Racial and Ethnic Disparity in Healthcare Expenditure and Resource Utilization Among Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive research, significant gaps remain in understanding racial disparity among individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). These disparities, influenced by factors such as access to care and comorbid conditions, necessitate further investigation to develop targeted interventions. AIM: To evaluate the factors contributing to racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare resource utilization and total healthcare expenditure among individuals with CVD. METHODS: Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey spanning 2014-2021, total healthcare expenditure and having a CVD visit were compared among Hispanic, Black, and White adults with CVD. Descriptive analysis, linear regression, and logistic regression models were used to compare the results. Multivariable models were used to evaluate the effect of demographic and socioeconomic factors on total healthcare expenditure and the likelihood of having a CVD visit among different races. RESULTS: With a weighted sample of 17,722,706, the study found that Hispanic and Black cohorts had 23% and 11% lower healthcare expenditures (both p < 0.001). Hispanic and Black cohorts also had lower odds of having a CVD visit (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.55-0.68; OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.52-0.65, respectively) compared to the White cohort. Key predictors included physical and cognitive limitations, insurance status, income, region, and the year of data collection. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address healthcare disparities and promote health equity among minority populations with CVD.

Disparities and Medical Expenditure Implications in Pediatric Tele-Mental Health Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mississippi.

Tele-mental health (TMH) services, including both mental and behavioral healthcare (MBH) services, emerged as a cornerstone in delivering pediatric mental healthcare during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, yet their utilization and effects on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical expenditures remain unclear. To bridge the gap, this study aims to investigate the association between TMH utilization and sociodemographic factors and assess its associated HCRU and medical expenditures within a pediatric population in Mississippi. Studying 1,972 insured pediatric patients who accessed outpatient MBH services at the study institution between January 2020 and June 2023, age, race, insurance type, rural residency, and household income were identified as key determinants of TMH utilization. Adjusting for sociodemographics, TMH utilization was associated with 122% more MBH-associated outpatient visits and 36% higher related medical expenditures, but 27% less overall medical expenditures. This study reveals sociodemographic disparities in pediatric TMH utilization, highlights its role in augmenting outpatient mental healthcare access, and shows its potential for cost savings. Future efforts should aim at fostering more digitally inclusive, equitable, and affordable pediatric mental healthcare services.

Tele-Mental Health Service: Unveiling the Disparity and Impact on Healthcare Access and Expenditures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mississippi.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, tele-mental health (TMH) was a viable approach for providing accessible mental and behavioral health (MBH) services. This study examines the sociodemographic disparities in TMH utilization and its effects on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical expenditures in Mississippi. Utilizing a cohort of 6787 insured adult patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and its affiliated sites between January 2020 and June 2023, including 3065 who accessed TMH services, we observed sociodemographic disparities between TMH and non-TMH cohorts. The TMH cohort was more likely to be younger, female, White/Caucasian, using payment methods other than Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial insurers, residing in rural areas, and with higher household income compared to the non-TMH cohort. Adjusting for sociodemographic factors, TMH utilization was associated with a 190% increase in MBH-related outpatient visits, a 17% increase in MBH-related medical expenditures, and a 12% decrease in all-cause medical expenditures (all p < 0.001). Among rural residents, TMH utilization was associated with a 205% increase in MBH-related outpatient visits and a 19% decrease in all-cause medical expenditures (both p < 0.001). This study underscores the importance of addressing sociodemographic disparities in TMH services to promote equitable healthcare access while reducing overall medical expenditures.

Assessing Telemental Health Uptake and Associated Health Care Resource Implications among Mississippi Medicaid Enrollees with Major Depression.

