Using a single product (calcipotriene/betamethasone topical suspension) vs multiple products to manage body and scalp psoriasis: comparisons in resource utilization and costs. (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feldman, Steven R.; Levi, Eugenia; Pathak, Prathamesh; Kakatkar, Sonali; Balkrishnan, Rajesh
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical economics. Volume 16:Number 12(2013)
• Page Start: 1405
• Page End: 1413
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: Medical care -- Cost control -- Periodicals; Medical economics -- Periodicals; 362.10941
• DOI: 10.3111/13696998.2013.848209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-6998

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ss1"> <title>Objectives:</title> <p>To compare resource utilization and costs among patients who used calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate topical suspension (Taclonex Scalp Topical Suspension, Leo Pharma A/S) vs those who used multiple body and scalp formulations for psoriasis.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss2"> <title>Research design and methods:</title> <p>A retrospective study using Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Database from 2006–2011 was performed to identify patients with psoriasis (ICD code 696.1x). Two study cohorts analyzed were cohort A (used body-only formulations for psoriasis and switched on the index date to using calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate topical suspension alone) and cohort B (used multiple body and scalp formulations for psoriasis). Patients were required to be continuously enrolled during 180-days pre- and post-index periods. Multiple regression analyses adjusting for baseline demographic and clinical covariates were performed.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss3"> <title>Main outcomes measures:</title> <p>Number of psoriasis-related outpatient visits, total healthcare costs, psoriasis-related costs, and use of systemic agents during post-index period.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss4"> <title>Results:</title> <p>A total of 1923 patients were identified with at least one prescription for calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate scalp topical suspension (cohort A = 367, cohort B = 1556). Patients using multiple medications (cohort B) were associated with 48% higher number of outpatient visits as compared with those who used a single formulation (cohort A) after controlling for baseline covariates (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001). A generalized linear model adjusting for baseline covariates showed significantly higher post-index total and psoriasis-related healthcare costs for cohort B as compared with cohort A (both <italic>p</italic> < 0.001). Patients in Cohort B also had twice the odds of using systemic agents as compared to patients in Cohort A (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001).</p> </sec> <sec id="ss5"> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>Patients with body and scalp psoriasis using a single product had significantly lower overall and psoriasis-related healthcare costs, needed fewer psoriasis-related outpatient visits, and used less systemic agents during the post-index period. A lack of robust clinical measures to define the disease severity may have limited the interpretations from this study.</p> </sec> </abstract>