Hydroxyurea Initiation Among Children With Sickle Cell Anemia. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reeves, Sarah L.; Jary, Hannah K.; Gondhi, Jennifer P.; Raphael, Jean L.; Lisabeth, Lynda D.; Dombkowski, Kevin J.
• Is Part Of: Clinical pediatrics. Volume 58:Number 13(2019)
• Page Start: 1394
• Page End: 1400
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: pain -- medication -- administrative claims -- sickle cell anemia -- hydroxyurea; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922819850476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9228

Abstract

This study assesses characteristics of children with sickle cell anemia associated with hydroxyurea initiation. Medicaid administrative claims from 6 states (2005-2012) were used to identify children with sickle cell anemia enrolled in Medicaid for ≥2 years. Hydroxyurea use was defined as >30 days' supply of filled prescriptions. Children were classified as initiators (no use in year 1; use in year 2) or nonusers (no use in either year). Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between initiation, health care encounters, and demographics. A total of 4435 children were enrolled for 2 years during the study period; 885 (20.0%) initiators and 3080 (69.4%) nonusers. Children had an annual mean of 2.0 sickle cell disease–related inpatient admissions (SD = 2.2), 8.2 sickle cell disease–related outpatient visits (SD = 7.2), and 3.6 emergency department visits (SD = 3.5). The odds of initiating hydroxyurea increased with increasing health care utilization, age, and calendar year (all P values <.05).