Objective: Investigate the association between Telemental Health (TMH) uptake and sociodemographic characteristics, and how TMH uptake relates to health care resource utilization and Medicaid expenditures among Mississippi Medicaid enrollees with major depression. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted (2019-2020), comparing those who utilized TMH and those who did not. Results: Among the 21,239 identified enrollees, 806 (3.79%) utilized TMH. The TMH cohort was more likely to be of older age, non-Hispanic White, comprehensive managed care organization enrollees, rural residents, and from areas with a higher area deprivation index, and have higher Charlson comorbidity index scores. The TMH cohort also exhibited higher mental health-related and all-cause outpatient and emergency department utilization, along with higher Medicaid expenditures. Conclusion: As the first study investigating telehealth utilization among Mississippi Medicaid enrollees, this study highlights sociodemographic disparities in telehealth adoption. Addressing barriers hindering telehealth adoption among vulnerable populations and ensuring the availability of quality data are vital for future research.

Feasibility of Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring for Detection and Management of Maternal Hypertension in a predominantly Black, Rural and Medicaid Population in Mississippi.

Background: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has potential in hypertension management, but limited studies have focused on maternal hypertension, especially among vulnerable populations. The objective of this study was to integrate RPM into perinatal care for pregnant patients at elevated risk of hypertensive disorders to show feasibility, acceptability, and safety. Methods: A prospective pilot cohort study was conducted at the University of Mississippi Medical Center 2021-2023. Participants' blood pressure readings were remotely captured and monitored until 8-week postpartum, with timely assessment and intervention. Results: Out of 98 enrollees, 77 utilized RPM, and no maternal or neonatal deaths occurred within 60-day postpartum. High program satisfaction was reported at discharge. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of RPM for perinatal care in a vulnerable population. Positive outcomes were observed, including high patient satisfaction and no maternal or neonatal deaths. Further research should address patient engagement barriers and develop tailored protocols for improved clinical outcomes.

Telehealth Evaluation in the United States: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: The rapid expansion of telehealth services, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates systematic evaluation to guarantee the quality, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of telehealth services and programs in the United States. While numerous evaluation frameworks have emerged, crafted by various stakeholders, their comprehensiveness is limited, and the overall state of telehealth evaluation remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The overarching goal of this scoping review is to create a comprehensive overview of telehealth evaluation, incorporating perspectives from multiple stakeholder categories. Specifically, we aim to (1) map the existing landscape of telehealth evaluation, (2) identify key concepts for evaluation, (3) synthesize existing evaluation frameworks, and (4) identify measurements and assessments considered in the United States. METHODS: We will conduct this scoping review in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and in line with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). This scoping review will consider documents, including reviews, reports, and white papers, published since January 1, 2019. It will focus on evaluation frameworks and associated measurements of telehealth services and programs in the US health care system, developed by telehealth stakeholders, professional organizations, and authoritative sources, excluding those developed by individual researchers, to collect data that reflect the collective expertise and consensus of experts within the respective professional group. RESULTS: The data extracted from selected documents will be synthesized using tools such as tables and figures. Visual aids like Venn diagrams will be used to illustrate the relationships between the evaluation frameworks from various sources. A narrative summary will be crafted to further describe how the results align with the review objectives, facilitating a comprehensive overview of the findings. This scoping review is expected to conclude by August 2024. CONCLUSIONS: By addressing critical gaps in telehealth evaluation, this scoping review protocol lays the foundation for a comprehensive and multistakeholder assessment of telehealth services and programs. Its findings will inform policy makers, health care providers, researchers, and other stakeholders in advancing the quality, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of telehealth in the US health care system. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OSF Registries osf.io/aytus; https://osf.io/aytus. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/55209.

Telemental Health Services Usage and Association with Health Care Utilization and Expenditures Among Vulnerable Medicare Beneficiaries in 2019: A Comparative Study Using Propensity Score Matching.

