understanding the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) who are likely to experience poor disease outcomes may allow early interventions that can improve health outcomes.

Objectives: To describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) with the presence of at least one Suboptimal Healthcare Interaction (SOHI) event, which can inform the development of a model to predict SOHI in members with IBD based on insurance claims, with the goal of offering these patients some additional intervention.

Methods: We identified commercially insured individuals with IBD between 01 January 2019 and 31 December 2019 using Optum Labs' administrative claims database.

Racial and ethnic disparity in clinical outcomes among patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection in a large US electronic health record database.

Background: Racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected by the US coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, nationwide data on COVID-19 outcomes stratified by race/ethnicity and adjusted for clinical characteristics are sparse. This study analyzed the impacts of race/ethnicity on outcomes among US patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the electronic health record from 01 February 2020 through 14 September 2020.

Real-World Trends in Characteristics of Patients with Migraine Newly Initiated on Erenumab in the USA: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction: This retrospective analysis aimed to characterize patients with migraine initiating erenumab and the shifting or trend of patient characteristics over time in a real-world setting.

Methods: Adult patients with at least one erenumab written prescription/administration between May 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019 were identified from the Optum De-identified Electronic Health Record (EHR) database (index date = date of the first erenumab prescription/administration). Patient demographics and characteristics, acute and preventive medications used prior to initiation of erenumab, and the initial prescriber specialty were examined.

Analysis of patient characteristics, health care costs by surgical venue, and opioid utilization for common orthopedic procedures in the United States.

Orthopedic surgery can be performed in hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), as well as in traditional inpatient venues. Patients who undergo orthopedic surgery may be prescribed opioids for the management of postsurgical pain. However, the association between surgery venue, postsurgical opioid use, and health care costs remains unclear.

Real-World Outcomes and Value of First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Although physicians rely on clinical trial data to guide cancer treatment decisions, patient characteristics and outcomes often differ between real-world and clinical trial populations. We analyzed retrospective clinical data collected from a prior authorization (PA) tool linked with payer claims data to describe outcomes of first-line treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer among 2,108 patients. Duration of therapy was shorter than observed in clinical trials.

Health Care Use and Costs Among Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis With Advanced Fibrosis Using the Fibrosis-4 Score.

Limited evidence exists on the clinical and economic burden of advanced fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) due to the invasiveness of liver biopsies for accurately staging liver disease. The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score allows for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis by using clinical and laboratory data alone. This study aimed to characterize the comorbidity burden, health care resource use (HCRU), and costs among patients with NAFLD/NASH with FIB-4-defined F3 (bridging fibrosis) and F4 (compensated cirrhosis) fibrosis.

Relative vaccine efficacy of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccines in preventing probable influenza in a Medicare Fee-for-Service population.

Background: High-dose (HD) influenza vaccine, currently the most commonly used vaccine among US seniors (aged ≥ 65 years), has been shown to be more efficacious than standard-dose (SD) vaccine in multiple randomized trials. This study evaluated the real-world relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of HD vs SD over four influenza seasons.

Methods: This study included Medicare Fee-for-Service enrollees who received HD or SD at an outpatient clinic or pharmacy during influenza seasons 2011-2012 through 2014-2015.

Validation and Assessment of the COPD Treatment Ratio as a Predictor of Severe Exacerbations.

Background: Population-based risk assessments are needed to identify individuals who may benefit from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management programs for preventing exacerbations. This study compared the validated COPD treatment ratio (CTR) versus other COPD exacerbation predictors: prior exacerbation and rescue and maintenance medication use.

Methods: A retrospective observational study using medical and pharmacy claims data among Medicare Advantage with Part D beneficiaries with COPD (January 2011-August 2016).

Incidence of febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy among patients with nonmyeloid cancer receiving filgrastim vs a filgrastim biosimilar.

Background: Filgrastim and other granulocyte colony-stimulating factors are recommended to decrease febrile neutropenia (FN) incidence among patients with nonmyeloid cancers undergoing chemotherapy. Data comparing biosimilar filgrastim-sndz with reference filgrastim (filgrastim-ref) are limited outside of clinical trials in the US.

Objective: To compare the incidence of FN across chemotherapy cycles 1-6 between patients treated with filgrastim-sndz vs filgrastim-ref.

Clinical Outcomes of Treatment with Filgrastim Versus a Filgrastim Biosimilar and Febrile Neutropenia-Associated Costs Among Patients with Nonmyeloid Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Background: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors such as filgrastim are used to decrease the incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) among patients with nonmyeloid cancers undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Although the biosimilar filgrastim-sndz has been approved in the United States since 2015, limited real-world comparisons of filgrastim-sndz versus reference filgrastim (filgrastim-ref) have been conducted.

Objective: To compare FN incidence and assess overall FN-related health care resource utilization and medical costs among U.

HbA Outcomes in Patients Treated With Canagliflozin Versus Sitagliptin in US Health Plans.

Purpose: Clinical trial evidence supports greater glycemic control with canagliflozin than with sitagliptin. The objective of this study was to provide real-world evidence comparing outcomes in routine clinical practice among patients initiating each medication.

Methods: With the use of a health care administrative database, patients initiating canagliflozin were compared with patients initiating sitagliptin (first prescription fill as index date).

Adherence, persistence, and discontinuation among Hispanic and African American patients with multiple sclerosis treated with fingolimod or glatiramer acetate.

Objective: Few studies have examined compliance to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) in minority populations. This study compared adherence, discontinuation, and persistence for fingolimod (FTY) and glatiramer acetate (GA) initiators among Hispanic and African American patients with MS.

Methods: This retrospective claims data study examined Hispanic and African American adults with MS who initiated FTY or GA between September 1, 2010 and June 30, 2014.

Serum uric acid levels and the risk of flares among gout patients in a US managed care setting.

Objective: Serum uric acid (sUA) levels are causally associated with the risk of gout flares. Our aim was to assess the magnitude of the association and time to first flare among patients in a managed care setting.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from a large US health plan.

Economic Burden of Illness Among Patients with Severe Asthma in a Managed Care Setting.

Background: Despite intensive pharmacotherapy, a considerable number of patients with severe asthma have inadequate disease control. Patients with severe asthma who experience exacerbations consume significant health care resources.

Objective: To assess health care resource utilization and associated costs among patients with persistent severe asthma who experienced exacerbations compared with patients with persistent but nonsevere asthma.

Real-world evaluation of glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with canagliflozin versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.

Objective To evaluate glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with canagliflozin (CANA) vs. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Methods Using integrated claims and lab data from a US health plan of commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees, this matched-control cohort study assessed adult T2DM patients receiving treatment with CANA or DPP-4 inhibitors (1 April 2013-31 December 2013).

Comparison of Real-world Outcomes Between Patients Treated with Tapentadol ER or Oxycodone CR.

The objective of this study was to compare health care utilization and costs between matched cohorts of chronic pain patients treated with the opioids tapentadol extended release (ER) or oxycodone controlled release (CR). This retrospective study used claims data from the Optum Research Database. Commercial and Medicare Advantage adult patients with ≥1 prescription fill for oxycodone CR or tapentadol ER between September 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012 were eligible.

Flare frequency, healthcare resource utilisation and costs among patients with gout in a managed care setting: a retrospective medical claims-based analysis.

Objectives: For most gout patients, excruciatingly painful gout attacks are the major clinical burden of the disease. The goal of this study was to assess the association of frequent gout flares with healthcare burden, and to quantify how much lower gout-related costs and resource use are for those with infrequent flares compared to frequent gout flares.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.