Clinical and economic burden of tumor lysis syndrome among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma: A real-world US retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a potentially fatal complication of antineoplastic treatments for hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Patients developing TLS require intensive care, adding to the overall clinical and economic burden of CLL/SLL. OBJECTIVE: To analyze TLS-associated health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients with CLL/SLL treated with regimens associated with a high TLS risk (per treatment guidelines), ie, anti-CD20-based chemoimmunotherapy (CIT), lenalidomide, obinutuzumab, or venetoclax. METHODS: Adult patients with CLL/SLL in the MarketScan Databases (January 1, 2006, to April 30, 2020) initiated on CIT, lenalidomide, obinutuzumab, or venetoclax (index date) on or after January 1, 2007, were included in the analysis. Treatment-emergent TLS was defined as TLS occurring in the first 90 days of active treatment. The post-index period was divided into 30-day intervals until the end of the index regimen; intervals pre-TLS were non-TLS intervals and those starting from the TLS event were TLS intervals. Per-patient-per-month (PPPM) HCRU and costs were compared between TLS and non-TLS intervals using generalized linear models adjusted for baseline and time-varying confounders. The proportion of patients in the TLS cohort (patients with treatment-emergent TLS) and non-TLS cohort (patients with no treatment-emergent TLS) who switched treatment within 90 days post-index was compared using Kaplan-Meier rates with logrank P values. RESULTS: Among 6,343 patients with CLL/SLL, 71 (1.1%) developed treatment-emergent TLS (venetoclax: 11.5%; other regimens: 0.8%) after a mean (median) of 12.7 (7.0) days following treatment initiation (mean [median] duration of index regimen: 16.0 [10.0] months); 12 (0.2%) developed clinical TLS (venetoclax: 3.1%; other regimens: 0.1%). TLS was associated with 1.7 times more inpatient admissions (P < 0.001), 2 times more days of inpatient stay (P = 0.012), 22% fewer days of antineoplastic drug administration (P = 0.020), and $3,062 PPPM higher health care costs (P = 0.016), which were mainly driven by $1,688 PPPM higher inpatient costs (P = 0.044). Higher costs were observed among both patients who initiated venetoclax (TLS: $24,170; non-TLS: $20,091) and those who initiated other regimens (TLS: $8,746; non-TLS: $6,915). More patients in the TLS vs non-TLS cohort switched treatment in the first 90 days of treatment (12.6% vs 5.1%, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: TLS was associated with a substantial cost burden (driven by inpatient costs) and higher rate of treatment switching (vs non-TLS cohort) in patients with CLL/SLL treated with CIT, obinutuzumab, lenalidomide, or venetoclax. The risk of treatment-emergent TLS and associated incremental HCRU and costs, as well as the potential impact on quality of life, should be weighed when evaluating the risk-benefit of therapies in CLL/SLL management. DISCLOSURES: Dr Rogers has received research funding from Genentech, AbbVie, Novartis, and Janssen (not for the present study); consulting fees from Acerta Pharma, AstraZeneca, Innate Pharma, Pharmacyclics, Genentech, and AbbVie; and travel funding from AstraZeneca. Mr Emond, Mr Kinkead, Ms Lafeuille, and Mr Lefebvre are employees of Analysis Group, Inc., which has provided paid consulting services to Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC. Drs Lu and Huang are employees of Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, and stockholders of Johnson & Johnson. Ms Côté-Sergent was an employee of Analysis Group, Inc., at the time the study was conducted. This study was funded by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC. The sponsor was involved in the study design; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; manuscript writing; and the decision to publish the article.

Health care resource use, short-term disability days, and costs associated with states of persistence on antidepressant lines of therapy.