Background: Telemental health (TMH) offers a promising approach to managing major depressive disorder (MDD). The objective of our work was to evaluate TMH usage among a vulnerable population of MDD Medicare beneficiaries and its association with health care utilization and expenditures. Methods: This cohort study analyzed 2019 Mississippi Medicare fee-for-service data for adult beneficiaries with MDD. Subjects were matched by the use of TMH following 1:1 propensity score matching. Comparisons between TMH and non-TMH cohorts were made on health care utilization and expenditure outcomes, adjusting for provider types postmatching. Results: Among 7,673 identified beneficiaries, 551 used TMH and 7,122 did not. Prematching, TMH cohort showed greater proportions of dual beneficiaries, rural residents, subjects with income below $40,000, those with disability entitlement, and higher Charlson comorbidity index scores, compared to the non-TMH cohort (all p < 0.001). Moreover, the TMH cohort had fewer outpatient visits, but more inpatient admissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and higher medical, pharmacy, and total expenditures (all p < 0.001). Postmatching, TMH was associated with a 25% reduction in outpatient visits (p < 0.001) and a 20% reduction in pharmacy expenditures (p = 0.01), with no significant effect on inpatient admissions, ED visits, medical expenditures, or total expenditures. Conclusions: These results underscore the potential of TMH in enhancing accessible health care services for vulnerable populations and affordable services for Medicare. Our results provide a robust baseline for future policy discussions concerning TMH. Future studies should consider identifying barriers to TMH use among vulnerable populations and ensuring equitable and high-quality patient care.

Real-world outcomes among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated first line with a bevacizumab biosimilar (bevacizumab-awwb).

Background: Bevacizumab-awwb (MVASI®) was the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved biosimilar to Avastin® (reference product [RP]) for the treatment of several different types of cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), an indication approved based on extrapolation. Objectives: Evaluate treatment outcomes in mCRC patients who received first-line (1L) bevacizumab-awwb at treatment initiation or as continuing bevacizumab therapy (switched from RP). Design: A retrospective chart review study. Methods: Adult patients who had a confirmed diagnosis of mCRC (initial presentation of CRC on or after 01 January 2018) and initiated 1L bevacizumab-awwb between 19 July 2019 and 30 April 2020 were identified from the ConcertAI Oncology Dataset. A chart review was conducted to evaluate patient baseline clinical characteristics and effectiveness and tolerability outcomes during the follow-up. Study measures were reported stratified by prior use of RP: (1) naïve patients and (2) switchers (patients who switched to bevacizumab-awwb from RP without advancing the line of therapy). Results: At the end of study period, naïve patients (n = 129) had a median 1L progression-free survival (PFS) of 8.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 7.6-9.9] and a 12-month overall survival (OS) probability of 71.4% (95% CI, 61.0-79.5%). Switchers (n = 105) had a median 1L PFS of 14.1 months (95% CI, 12.1-15.8) and a 12-month OS probability of 87.6% (95% CI, 79.1-92.8%). During treatment with bevacizumab-awwb, 20 events of interest (EOIs) were reported in 18 naïve patients (14.0%) and 4 EOIs reported in 4 switchers (3.8%), of which the most commonly reported events were thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. Most EOIs resulted in emergency department visit and/or treatment hold/discontinuation/switch. None of the EOIs resulted in death. Conclusion: In this real-world cohort of mCRC patients who were treated 1L with a bevacizumab biosimilar (bevacizumab-awwb), the clinical effectiveness and tolerability data were as expected and consistent with previously published findings from real-world studies of bevacizumab RP in mCRC patients.

