Agreement between 30-day and 90-day modified Rankin Scale score and utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale score in acute intracerebral hemorrhage: An analysis of ATACH-2 trial data.

The relationship between 30- and 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients was evaluated. This post hoc cohort analysis of the ATACH-2 trial included patients with acute ICH who were alive at 30 days and who had mRS scores reported at 30 and 90 days. The mRS score was then converted to a utility (EuroQol-5 Dimension-3 Level [EQ-5D-3L])-weighted mRS score. After adjustment of 30-day mRS score for key covariates using multivariable ordinal regression, the relationship between 30-day and observed 90-day functional outcome was assessed via absolute difference in the utility-weighted version. Of the 1000 trial subjects, 898 met inclusion criteria. This low-moderate severity ICH cohort had a median baseline GCS score of 15 and median hematoma volume of 9.7 mL. Observed 30-day mRS had the largest association with observed 90-day values (χ2 = 302.9, p < 0.0001). Patients generally either maintained the same mRS scores between 30 and 90 days (48 %) or experienced a 1-point (32 %) or 2-point (10 %) improvement by 90 days. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) EQ-5D-3L at 90 days was 0.67 ± 0.26. Following adjustment, the mean absolute difference between predicted and observed utility-weighted 90-day mRS scores was 0.006 ± 0.13 points and less than the estimated minimal clinically important difference of 0.13 points. The difference in average utility-weighted mRS scores at 30 and 90 days was not clinically relevant, suggesting 30-day score may be a reasonable proxy for 90-day values in patients with ICH when 90-day values are not available.

Lower mortality with andexanet alfa vs 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for factor Xa inhibitor-related major bleeding in a U.S. hospital-based observational study.

Background: Well-designed studies with sufficient sample size comparing andexanet alfa vs 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) in routine clinical practice to evaluate clinical outcomes are limited. Objectives: To compare in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalized with rivaroxaban- or apixaban-related major bleeding who were treated with andexanet alfa or 4F-PCC. Methods: An observational cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05548777) was conducted using electronic health records between May 2018 and September 2022 from 354 U.S. hospitals. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, inpatient admission with diagnosis code D68.32 (bleeding due to extrinsic anticoagulation), a record of use of the factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban or apixaban, andexanet alfa or 4F-PCC treatment during index hospitalization, and a documented discharge disposition. Multivariable logistic regression on in-hospital mortality with andexanet alfa vs 4F-PCC was performed. The robustness of the results was assessed via a supportive propensity score-weighted logistic regression. Results: The analysis included 4395 patients (andexanet alfa, n = 2122; 4F-PCC, n = 2273). There were 1328 patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), 2567 with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeds, and 500 with critical compartment or other bleed types. In the multivariable analysis, odds of in-hospital mortality were 50% lower for andexanet alfa vs 4F-PCC (odds ratio [OR], 0.50; 95% CI, 0.39-0.65; P < .01) and were consistent for both ICH (OR, 0.55; [0.39-0.76]; P < .01) and GI bleeds (OR, 0.49 [0.29-0.81]; P = .01). Similar results were obtained from the supporting propensity score-weighted logistic regression analyses. Conclusion: In this large observational study, treatment with andexanet alfa in patients hospitalized with rivaroxaban- or apixaban-related major bleeds was associated with 50% lower odds of in-hospital mortality than 4F-PCC. The magnitude of the risk reduction was similar in ICH and GI bleeds.

Real-world clinical outcomes among US Veterans with oral factor xa inhibitor-related major bleeding treated with andexanet alfa or 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate.