AIMS: To compare health care resource utilization (HCRU), short-term disability days, and costs between states of persistence on antidepressant lines of therapy after evidence of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). METHODS: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) were identified in the IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases (01/01/2013-03/04/2019), Multi-State Medicaid Database (01/01/2013-12/31/2018), and Health Productivity Management Database (01/01/2015-12/31/2018). The index date was the date of the first evidence of TRD during the first observed major depressive episode. The follow-up period was divided into 45-day increments and categorized into persistence states: (1) evaluation (first 45 days after evidence of TRD); (2) persistence on the early line after evidence of TRD; (3) persistence on a late line; and (4) non-persistence. HCRU, short-term disability days, and costs were compared between persistence states using multivariate generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Among 10,053 patients with TRD, the evaluation state was associated with higher likelihood of all-cause inpatient admissions (odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval (CI)] = 1.79 [1.49, 2.14]), emergency department visits (OR [95% CI] = 1.23 [1.12, 1.34]), and outpatient visits (OR [95% CI] = 3.83 [3.51, 4.18]; all p < .001) versus persistence on the early-line therapy. This resulted in $374 higher mean PPPM all-cause health care costs (95% CI = 265, 470; p < .001) during evaluation versus persistence on the early line therapy. The evaluation state was associated with 89% more short-term disability days (OR [95% CI] = 1.89 [1.49, 2.57] and $212 higher mean PPPM short-term disability costs (95% CI = 64, 259) relative to persistence on the early line (both p < .001). Moreover, during persistence on a later line, mean PPPM all-cause health care costs were $141 higher (95% CI = 13, 242; p = .028) relative to the early line. LIMITATIONS: Medication may have been dispensed but not actually taken. CONCLUSIONS: Higher costs during the first 45 days after evidence of the presence of TRD and during persistence on a late line relative to persistence on the early-line therapy suggest there are benefits to using more effective treatments earlier.

Treatment Patterns Among Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma and Comparison of Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs Among Relapsed/Refractory Patients Treated With Ibrutinib or Chemoimmunotherapy: A Real-world Retrospective Study.

PURPOSE: This study assessed treatment patterns in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and compared health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs of ibrutinib with or without rituximab (I ± R) versus chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. METHODS: For this retrospective cohort study, adults with MCL observed between May 13, 2013, and June 30, 2019, were identified using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Treatment patterns were described among patients who received ≥1 line of therapy (LOT). HRU and costs (payer's perspective) were compared between patients treated with I ± R and CIT in the second or later line (2L+) of therapy. To account for differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 cohorts, inverse probability of treatment weighting was used. Monthly HRU and costs starting from I ± R or CIT treatment initiation (index date) were compared during the first Oncology Care Model (OCM) episode (ie, first 6 months) postindex and during the observed duration of I ± R or CIT LOT (index LOT) using rate ratios (RRs) and mean monthly cost differences (MMCDs), respectively. FINDINGS: Among 1346 patients with ≥1 LOT (median follow-up, 15.3 months), 870 (64.6%) were treated with CIT in the first line. Only 348 (25.9%) had a 2L of therapy, of whom 110 (31.6%) were treated with CIT and 98 (28.2%) with an ibrutinib-based therapy. A total of 300 patients were included for the comparison of HRU and costs between 2L+ I ± R and 2L+ CIT. The weighted cohorts (after inverse probability of treatment weighting) included 149 patients treated with I ± R (mean age, 71.6 years; 73.7% men) and 151 treated with CIT (mean age, 71.5 years; 76.2% men). During the first OCM episode and during the index LOT, the I ± R cohort had significantly fewer monthly days with outpatient services compared to the CIT cohort (OCM, RR = 0.63 [P < 0.001]; index LOT, RR = 0.73 [P = 0.004]). Compared to the CIT cohort, the I ± R cohort incurred significantly higher monthly pharmacy costs (MMCDs: OCM, 9938 US dollars [USD] [P < 0.001]; index LOT, 8920 USD [P < 0.001]) that were fully offset by lower monthly medical costs (MMCDs: OCM, -19,373 USD [P < 0.001]; index LOT, -13,548 USD [P < 0.001]), resulting in monthly total health care cost savings (MMCDs, OCM, -9435 USD [P < 0.001]; index LOT , -4628 USD [P = 0.01]). IMPLICATIONS: Over a median follow-up of 15.3 months, most patients with MCL were treated with CIT in the first line, and only one fourth had a 2L therapy. Patients with relapsed/refractory MCL treated with I ± R had significantly fewer days with outpatient services and lower monthly total health care costs versus those treated with CIT during the first OCM episode and the index LOT.