Patient profiles, treatment patterns, and outcomes among persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer patients under routine care in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer have poor prognosis. While recent advances have expanded treatment options, real-world data on treatment patterns and outcomes in this population are lacking. METHODS: This retrospective study identified adult females with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer from the ConcertAI Oncology Dataset who received systemic therapy on or after August 15, 2014. Patients were followed from persistent, recurrent, or metastatic diagnosis through third-line (3 L) therapy, death, end of record, or study end (June 2021). Data collection included patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for the three most common first-line (1 L) regimens to analyze real-world time on treatment (rwToT), real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS), and real-world overall survival (rwOS). Analyses were stratified by bevacizumab receipt by treatment line. RESULTS: 307 patients were included (mean [standard deviation] age 51.5 [13.2] years, 70.7% White). 91.2% of patients had metastatic disease, 8.5% had persistent disease, and <1% had recurrent disease. The most common 1 L regimen was carboplatin+paclitaxel+bevacizumab (40.7%) with median (95% confidence interval [CI]) rwToT of 3.5 (2.9-4.4) months. 57.0% of patients proceeded to second line (2 L), and 25.7% went to 3 L. Median (95% CI) rwPFS was 7.2 (6.4-8.1) months, and median (95% CI) rwOS was 16.5 (14.2-19.9) months, from initiation of 1 L. CONCLUSIONS: 1 L regimens received in patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer generally followed clinical guidelines, and the rwOS agrees with clinical trials. This study highlights the burden of disease and unmet need for specific treatments in these patients.

Economic evaluation and costs of remote patient monitoring for cardiovascular disease in the United States: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has emerged as a viable and valuable care delivery method to improve chronic disease management. In light of the high prevalence and substantial economic burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD), this systematic review examines the cost and cost-effectiveness of using RPM to manage CVD in the United States. METHODS: We systematically searched databases to identify potentially relevant research. Findings were synthesized for cost and cost-effectiveness by economic study type with consideration of study perspective, intervention, clinical outcome, and time horizon. The methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Economic Evaluations. RESULTS: Thirteen articles with fourteen studies published between 2011 and 2021 were included in the final review. Studies from the provider perspective with a narrow scope of cost components identified higher costs and similar effectiveness for the RPM group relative to the usual care group. However, studies from payer and healthcare sector perspectives indicate better clinical effectiveness of RPM relative to usual care, with two cost-utility analysis studies suggesting that RPM relative to usual care is a cost-effective tool for CVD management even at the conservative $50,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life-Year threshold. Additionally, all model-based studies revealed that RPM is cost-effective in the long run. CONCLUSIONS: Full economic evaluations identified RPM as a potentially cost-effective tool, particularly for long-term CVD management. In addition to the current literature, rigorous economic analysis with a broader perspective is needed in evaluating the value and economic sustainability of RPM.

Framework for Evaluating and Developing Sustainable Telehealth Programs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency, telehealth programs vastly expanded with strong support from various federal and state agencies. However, the uncertainty regarding future reimbursement policies for telehealth services has resulted in concerns about long-term sustainability of innovative health service delivery models beyond the financial support. Given the limited literature on creating telehealth programs with long-term sustainability in consideration, we have developed a framework for gathering appropriate data during various stages of program implementation to evaluate clinical effectiveness and economic sustainability that is applicable across various settings, with additional attention to health equity. Recognizing the difficulty of sustaining telehealth programs solely through a fee-for-service payment model, we encourage all telehealth stakeholders, especially payers and policymakers, to consider cost-effectiveness of telehealth programs and support alternate payment models for ensuring long-term sustainability.