Oral factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors significantly reduce incidence of stroke and thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism. Due to various factors and the lack of a randomized controlled trial comparing andexanet alfa to usual care, non-specific replacement agents including 4 F-PCC are still used off-label for FXa inhibitor bleed management. Clinical and mortality data were extracted from the inpatient medical data and Veteran Affairs (VA) vital status files over the time of March 2014 through December 2020. Propensity score-weighted models were used for this retrospective cohort study using data from the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI). The study included 255 patients (85-andexanet alfa and 170-4 F-PCC) exposed to an oral factor Xa inhibitor and hospitalized with an acute major, gastrointestinal (GI), intracranial (ICH) or other bleed. In-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the andexanet alfa cohort compared to the 4 F-PCC cohort (10.6% vs. 25.3%, p = 0.01). Propensity score-weighted Cox models reveal a 69% lower hazard of in-hospital mortality for those treated with andexanet alfa (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.71) compared to those treated with 4 F-PCC. Additionally, those treated with andexanet alfa had a lower 30-day mortality rate and lower 30-day hazard of mortality in the weighted Cox model (20.0% vs. 32.4%, p = 0.039; HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30-0.98) compared to those treated with 4 F-PCC. Among 255 US veterans with major bleeding in the presence of an oral factor Xa inhibitor, treatment with andexanet alfa was associated with lower in-hospital and 30-day mortality than treatment with 4 F-PCC.

Clinical and health care resource use burden of hospitalizations for oral factor Xa inhibitor-associated major bleeding: A real-world analysis of Medicare beneficiaries.

Objective: To characterize the burden of illness associated with oral factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor-related bleeding in the US Medicare population. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the full 20% Medicare random sample claims database to identify patients who experienced their first hospitalization for an FXa inhibitor-related major bleed between October 2013 and September 2017. Bleeding types were classified as intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), gastrointestinal (GI), and other. Associations between risk factors and outcomes (in-hospital and 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, and discharge to a location other than home) adjusted for patient demographic characteristics, baseline clinical conditions, index event characteristics, treatment with hemostatic/factor replacement agents or transfusion (ie, usual care prereversal agent availability), multicompartment ICH and neurosurgical procedures (ICH cohort), and endoscopy (GI cohort) were assessed using multivariable regression and reported as crude incidences and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) stratified by bleed type. Results: Of the 11,593 patients identified, 2737 (23.6%) had ICH, 8169 (70.5%) had GI bleeds, and 687 (5.9%) had other bleeds. The incidences of in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, need for postdischarge out-of-home care, and 30-day readmission were 15.7%, 29.1%, 78.3%, and 20.3% in the single-compartment ICH cohort, respectively; and 1.7%, 6.8%, 41.3%, and 18.8% in the GI bleeds cohort, respectively. Increased odds of both in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were significantly associated with: multicompartment ICH (reference, single compartment ICH; OR = 3.35 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.41-4.66]; 2.18 [95% CI: 1.63-2.91]), loss of consciousness during index hospitalization (yes vs no; OR = 2.03 [95% CI: 1.38-2.97]; 1.49 [95% CI: 1.11-2.02]), receiving usual care (yes vs no; OR = 1.55 [95% CI: 1.22-1.98]; 1.33 [95% CI: 1.09-1.63]) during index hospitalization, and increasing number of Elixhauser comorbidities at baseline (OR = 1.07 [95% CI: 1.03-1.10]; 1.09 [95% CI: 1.06-1.12]) in the ICH cohort; intensive care unit admission (yes vs no; OR = 1.88 [95% CI: 1.32-2.67]; 1.51 [95% CI: 1.26-1.81]), increasing number of Elixhauser comorbidities at baseline (OR = 1.12 [95% CI: 1.07-1.18]; 1.15 [1.12-1.18]), and increasing age on index date (OR = 1.04 [95% CI: 1.02-1.07]; 1.05 [95% CI: 1.04-1.07]) in the GI bleeds cohort. Conclusions: In this large sample of Medicare patients, FXa inhibitor-related major bleeding was associated with substantial burden in terms of adverse clinical outcomes and health care resource use. Incidence of ICH was lower than GI bleeds; however, burden of illness was notably higher with ICH.