Prevalence, incidence and economic burden of schizophrenia among Medicaid beneficiaries.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence, incidence and economic burden of schizophrenia among Medicaid beneficiaries. METHODS: Annual prevalence and incidence of schizophrenia among adult Medicaid beneficiaries were estimated during 2012-2017, by state and across six states (IA, KS, MS, MO, NJ and WI). The pooled estimate of the economic burden of schizophrenia was obtained during 1998Q1-2018Q1 across six states; adults with ≥2 diagnoses of schizophrenia were matched 1:1 to schizophrenia-free controls. The last observed schizophrenia diagnosis (schizophrenia cohort) or the last service claim (control cohort) with ≥12 months of continuous Medicaid enrollment before/after it defined the index date. Healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs ($2018 USD) incurred 12 months post-index were compared between cohorts. The economic burden of schizophrenia was also evaluated among young adults (18-34 years). RESULTS: Annual prevalence of schizophrenia ranged between 2.30% and 2.71% and annual incidence between 0.31% and 0.39% during 2012-2016. In 2017, only states with the highest incidence and prevalence rates (KS, MS, MO) had data, resulting in higher prevalence (4.01%) and incidence (0.52%). For the economic burden, adults with schizophrenia (N = 158,763) had higher HRU and incurred $14,087 higher healthcare costs versus controls (mean: $28,644 vs. $14,557), driven by $4677 higher long-term care costs (all p < .001). Young adults with schizophrenia incurred $14,945 higher healthcare costs versus controls, driven by $3473 higher inpatient costs (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Annual prevalence and incidence of schizophrenia varied by state but remained stable over time. Adults with schizophrenia incurred greater HRU and costs relative to adults without schizophrenia; the burden appeared comparable among young adults.

Economic burden in Medicaid beneficiaries with recently relapsed schizophrenia or with uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia not adherent to antipsychotics.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia struggle with disease relapses and uncontrolled symptoms, which can either result in or be a result of non-adherence to antipsychotics (APs). The economic burden of such patients is hypothesized to be substantial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the economic burden of recently relapsed schizophrenia or of uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia with non-adherence to APs in Medicaid beneficiaries. METHODS: Adults with ≥ 2 schizophrenia diagnoses and controls without schizophrenia were identified in Medicaid data (1997Q1-2018Q1) from Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. The index date was the last observed schizophrenia diagnosis (cohort with schizophrenia) or the last service claim (control cohort) with ≥ 12 months of continuous Medicaid enrollment before and after it. Cohorts were matched 1:1 using propensity scores. After matching, two subgroups were identified among adults with schizophrenia: (1) patients with schizophrenia and a recent relapse (≥ 1 schizophrenia-related inpatient or emergency department claim ≤ 60 days before or on the index date) and (2) patients with uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia (≥ 2 schizophrenia-related hospitalizations) and non-adherence to APs (proportion of days covered < 80%) in the 12-month pre-index period. Previously matched controls were then subset to patients in each subgroup and their matched pairs without schizophrenia, thus maintaining the 1:1 matching ratio. Healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs ($2018 USD) in the 12-month post-index (observation) period were compared between matched pairs using adjusted regression models. RESULTS: Among 158,763 patients with schizophrenia, 18,771 (11.8%) had a recent relapse (mean age 50.5 years; 48.6% female, 51.4% male) and 13,697 (8.6%) were not adherent to APs and had uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia (mean age 47.1 years; 48.0% female, 52.0% male). During the observation period, patients with recently relapsed schizophrenia and those non-adherent to APs with uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia had significantly higher HRU relative to their controls without schizophrenia. Patients with recently relapsed schizophrenia had mean total healthcare costs $21,862 higher relative to their controls ($37,424 vs $15,563), driven by $8,486 higher mean long-term care costs (all P < 0.001). Patients non-adherent to APs with uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia had adjusted mean total healthcare costs $20,787 higher relative to their controls ($38,337 vs $15,241), driven by $8,019 higher adjusted mean inpatient costs (all P < 0.001). Additional total healthcare costs incurred by patients with recently relapsed schizophrenia and those of patients non-adherent to APs with uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia exceeded by 55.2% and 47.6%, respectively, incremental total healthcare costs incurred by all patients with schizophrenia ($14,087). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with recently relapsed schizophrenia and those non-adherent to AP therapy with uncontrolled symptoms of schizophrenia incurred higher HRU and costs relative to patients without schizophrenia. Additional healthcare costs of these subgroups of patients with schizophrenia appeared higher than in the overall population with schizophrenia. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC. The sponsor was involved in the study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and publication decisions. Pilon, Lafeuille, Zhdanava, Côté-Sergent, Rossi, and Lefebvre are employees of Analysis Group, Inc., a consulting company that has provided paid consulting services to Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC, which funded the development and conduct of this study and manuscript. Patel, Joshi, and Lin are employees of Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC and stockholders of Johnson & Johnson. Part of the material in this manuscript has been presented at the US Psych Congress, October 3-6, 2019, San Diego, CA, and at the Virtual ISPOR Meeting, May 18-20, 2020.