Risk of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia in intermediate-risk regimens: Clinical and economic outcomes of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia increases the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) and infection with resultant hospitalizations, with substantial health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF) is recommended as primary prophylaxis for chemotherapy regimens having more than a 20% risk of FN. Yet, for intermediate-risk (10%-20%) regimens, it should be considered only for patients with 1 or more clinical risk factors (RFs) for FN. It is unclear whether FN prophylaxis for intermediate-risk patients is being optimally implemented. OBJECTIVE: To examine RFs, prophylaxis use, HCRU, and costs associated with incident FN during chemotherapy. METHODS: This retrospective study used administrative claims data for commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees with nonmyeloid cancer treated with intermediate-risk chemotherapy regimens during January 1, 2009, to March 31, 2020. Clinical RFs, GCSF prophylaxis, incident FN, HCRU, and costs were analyzed descriptively by receipt of primary GCSF, secondary GCSF, or no GCSF prophylaxis. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association between number of RFs and cumulative FN risk. RESULTS: The sample comprised 13,937 patients (mean age 67 years, 55% female). Patients had a mean of 2.3 RFs, the most common being recent surgery, were aged 65 years or greater, and had baseline liver or renal dysfunction; 98% had 1 or more RFs. However, only 35% of patients received primary prophylaxis; 12% received secondary prophylaxis. The hazard ratio of incident FN was higher with increasing number of RFs during the first line of therapy, yet more than 54% of patients received no prophylaxis, regardless of RFs. Use of GCSF prophylaxis varied more by chemotherapeutic regimen than by number of RFs. Among patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin hydrochloride (doxorubicin hydrochloride), vincristine, and prednisone, 76% received primary prophylaxis, whereas only 22% of patients treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel received primary prophylaxis. Among patients with a first line of therapy FN event, 78% had an inpatient stay and 42% had an emergency visit. During cycle 1, mean FN-related coordination of benefits-adjusted medical costs per patient per month ($13,886 for patients with primary prophylaxis and $18,233 for those with none) were driven by inpatient hospitalizations, at 91% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Incident FN occurred more often with increasing numbers of RFs, but GCSF prophylaxis use did not rise correspondingly. Variation in prophylaxis use was greater based on regimen than RF number. Lower health care costs were observed among patients with primary prophylaxis use. Improved individual risk identification for intermediate-risk regimens and appropriate prophylaxis may decrease FN events toward the goal of better clinical and health care cost outcomes. DISCLOSURES: This work was funded by Sandoz Inc., which participated in the design of the study, interpretation of the data, writing and revision of the manuscript, and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The study was performed by Optum under contract with Sandoz Inc. The author(s) meet criteria for authorship as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The authors received no direct compensation related to the development of the manuscript. Dr Li is an employee of Sandoz Inc. Drs Bell and Lal and Mr Peterson-Brandt were employees of Optum at the time of the study. Ms Anderson and Dr Aslam are employees of Optum. Dr Lyman has been primary investigator on a research grant from Amgen to their institution and has consulted for Sandoz, G1 Therapeutics, Partners Healthcare, BeyondSpring, ER Squibb, Merck, Jazz Pharm, Kallyope, Teva; Fresenius Kabi, Seattle Genetics, and Samsung.

Informal science, technology, engineering and math learning conditions to increase parent involvement with young children experiencing poverty.

Broadening participation in early science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning outside of school is important for families experiencing poverty. We evaluated variations of the Teaching Together STEM pre-kindergarten program for increasing parent involvement in STEM learning. This informal STEM, family engagement program was offered in 20 schools where 92% of students received free/reduced lunch. The core treatment included a series of family education workshops, text messages, and family museum passes. The workshops were delivered at school sites by museum outreach educators. We randomly assigned schools to business-as-usual control or one of three additive treatment groups. Using an additive treatment design, we provided the core program in Treatment A, we added take-home STEM materials in Treatment B, and added materials + parent monetary rewards in Treatment C. The primary outcome was parent involvement in STEM (n = 123). There were no significant impacts of any treatment on parent involvement; however, the groups that added take-home materials had larger effect sizes on parent involvement at posttest (ES = -0.08 to 0.18) and later, kindergarten follow-up (ES = -0.01 to 0.34). Adding parent monetary rewards only produced short-term improvements in parent involvement that faded at follow-up. We discuss implications for other community-sponsored family engagement programs focused on informal STEM learning, including considering characteristics of families who were more versus less likely to attend. These null findings suggest that alternatives to in-person family education workshops should be considered when parents are experiencing poverty and have competing demands on their time.

Thrombopoietin receptor agonist discontinuation rates and reasons among patients with immune thrombocytopenia: a study of administrative claims linked with medical chart review.