Derivation and validation of a composite scoring system (SAVED2) for prediction of unfavorable modified Rankin scale score following intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: To develop a composite score for predicting functional outcome post-intracerebral hemorrhage (ICeH) using proxy measures that can be assessed retrospectively. Methods: Data from the observational ERICH study were used to derive a composite score (SAVED2) to predict an unfavorable 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. Independent predictors of unfavorable mRS were identified via multivariable logistic regression and assigned score weights based on effect size. Area under the curve (AUC) was used to measure the score's discriminative ability. External validation was performed in the randomized ATACH-2 trial. Results: There were 2,449 patients from ERICH with valid mRS data who survived to hospital discharge. Predictors associated with unfavorable 90-day mRS score and their corresponding point values were: age ≥70 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 1-point); prior stroke (OR, 2.8; 1-point); need for ventilation (OR, 2.7; 1-point); extended hospital stay (OR, 2.7; 1-point); and non-home discharge location (OR, 5.3; 2-points). Incidence of unfavorable 90-day mRS increased with higher SAVED2 scores (P < 0.001); AUC in ERICH was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.80-0.84). External validation in ATACH-2 (n = 904) found an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.70-0.77). Conclusions: Using data collected at hospital discharge, the SAVED2 score predicted unfavorable mRS in patients with ICeH.

Andexanet alfa versus four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for the reversal of apixaban- or rivaroxaban-associated intracranial hemorrhage: a propensity score-overlap weighted analysis.

BACKGROUND: Andexanet alfa is approved (FDA "accelerated approval"; EMA "conditional approval") as the first specific reversal agent for factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor-associated uncontrolled or life-threatening bleeding. Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrates (4F-PCC) are commonly used as an off-label, non-specific, factor replacement approach to manage FXa inhibitor-associated life-threatening bleeding. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of andexanet alfa versus 4F-PCC for management of apixaban- or rivaroxaban-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: This two-cohort comparison study included andexanet alfa patients enrolled at US hospitals from 4/2015 to 3/2020 in the prospective, single-arm ANNEXA-4 study and a synthetic control arm of 4F-PCC patients admitted within a US healthcare system from 12/2016 to 8/2020. Adults with radiographically confirmed ICH who took their last dose of apixaban or rivaroxaban < 24 h prior to the bleed were included. Patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score < 7, hematoma volume > 60 mL, or planned surgery within 12 h were excluded. Outcomes were hemostatic effectiveness from index to repeat scan, mortality within 30 days, and thrombotic events within five days. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using propensity score-overlap weighted logistic regression. RESULTS: The study included 107 andexanet alfa (96.6% low dose) and 95 4F-PCC patients (79.3% receiving a 25 unit/kg dose). After propensity score-overlap weighting, mean age was 79 years, GCS was 14, time from initial scan to reversal initiation was 2.3 h, and time from reversal to repeat scan was 12.2 h in both arms. Atrial fibrillation was present in 86% of patients. Most ICHs were single compartment (78%), trauma-related (61%), and involved the intracerebral and/or intraventricular space(s) (53%). ICH size was ≥ 10 mL in volume (intracerebral and/or ventricular) or ≥ 10 mm in thickness (subdural or subarachnoid) in 22% of patients and infratentorial in 15%. Andexanet alfa was associated with greater odds of achieving hemostatic effectiveness (85.8% vs. 68.1%; OR 2.73; 95% CI 1.16-6.42) and decreased odds of mortality (7.9% vs. 19.6%; OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.13-0.98) versus 4F-PCC. Two thrombotic events occurred with andexanet alfa and none with 4F-PCC. CONCLUSIONS: In this indirect comparison of patients with an apixaban- or rivaroxaban-associated ICH, andexanet alfa was associated with better hemostatic effectiveness and improved survival compared to 4F-PCC. Trial registration NCT02329327; registration date: December 31, 2014.

Cost-effectiveness of andexanet alfa versus four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for the treatment of oral factor Xa inhibitor-related intracranial hemorrhage in the US.

AIM: To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) on the use of andexanet alfa for the treatment of factor Xa inhibitor-related intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) from the US third-party payer and societal perspectives. METHODS: CEA compared andexanet alfa to prothrombin complex concentrate for the treatment of patients receiving factor Xa inhibitors admitted to hospital inpatient care with an ICH. The model comprised two linked phases. Phase 1 utilized a decision tree to model the acute treatment phase (admission of a patient with ICH into intensive care for the first 30 days). Phase 2 modeled long-term costs and outcomes using three linked Markov models comprising the six health states defined by the modified Rankin score. RESULTS: The analysis showed that the strategy of using andexanet alfa for the treatment of factor Xa inhibitor-related ICH is cost-effective, with incremental cost-effectiveness per quality-adjusted life-year gained of $35,872 from a third-party payer perspective and $40,997 from a societal perspective over 20 years. LIMITATIONS: (1) Absence of head-to-head trials comparing therapies included in the economic model, (2) lack of comparative long-term data on treatment efficacy, and (3) bias resulting from the study designs of published literature. CONCLUSION: Given these results, the use of andexanet alfa for the reversal of anticoagulation in patients with factor Xa inhibitor-related ICH may improve quality of life and is likely to be cost-effective in a US context.