Medication adherence, healthcare resource utilization, and costs among Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia treated with once-monthly paliperidone palmitate or once-every-three-months paliperidone palmitate.

OBJECTIVE: Antipsychotics with reduced dosing frequency may improve adherence and clinical outcomes for patients with schizophrenia. This study compared treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and costs between Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia treated with once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M) and those who transitioned to once-every-three-months paliperidone palmitate (PP3M). METHODS: Adults with schizophrenia were identified in a four-state Medicaid database (18 May 2014 to 31 March 2019). The index date was the first PP3M claim (PP3M cohort), or a random PP1M claim (PP1M cohort), following ≥4 months of continuous PP1M treatment among patients with ≥12 months of continuous Medicaid enrollment pre- and post-index. Adherence (proportion of days covered by the index treatment ≥80%), persistence (no gap >90/30 days in the PP3M/PP1M supply), HRU, and costs were compared during the 12-month post-index period between cohorts matched 1:1. RESULTS: Among 2374 patients identified, 374 remained in each cohort after matching (mean age 42 years; 30.5% female). Compared to the PP1M cohort, the PP3M cohort was 2.39 times more likely to be adherent (p < .001), 4.63 times more likely to be persistent (p < .001), 33% less likely to have ≥1 hospitalization (p = .011), and 32% less likely to have ≥1 day with home care services (p = .012). Mean annual medical costs were similar between cohorts ($24,970 in the PP3M cohort and $25,736 in the PP1M cohort; p = .854). CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid beneficiaries who transitioned to PP3M had higher adherence and persistence, and a reduced likelihood of hospitalization relative to those who continued treatment with PP1M. The results suggest potential clinical value to transitioning eligible patients to PP3M.

An assessment of weight change associated with the initiation of a protease or integrase strand transfer inhibitor in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence suggests that integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are associated with greater weight gain than other antiretrovirals. This real-world study compares weight/body mass index (BMI) change between insured US patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) initiating a protease inhibitor (PI) or INSTI. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using Decision Resources Group's Real World Data Repository (7/17/2017-6/1/2019). Adult patients with HIV-1 who initiated a new PI or INSTI on or after 7/17/2018 (index date) and had ≥12 months of continuous pre-index clinical activity were included. Baseline characteristics were balanced using inverse probability of treatment weighting. The proportion of patients with ≥5% weight/BMI increases and mean weight/BMI change from pre- to post-index were compared using odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs). RESULTS: 20,367 patients (9993 PI, 10,374 INSTI) were included (mean age = 50 years; ∼30% females). Pre- and post-index weight and BMI measurements were available in 429 and 430 PI patients, and 397 and 383 INSTI patients, respectively (mean time between index and post-index measurements: ∼7 months). The PI cohort was 39%/49% less likely to experience ≥5% weight/BMI increase than the INSTI cohort, respectively (OR [≥5% weight gain] = 0.61; p = .014; OR [≥5% BMI gain] = 0.51; p < .001). Mean weight/BMI gain was significantly lower in the PI cohort than the INSTI cohort (weight MD = -1.90 kg [-4.19 lbs], BMI MD = -0.61kg/m2; both p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Relative to INSTI, patients initiating a new PI were less likely to experience ≥5% weight/BMI gain post-index. Additionally, mean weight/BMI gain was lower in the PI than in the INSTI cohort.

Comparing the education gradient in health deterioration among the elderly in six OECD countries.

