A Retrospective Database Analysis to Investigate Treatment Patterns and Health Care Resource Utilisation in Patients who CYCLe AntiMuscarinics in ENgland (CYCLAMEN).

BACKGROUND: Patients with overactive bladder may cycle through different antimuscarinic medications even though there is limited evidence to support this approach. OBJECTIVE: To describe treatment patterns and the associated health care resource utilisation (HCRU) according to antimuscarinic cycling groups. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The CYCLe AntiMuscarinics in ENgland (CYCLAMEN) study was a retrospective observational investigation that used primary care records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD database linked to Hospital Episode Statistics secondary care data. Eligible patients (≥18 yr) were prescribed their first antimuscarinic between January 2014 and December 2017. Patients were categorised into groups prescribed one, two, or three or more (groups 1-3) consecutive unique antimuscarinics over 18 mo. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The HCRU rate and costs were calculated for the period of continuous antimuscarinic therapy (first antimuscarinic treatment episode) and the 18-mo follow-up period. Treatment sequence patterns were displayed using sunburst plots and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess time on treatment. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall, 35 369 patients were included, of whom 31 760 (89.8%) received one antimuscarinic (group 1), 3182 (9.0%) received two (group 2), and 427 (1.2%) received three or more (group 3). The most common initial antimuscarinics were solifenacin (13 628 patients, 42.9%) in group 1, and oxybutynin in group 2 (1267 patients, 39.8%) and group 3 (200 patients, 46.8%). The median duration of the first antimuscarinic treatment episode was 57 d and <20% of patients were receiving any antimuscarinic after 18 mo. The number of primary care visits and mean costs increased across groups. The reasons for cycling could not be identified in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 10% of patients underwent sequential cycling with two or more antimuscarinics. Furthermore, as the majority discontinued treatment within 18 mo, there is a need to improve the management of these patients in the clinical care setting. PATIENT SUMMARY: We investigated treatment patterns and health care use for patients with overactive bladder who were prescribed at least one antimuscarinic drug (AMD), which are drugs that reduce some of the impulses passing from the bladder to the brain. Around 10% of patients accessing primary health care in England received more than one sequential AMD. Most patients discontinued treatment, which may indicate inadequate management of their condition. Prescription of a higher number of AMDs was associated with higher health care costs.