The Burden of Opioid-Related Adverse Drug Events on Hospitalized Previously Opioid-Free Surgical Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Opioid analgesics are a mainstay for acute pain management, but postoperative opioid administration has risks. We examined the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) in a previously opioid-free surgical population. METHODS: A retrospective, observational, cohort study using administrative, billing, clinical, and medication administration data from two hospitals. Data were collected for all adult patients who were opioid-free at admission, underwent surgery between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016, and received postoperative opioids. Potential ORADEs were determined based on inpatient billing codes or postoperative administration of naloxone. We determined independent predictors of ORADE development using multivariable logistic regression. We measured adjusted inpatient mortality, hospital costs, length of hospital stay, discharge destination, and readmission within 30 days for patients with and without ORADEs. RESULTS: Among 13,389 hospitalizations where opioid-free patients had a single qualifying surgery, 12,218 (91%) received postoperative opioids and comprised the study cohort. Of these, we identified 1111 (9.1%) with a potential ORADE. Independent predictors of ORADEs included older age, several markers of disease severity, longer surgeries, and concurrent benzodiazepine use. Opioid-related adverse drug events were strongly associated with the route and duration of opioids administered postoperatively: 18% increased odds per day on intravenous opioids. In analyses adjusted for several covariates, presence of an ORADE was associated with 32% higher costs of hospitalization, 45% longer postoperative length of stay, 36% lower odds of discharge home, and 2.2 times the odds of death. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a high rate and severe consequences of potential ORADEs in previously opioid-free patients receiving postoperative opioids. Knowledge of risk factors and predictors of ORADEs can help develop targeted interventions to minimize the development of these potentially dangerous and costly events.

Real-world management of oral factor Xa inhibitor-related bleeds with reversal or replacement agents including andexanet alfa and four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate: a multicenter study.

Aim: We describe the real-world utilization and outcomes associated with managing oral factor Xa inhibitor (FXai)-related major bleeds. Materials & methods: Electronic records from 45 US hospitals were queried (ICD-10-CM billing codes D68.32, T45.515x or T45.525x) to identify major bleed hospitalizations related to FXai use. Patient demographics, bleed type (intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal, critical compartment, traumatic, other), FXai taken, reversal or replacement agents administered (including andexanet alfa, four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate, fresh frozen plasma, others), in-hospital mortality and length of stay were recorded. Results: Of 3030 FXai-related hospitalizations for major bleeds, patients averaged 68 years old and 47% were women. In-hospital mortality was highest for intracranial hemorrhage (23%, n = 507) and lowest for gastrointestinal bleeds (4%, n = 1453). In-hospital mortality was lowest (4%) for bleeds managed with andexanet alfa (n = 342), compared with 10% for four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (n = 733), 11% for fresh frozen plasma (n = 925) and 8% for both other agents (n = 794) and no agents (n = 438). Median length of stay was 5 days across all agents, while ICU length of stay was shorter andexanet alfa (2 days) compared with other agents (3 days). Conclusion: In-hospital mortality differed by bleed type and agents administered. Andexanet alfa was associated with the lowest rate of in-hospital mortality across all bleed types.