Inequalities in health by educational attainment are persistent both over time and across countries. However, their magnitudes, evolution, and main drivers are not necessarily consistent across jurisdictions. We examine the health deterioration-education gradient among older adults in the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, including how it changes over time between 2004 and 2010. Using longitudinal survey data, we first assess how rates of health deterioration in terms of poor health, difficulties with activities of daily living, and chronic conditions vary by educational attainment. We find systematic differences in rates of health deterioration, as well as in the health deterioration-education gradients, across countries. We then examine how potential confounders, including demographic characteristics, income, health care utilisation and health behaviours, affect the health deterioration-education gradient within countries over time. We demonstrate that while adjusting for confounders generally diminishes the health deterioration-education gradient, the impacts of these variables vary somewhat across countries. Our findings suggest that determinants of, and policy levers to affect, the health deterioration-education gradient likely vary across countries and health systems.

Long-Term Benefits of Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in Reducing Medical and Overall Health Care Costs Among Medicaid-Covered Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

BACKGROUND: New guidelines for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suggest that morbidity and mortality could be reduced if antiretroviral therapy (ART) was initiated immediately after diagnosis, regardless of CD4 cell count. OBJECTIVE: To assess real-world time to ART initiation and describe medical, pharmacy, and total health care costs in the 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month periods after HIV diagnosis based on time to ART initiation among Medicaid-covered patients. METHODS: Multistate Medicaid data (January 2012-March 2017) was used to identify adults with HIV-1 initiating ART ≤ 360 days of initial HIV-1 diagnosis. People living with HIV (PLWH) were sorted into mutually exclusive cohorts based on time from diagnosis to ART initiation (≤ 14 days, > 14 to ≤ 60 days, > 60 to ≤ 180 days, and > 180 to ≤ 360 days). ART regimen had to include a protease inhibitor, an integrase strand transfer inhibitor, or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, with ≥ 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Medical, pharmacy, and total health care costs in the 6, 12, 24, and 36 months following HIV diagnosis were stratified by timeliness of ART initiation. RESULTS: Of 974 patients, 347 (35.6%) initiated ART > 360 days after diagnosis and were excluded. Among the remaining 627 eligible patients, mean age was 39.9 years, 42.7% were female, and 53.9% were black. Among them, 128 (20.4%) were treated ≤ 14 days, 228 (36.4%) between > 14 and ≤ 60 days, 163 (26.0%) between > 60 and ≤ 180 days, and 108 (17.2%) between > 180 and ≤ 360 days. Among patients treated ≤ 180 days, 4.6% had ≥ 1 opportunistic infection in the 6-month period before ART initiation; this proportion reached 5.6% for patients treated >180 and ≤ 360 days. Over the 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month periods after diagnosis, per-patient-per-month (PPPM) medical costs were lower for patients who initiated ART ≤ 14 days than for those who initiated > 180 and ≤ 360 days after diagnosis (6 months: $1,611 [≤ 14 days] vs. $3,008 [> 180 and ≤ 360 days]; 12 months: $1,188 vs. $2,110; 24 months: $754 vs. $1,368; 36 months: $651 vs. $1,196). Over the same periods, medical costs generally accounted for > 50% of total health care costs for patients who initiated ART between > 60 and ≤ 180 days and > 180 and ≤ 360 days and for 30%-40% of total health care costs for patients treated ≤ 14 days and between > 14 and ≤ 60 days. Total PPPM health care costs increased with delay of ART initiation in the 36-month period after diagnosis ($2,058 [treated ≤ 14 days] vs. $2,310 [treated between > 180 and ≤ 360 days]). CONCLUSIONS: In this study from 2012 to 2017 of Medicaid PLWH treated with ART, 20.4% initiated ART ≤14 days of HIV diagnosis. Patients with delayed ART initiation accumulated more total health care costs in the 36-month period after HIV diagnosis than those initiated within 14 days, highlighting the long-term benefit of rapid ART initiation. An important opportunity remains to engage PLWH in care more rapidly. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by Janssen Scientific Affairs, which was involved in the study design, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation, and publication decisions. Emond, Romdhani, Lefebvre, and Côté-Sergent are employees of Analysis Group, a consulting company that was contracted by Janssen Scientific Affairs to conduct this study and develop the manuscript. Shohoudi was an employee of Analysis Group at the time the study was conducted. Benson, Tandon, Chow, and Dunn are employees and stockholders of Johnson & Johnson. Parts of the material in this study have been presented at the HIV Drug Therapy Meeting; October 28-31, 2018; Glasgow, UK, and the AMCP Annual Meeting; March 25-28, 2019; San Diego, CA.

