Healthcare resource utilization and costs of using cariprazine as the first versus subsequent adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder.

Aim: Inadequate response to antidepressant therapy (ADT) is common in major depressive disorder (MDD); atypical antipsychotic (AA) adjunctive therapy may be effective for these patients. This study aimed to compare healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs between patients initiating the AA cariprazine as their first adjunctive therapy vs those initiating cariprazine subsequently.

Methods: The Merative MarketScan Commercial Database (January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2021) was used to identify US adults with MDD and ≥1 pharmacy claim for cariprazine adjunctive to ADT in 2018 or after. Rates of mental health (MH)‑related and all‑cause HRU per patient-year (PPY) and mean healthcare costs per-patient-per-year (PPPY) were assessed after patients first initiated adjunctive therapy. HRU and costs were compared between cohorts using rate ratios (RRs) and mean cost differences, respectively, estimated from multivariable regression models.

Results: Of 838 patients receiving cariprazine, 44.7% initiated cariprazine as their first adjunctive therapy to ADT, and 55.3% initiated it subsequently. Those initiating cariprazine first had significantly lower rates of MH‑related hospitalizations (RR [95% confidence interval] = 0.55 [0.30, 0.90],  = .020) and outpatient (OP) visits (0.67 [0.57, 0.82],  < .001) PPY than those initiating cariprazine subsequently. Moreover, patients initiating cariprazine as their first adjunctive therapy had lower annual total MH‑related healthcare costs (mean cost difference [95% confidence interval] -$2,182 [-$4,206, -$69],  = .040), driven primarily by lower OP visit costs (-$1,511 [-$2,330, -$615],  < .001). Similar trends were observed for all-cause HRU and costs.

Limitations: This was a retrospective analysis of secondary data with limited follow-up. Claims were a proxy for cariprazine use.

Conclusions: Results from this real‑world study of commercially insured US adults suggest that initiating cariprazine as the first adjunctive therapy rather than a subsequent therapy could help mitigate the considerable economic burden of MDD for appropriate patients.