Quality evaluation of case series describing four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate in oral factor Xa inhibitor-associated bleeding: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: As oral factor Xa (oFXa) inhibitor use has increased, so has publication of case series describing related bleeding managed with four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC). OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to identify case series describing 4F-PCC management of oFXa inhibitor-related bleeding and appraise their methodological and reporting quality. DESIGN: We searched Medline and EMBASE (1 January 2011 to 31 May 2020) to identify series of ≥10 patients with oFXa inhibitor-related major bleeding given off-label 4F-PCC. Case series were evaluated using a validated tool adapted for this topic. The tool addressed patient selection, bleed/outcome ascertainment, causal/temporal association and reporting. RESULTS: We identified 14 case series. None had ≥100 patients (range=13-84), three were prospective, two detailed appropriate inclusion criteria and four noted consecutive inclusion. While 12 series provided clear/appropriate methods for diagnosis of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH); none did so for extracranial bleeds and it was not clear whether bleeding was adjudicated in any. Haemostatic effectiveness, thrombosis and mortality were together evaluated in 12 series, but only seven used validated methods to evaluate/diagnosis haemostasis in ICH, six in gastrointestinal bleeds, five in other bleeds and three in thrombosis. Independent adjudication of haemostasis (n=1) and thrombosis (n=2) was infrequent. Thirty-day follow-up for mortality and thrombosis was noted in five and seven series. Anticoagulation measurement/levels in at least some patients were conveyed in three series. Few series provided data on anticoagulant agent/dose (n=4), time from anticoagulant (n=4), time-to-reversal (n=7), baseline (n=7) or change (n=0) in neurologic function. CONCLUSIONS: Although many case series describe off-label use of 4F-PCC for oFXa inhibitor-related bleeding, methodological flaws and/or poor reporting necessitates caution in interpretation.

Burden-of-Illness Associated with Bleeding-Related Hospitalizations in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Findings from the Nationwide Readmission Database.

Introduction A paucity of contemporary data examining bleeding-related hospitalization outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients exists. Methods Adults in the Nationwide Readmissions Database (January 2016-November 2016) with AF and hospitalized for intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or other bleeding were identified. Association between bleed types and outcomes were assessed using multivariable regression (gastrointestinal defined as referent) and reported as crude incidences and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results In total, 196,878 index bleeding-related hospitalizations were identified in this AF cohort (CHA2DS2VASc score ≥2 in 95.1%), with 70.8% classified as gastrointestinal. The overall incidences of in-hospital mortality, need for post-discharge out-of-home care, and 30-day readmission were 4.9, 50.8, and 18.2%, respectively. Multivariable regression suggested traumatic and nontraumatic ICHs were associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (OR = 3.99, 95% CI = 3.79, 4.19; OR = 13.09, 95% CI = 12.24, 13.99) and need for post-discharge out-of-home care (OR = 2.92, 95% CI = 2.83, 3.01; OR = 2.74, 95% CI = 2.59, 2.90), and increases in mean index hospitalization length-of-stay (8.31 days, 95% CI = 8.03, 8.60, 6.27 days, 95% CI = 5.97, 6.57) versus gastrointestinal bleeding. Genitourinary and other bleeds were associated with lower mortality (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.25, 0.55; OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.53, 0.64) and reduced length-of-stays (-2.84 days, 95% CI = - 2.91, -2.76; -2.06 days, 95% CI = - 2.11, -2.01) versus gastrointestinal bleeding. Genitourinary bleeds were also associated with a reduced need for post-discharge out-of-home care (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.97). Conclusion The burden of bleeding-related hospitalizations was notably driven by relatively rare but severe and life-threatening ICH, and less morbid but more frequent gastrointestinal bleeding. There is need for continued research on bleeding risk factors and mitigation techniques to avoid bleeding-related patient hospitalizations.

Major bleed costs of atrial fibrillation patients treated with factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulants.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the healthcare economic burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients treated with factor Xa inhibitor (FXaI) anticoagulants who were hospitalized in the US with a major bleed (MB). METHODS: Adult AF patients treated with FXaIs and hospitalized with an MB were selected from MarketScan databases (1 January 2015-30 April 2018). Patients were grouped into cohorts based on type of MB: intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), gastrointestinal (GI), other types of MB. Healthcare costs in 2019 USD were evaluated for index hospitalizations and during a variable follow-up period in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. RESULTS: Of the overall AF patient population treated with FXaIs and hospitalized with an MB (n = 7,577), 9.9% had ICH (mean age: 77.9 years; 58% male), 55.9% had GI (mean age: 76.8 years; 52% male), and 34.2% had other types of MB (mean age: 74.4 years; 61% male). Mean index hospitalization costs for ICH, GI, and other type of MB were $54,163, $26,901, and $36,645, respectively; from adjusted analyses, patients with ICH vs. GI spent 1.6 more days in the hospital; mean cost was $15,630 higher. Patients with other types of MB vs. GI spent 0.6 more days in the hospital; mean cost was $5,859 higher. Index hospitalization cost in addition to total all-cause healthcare costs incurred in the follow-up period were $34,522 higher per ICH patient and $11,584 higher per other type of MB patient vs. a GI MB patient. LIMITATIONS: Since this study was a retrospective observational study using a claims database analysis, a causal relationship between treatment with FXaIs and MB events cannot be established. CONCLUSIONS: Although all of the evaluated MB types were associated with high hospitalization costs, ICH was associated with the most substantial short- and long-term healthcare economic burden.