Administrative claims provide a rich data source for retrospective studies of real-world clinical practice, yet some important data may be inconsistent or unavailable. This study explored factors influencing discontinuation of thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) among patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), by adding medical chart abstraction for additional details. Adult (≥ 18 years) patients with continuous commercial or Medicare Advantage with Part D health insurance coverage were included. Inclusion criteria were ≥ 1 claim for eltrombopag or romiplostim and ≥ 2 diagnoses of ITP between December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2020. Providers were asked to provide access to medical charts for abstraction. The analyses included only patients who discontinued TPO-RA and described patient characteristics, treatment patterns, platelet values, and reasons for discontinuation. Among 207 ITP patients treated with a TPO-RA, 137 (66%) discontinued treatment during the observation period. The mean TPO-RA treatment duration was 185 days. Mean platelet count at the time of discontinuation was 197 × 109/L. The most common reason for discontinuation was improvement of the patient's condition (42%). Other reasons included worsening of ITP/lack of response (12%), adverse events (12%), and cost-related or social reasons (23%). No reason was reported for 10%. Notably 26% of patients who discontinued remained off all ITP therapy for the remainder of the study, with a mean treatment-free period of 262 days. These results emphasize that some patients with ITP are able to discontinue TPO-RA therapy and achieve durable treatment-free periods.

Effect of inadequate care on diabetes complications and healthcare resource utilization during management of type 2 diabetes in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effects of inadequate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) care on health outcomes, utilizing a model that incorporates patient, physician, and health-system factors. METHODS: The most recently available (years 2016-2018) Medical Expenditure panel survey longitudinal data was used to identify adults with type 2 diabetes who had received inadequate diabetes care. American Diabetes Association Standards of Diabetes guidelines were used to define inadequate care, resulting in five categories: lifestyle management, immunization, pharmacologic therapy, physical examination, and laboratory evaluation. For each of the five categories, propensity score 1:1 matching was used to match individuals who received inadequate care to similar individuals who did not. After matching, cohorts were followed for one year. The cohorts were compared by total healthcare expenditure change from baseline, total emergency healthcare visits change from baseline, total newly developed diabetes-related complications, and total days absent from school or work change from baseline. RESULTS: 1,619 adults with T2D, representing 15,781,346 individuals met study inclusion criteria, of which 22.60%, 22.80%, 49.21%, 23,93%, and 23,45% received inadequate lifestyle management, immunizations, pharmacologic therapies, physical examinations, and laboratory tests, respectively. After propensity score matching, those who had received inadequate care had increased healthcare expenditure change from baseline and more new diabetes-related complications in the following year. After adjusting for residual covariate imbalance, those that had received inadequate pharmacologic therapies had approximately 0.20 increased instances of emergency healthcare utilization and 0.10 increase in new diabetes-related complications. Those that had received inadequate laboratory tests had 0.26 additional increased instances emergency healthcare utilization. CONCLUSION: Inadequate T2D care is an extensive issue that may have substantial economic burden and may lead to increased diabetes-related complications. Those who did not receive medications or laboratory tests that were consistent with ADA guidelines had significantly increased emergency healthcare utilization in the following year. These findings highlight the importance of careful monitoring of T2D.

Palliative Care Consultation in the Intensive Care Unit Reduces Hospital Costs: A Cost-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Palliative care aims to improve or maintain quality of life for patients with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases. Limited research shows that palliative care is associated with reduced intensive care unit length of stay and use of high-cost resources. METHODS: This was an observational, non-experimental comparison group study on all patients 18 years or older admitted to any intensive care unit (ICU) at Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center for 7 to 30 days from August 2013 to December 2015. Length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs were compared between the treatment group of patients with palliative care in the ICU and the control group of patients with usual care in the ICU. To adjust for confounding of the palliative care consultation on LOS and hospital cost, an inverse probability of treatment weighted method was conducted. Generalized linear models using gamma distribution and log link were estimated. All costs were converted to 2015 US dollars. RESULTS: Mean LOS was 13 days and mean total hospital costs were USD 58,378. In adjusted and weighted analysis, LOS for the treatment group was 8% longer compared to the control group. The mean total hospital cost was estimated to decrease by 21% for the treatment group versus the control group. We found a reduction of USD 33,783 in hospital costs per patient who died in the hospital and reduction of USD 9113 per patient discharged alive. CONCLUSION: Palliative care consultation was associated with a reduction in the total cost of hospital care for patients with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases.

Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs of Steroid-Associated Complications in Patients With Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD/cGVHD) are serious conditions occurring after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Steroids are the most common first-line therapy; however, they are frequently associated with numerous morbid complications. To describe the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs of steroid-related complications in patients receiving systemic steroids for GVHD. This retrospective study used medical and pharmacy claims from the Optum Research database. Eligible patients were diagnosed with GVHD (aGVHD, cGVHD, or both) after HCT and were treated with systemic steroids between July 1, 2010, and August 31, 2019. The index date was the date of the first claim for systemic steroids after GVHD diagnosis. The baseline period was the 6 months before the index date, and the follow-up period was 2 years after the index date. Outcome variables included HCRU and costs associated with steroid complications, grouped into 4 categories: bone/muscle, gastrointestinal, infection, and metabolic/endocrine. A multivariate analysis was used to assess the cost ratio associated with the presence of each steroid complication; the linear model was adjusted for baseline patient characteristics and types of steroid conditions identified during follow-up. Another multivariate analysis assessed the hazard ratio for hospitalization associated with each steroid complication using a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for the time-varying presence of each complication category. A total of 689 patients were studied (median age, 55 years; male, 60%); 22% had aGVHD only, 21% had cGVHD only, and 39% had both types of GVHD. After 2 years of follow-up, 97% had at least 1 steroid-associated complication. The most common complication category was infection (79.5%), followed by metabolic/endocrine (32.4%), gastrointestinal (29.2%), and bone/muscle conditions (19.7%). About two thirds (66%) of patients with any steroid complication had ≥1 hospitalization requiring a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 20 (8-43) hospital days. Patients with an infection experienced the highest hospitalization rate (72%) and thus the highest associated costs. The total mean (median [IQR]) healthcare cost potentially related to steroid complications was $164,787 ($50,834 [$8865-$182,693]), and the largest expense was hospitalization (mean [median {IQR}], $140,637 [$26,782 {$0-$141,398}]). Of the different steroid complications, infections were associated with the highest cost (mean [median {IQR}], $167,473 [$57,680 {$16,261-$178,698}]). In addition, a significantly higher total adjusted cost was associated with the presence of an infection, gastrointestinal complication, or bone/muscle complication in patients with GVHD versus the absence of each complication (all P < .001). Complications occurring after steroid treatment for GVHD may add substantially to the HCRU and costs associated with GVHD management. Infections in particular required inpatient care and were associated with the highest economic burden.

Adverse events and clinical outcomes in patients treated with PD-(L)1 blockade for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Aims: To describe, in patients with advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, the relationship between baseline immunosuppressive drug (ISD)/corticosteroid (CS) use, as well as the incidence of mild/moderate adverse events (AEs), and the clinical effectiveness of PD (L)-1 blockade. Patients & methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with no evidence (n = 131) or positive evidence (n = 269) of ISD/CS use. Results: Duration of treatment, time to next treatment, progression-free survival and overall survival were significantly reduced for patients with evidence of prior ISD/CS use. Occurrence of mild/moderate AEs did not affect any clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Prior ISD/CS use was associated with a poorer prognosis in advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with PD-(L)1 inhibitors, but the occurrence of AEs had no effect.