Evaluation of the Incremental Healthcare Economic Burden of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants and Hospitalized for Major Bleeds in the USA.

INTRODUCTION: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are associated with risk of major bleeding. This study evaluated the incremental healthcare economic burden of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with DOACs and hospitalized with a major bleed (MB). METHODS: Adult patients with AF treated with DOACs and hospitalized with MB or no MB hospitalizations during January 1, 2015-April 30, 2018 were extracted from MarketScan claims databases. The index date was defined as the first MB hospitalization for patients with MB and a random date during DOAC usage for patients without MB. Healthcare resource utilization and costs were evaluated for index hospitalizations of patients with MB and during the 6-month period prior to index dates and a variable follow-up period of 1-12 months for both patients with and those without MB. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate the incremental burden of MB vs. non-MB status on all-cause hospital days and healthcare costs. RESULTS: Of the overall AF patient population using DOACs (N = 152,305), 7577 (5.0%) had a hospitalization for MB. Greater proportions of those who had an MB hospitalization were older and female compared to patients without MB (mean age 76.1 vs. 70.1 years; 44.1% vs. 40.5% female, respectively). For index MB hospitalizations, mean length of stay (LOS) was 5.3 days and cost was $32,938. In adjusted analyses, patients with MB had 3.6 more hospital days, $10,609 higher inpatient cost, $9613 higher outpatient medical cost, and $18,910 higher total healthcare costs for all causes per patient during follow-up (all p < 0.001). Including index MB hospitalization costs in the follow-up, all-cause total adjusted healthcare costs were almost two times higher for patients with vs. without MB ($96,590 vs. $49,091, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among a large US nationally representative sample of patients with AF treated with DOACs, the cost of MB hospitalization was substantial. Furthermore, healthcare costs following MB events were nearly 40% higher compared to those of patients with AF without an MB.

Real-world use of extracorporeal photopheresis for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the United States: 2010-2015.

Introduction: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer recommend extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) as systemic therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).Objective: To investigate real-world use of ECP in CTCL patients in the US.Methods: Data from the Truven MarketScan® database (2010-2015) were used to create a cohort of CTCL patients receiving systemic treatment. Multivariable regressions were performed to compare health care resource utilization between ECP and propensity score-matched non-ECP patients.Results: Of the 1106 eligible patients, 117 (10.6%) received ECP, with an average treatment duration of 13.6 months. Psoriasis, organ transplant, graft versus host disease, and scleroderma were the most common comorbidities. ECP was used as monotherapy in 76 patients (65.0%) and combination in 41 patients (35.0%), mostly with interferon and/or a retinoid. Higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (2.6 vs 2.2, p < .05), rates of organ transplant (49.6% vs 7.8%, p < .001), and graft vs host disease (41.9% vs 3.4%, p < .001) were observed in ECP versus non-ECP patients. Post-matching analyses showed that ECP patients had shorter all-cause inpatient stay (6.67 vs 11.80 days, p = .001).Conclusions: Approximately 1 out of 10 CTCL patients receiving systemic treatment were on ECP treatment in the US. Post-matching analysis showed ECP was associated with a shorter hospital stay.