What is the article about? Patients with advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) are often treated with a class of drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors. There have been previous reports that treatment with corticosteroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system in the period leading up to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors may result in poorer outcomes, but most of these reports focus on serious adverse events leading to hospitalizations or emergency room visits that result from treatment. This study aimed to determine whether treatment with corticosteroids in these patients had any impact on the occurrence of mild or moderate adverse events and long-term treatment outcomes. What were the results? By looking back at deidentified medical insurance claims from patients with aNSCLC, we found that patients who were treated with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs (vs those who did not receive these drugs) in the months leading up to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors had poorer treatment outcomes (e.g., shorter overall survival). What do the results of the study mean? This study investigated the real-world outcomes in aNSCLC patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors and found that the use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs may have an adverse effect. However, we are unable to rule out the possibility that there was an underlying difference between these two sets of patients that caused the difference in treatment outcomes. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.

Healthcare costs related to adverse events in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment: A retrospective observational claims study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive form of liver cancer with increasing incidence and mortality worldwide. For metastatic disease, systemic treatment is recommended. In addition to tumor characteristics, adverse events (AEs) may influence regimen choice. AIM: To analyze healthcare burden among patients with advanced HCC, by treatment type and AEs observed. METHODS: Included were adult commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees with ≥2 non-diagnostic claims coded for HCC (the first setting the index date); ≥1 claim for systemic treatment of advanced/metastatic HCC; and continuous enrollment for a 6-month pre-index baseline period to ≥1 month post-index (follow-up). Patients were excluded by lack of systemic treatment; incomplete demographic information; pregnancy, liver transplant, other cancers during baseline or clinical trial participation. We describe patient characteristics, common AEs, overall survival, and healthcare burden in 2017 USD up to 12 months after initiation of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) monotherapy; immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy; or FOLFOX combination therapy. RESULTS: The analytic sample consisted of 322 patients (median age 65.8 years, 76% male) who had 12 months' (unless death occurred prior) available follow-up, with median follow-up of 9 months. Among these, 241 (75%) had TKI monotherapy, 23 (7%) had ICI monotherapy, and 58 had FOLFOX (18%) first-line treatment. Overall, patients had a high burden of AEs (mean 3.2), with the most prevalent being pain (75%), infection (39%), ascites (34%), and bleeding (29%). After adjusting for covariates, infection ($50 374), fever ($47 443), and diarrhea ($29 912) imposed the highest incremental annual costs versus patients without the AE. Up to 90% of costs were attributable to inpatient admissions, with 56% to 60% involving intensive care. Median 1-year survival was 32%. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study demonstrated AE burden in alignment with previous clinical studies. Regardless of regimen used, AEs are associated with substantial healthcare costs due to inpatient care.

Eltrombopag treatment of patients with secondary immune thrombocytopenia: retrospective EHR analysis.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) may occur in isolation (primary) or in association with a predisposing condition (secondary ITP [sITP]). Eltrombopag is a well-studied treatment for primary ITP, but evidence is scarce for sITP. We evaluated real-world use of eltrombopag for sITP using electronic health records. Eligible patients had diagnoses of ITP and a qualifying predisposing condition, and eltrombopag treatment. We described patient characteristics, treatment patterns, platelet counts, and thrombotic and bleeding events. We identified 242 eligible patients; the most common predisposing conditions were hepatitis C and systemic lupus erythematosus. Average duration of eltrombopag treatment was 6.1 months. Most (81.4%) patients achieved a platelet count ≥ 30,000/µL at a mean of 0.70 months, 70.2% reached ≥ 50,000/µL at a mean of 0.95 months, and 47.1% achieved a complete response of > 100,000/µL at a mean of 1.43 months after eltrombopag initiation. At eltrombopag discontinuation, 105 patients (43%) experienced a treatment-free period for a mean 3.3 months. Bleeding events occurred with similar frequency before and during eltrombopag treatment whereas thrombotic events were less frequent during eltrombopag treatment. Our results suggest similar rates of platelet response with eltrombopag in patients with sITP as compared with primary ITP. In addition, a treatment-free period is possible for a substantial minority of patients.