The burden of illness of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) in the United States: a retrospective analysis of electronic health records.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is characterized by renal failure in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (CLD) and is the leading cause of hospitalizations in CLD. This study examines the clinical and economic burden, outcomes, and unmet need of HRS treatment in US hospitals. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on a large electronic health records database (Cerner HealthFacts) with records for hospitalized HRS patients from January 2009-June 2015. Demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and economic outcomes were analyzed. Prognostic indicators of cirrhosis, kidney injury, end-stage liver disease, and acute-on-chronic liver failure were used to determine mortality risk. RESULTS: A total of 2,542 patients hospitalized with HRS were identified (average age = 57.9 years, 61.8% males, 74.2% Caucasian), with an average total hospital charge of $91,504 per patient and a mean length of stay (LOS) of 30.5 days. The mortality rate was 36.9% with 8.9% of patients discharged to hospice. Of all patients, 1,660 patients had acute kidney injury, 859 with Stage 3 disease, and 26.7% had dialysis. The 30-day readmission rate was 33.1%, 41% of which were unplanned. Nearly one-third of study patients had commercial insurance (30.2%), followed by Medicare (29.9%); hospital charges varied by LOS, receipt of dialysis, and discharge status. Regression analysis demonstrated that HRS costs are associated with LOS, dialysis, and hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: HRS is associated with poor outcomes and high hospital costs. Analysis of HRS cost drivers demonstrated an unmet need for additional treatment options to improve outcomes in this patient population.

Impact of Intravenous Acetaminophen on Lengths of Stay and Discharge Status after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Postoperative pain remains difficult to control after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). While various modalities have been used, they have been associated with several side effects. For example, opioids have many side effects including: sedation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, respiratory depression, and can lead to dependency. Recently, intravenous (IV) acetaminophen has been introduced as a method to manage postoperative pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative outcomes of TKA patients who received oral acetaminophen versus IV acetaminophen. Specifically, this study evaluated: (1) the hospital lengths of stay (LOS) and (2) discharge dispositions. The Premier Database was used to review patients who underwent TKA from 2012 to 2015. A total of 134,216 TKA patients received oral acetaminophen, whereas 56,475 TKA patients received IV acetaminophen postoperatively. LOS were calculated as the number of days from the date of hospital admission to the date of discharge, and the discharge disposition was categorized as to home or to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Compared with the oral group, the IV acetaminophen group had a 0.14 days shorter LOS (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.15 to -0.13; p < 0.001) and 22% higher chance of being discharged home (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.19-1.25; p < 0.001). Also, compared with the oral group, the IV group had a 13% lower chance of being discharged to a SNF (OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.85-0.90; p < 0.001). This study demonstrated that TKA patients who received IV acetaminophen were associated with a significantly shorter hospital LOS as well as being discharged home and fewer patients had to go to SNF. This may lead to a reduction in the total cost of health care, while, at the same time, decreasing the resource use in patients who undergo TKA.

Analysis of predictors of opioid-free analgesia for management of acute post-surgical pain in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: Utilization of opioid-free analgesia (OFA) for post-surgical pain is a growing trend to counter the risks of opioid abuse and opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs). However, utilization patterns of OFA have not been examined. In this study, we investigated the utilization patterns and predictors of OFA in a surgical population in the United States. METHODS: Analysis of the Cerner Health Facts database (January 2011 to December 2015) was conducted to describe hospital and patient characteristics associated with OFA. Baseline characteristics, such as age, gender, race, discharge status, year of admission and chronic comorbidities at index admission were collected. Hospital characteristics and payer type at index admission were collected as reported in the electronic health record database. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to identify statistically significant predictors of OFA on patient and institutional levels. RESULTS: The study identified 10,219 patients, from 187 hospitals, who received post-surgical OFA and 255,196 patients who received post-surgical opioids. OFA rates varied considerably by hospital. Patients more likely to receive OFA were older (OR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.03, 1.10]; p < .001), or had neurological disorders (OR = 1.24, 95% CI [1.10, 1.39]; p < .001), diabetes (OR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.08, 1.33]; p = .001) or psychosis (OR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.01, 1.37]; p = .030). Patients with obesity and depression were less likely to receive OFA (OR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.67, 0.95]; p = .010 OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.73, 0.98]; p = .030, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Use of post-surgical OFA was limited overall and was not favored in some patient groups prone to ORADEs, indicating missed opportunities to reduce opioid use and ORADE incidence. A substantial proportion of OFA patients was contributed by a few hospitals with especially high rates of OFA, suggesting that hospital policies, institutional structure and cross-functional departmental commitment to reducing opioid use may play a large role in the implementation of OFA.