Rapid Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Following Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Patients with Commercial Insurance Coverage.

BACKGROUND: New guidelines for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) advocate for rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) ≤ 7 days after HIV diagnosis with agents that have a high genetic barrier to resistance, good tolerability, and convenient dosing. OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristics, time to ART initiation, and health care costs in commercially insured patients living with HIV in the United States who are treated ≤ 60 days after HIV diagnosis. METHODS: IBM MarketScan Research Databases (January 1, 2012-December 31, 2017) were used to identify ART-naive adults with HIV-1, ≥ 6 months of continuous eligibility before first HIV diagnosis, and ART initiation ≤ 60 days of first diagnosis. ART regimen had to include a protease inhibitor (PI), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI), or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) with ≥ 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Cohorts were formed based on time to ART initiation after diagnosis: ≤ 7 days or 8-60 days. Health care costs were evaluated at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after diagnosis among patients with ≥ 36 months of continuous eligibility. RESULTS: Among 9,351 patients, median time to treatment was 31.0 days. Patients initiating ART > 60 days after HIV diagnosis were excluded (N = 2,608 [27.9%]), while 6,743 (72.1%) initiated ART ≤ 60 days after diagnosis and were analyzed; 18.3% and 81.7% were classified in the ≤ 7 days and 8-60 days cohorts, respectively. For all analyzed patients, mean age was 38.0 (SD = 12.0) years and 13.2% were female; 12.7%, 56.2%, and 31.1% initiated a PI, INSTI, or NNRTI-based regimen, respectively. Elvitegravir (32.9%), efavirenz (20.9%), dolutegravir (18.5%), and darunavir (8.5%) were the most commonly used antiretrovirals; most patients (74.3%) were initiated on single-tablet regimens. PI-based regimens were more common in the ≤ 7 days cohort (PI = 18.1%; darunavir = 11.4%) than in the 8-60 days cohort (PI = 11.5%; darunavir = 7.8%). INSTI-based regimens were more common in the 8-60 days cohort (INSTI = 57.7%; elvitegravir = 33.8%) than in the ≤ 7 days cohort (INSTI = 49.2%; elvitegravir = 29.1%). NNRTI-based regimens were as common in the ≤ 7 days (32.7%) and 8-60 days (30.7%) cohorts. Mean total accumulated costs were lower among patients in the ≤ 7 days cohort than in the 8-60 days cohort at all time points analyzed after diagnosis (e.g., 36 months: ≤ 7 days = $109,456; 8-60 days = $116,870). Total per-patient per-month costs decreased over time in the ≤ 7 days (i.e., 6 months = $4,359; 36 months = $3,040) and 8-60 days cohort (6 months = $4,727; 36 months = $3,246). CONCLUSIONS: Although 72.1% of patients initiated ART ≤ 60 days after HIV diagnosis, only 18.3% initiated ART ≤ 7 days. Many patients initiating ART ≤ 7 days used suboptimal agents with low rather than high genetic barriers to resistance (i.e., efavirenz and elvitegravir) or agents (dolutegravir) coformulated with other antiretrovirals that require testing to prevent hypersensitivity reactions. Patients in the ≤ 7 days cohort showed lower total health care costs relative to those in the 8-60 days cohort, highlighting the potential long-term benefits of rapid ART initiation. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by Janssen Scientific Affairs, which was involved in the study design, interpretation of results, manuscript preparation, and publication decisions. Emond, Lefebvre, Lafeuille, and Côté-Sergent are employees of Analysis Group, a consulting company that was contracted by Janssen Scientific Affairs to conduct this study and develop the manuscript. Benson, Tandon, Chow, and Dunn are employees of Janssen Scientific Affairs and stockholders of Johnson & Johnson. Part of the material in this study has been presented at the AMCP 2019 Annual Meeting; March 25-28, 2019; San Diego, CA.

End-Of-Life Medical Spending In Last Twelve Months Of Life Is Lower Than Previously Reported.

Although end-of-life medical spending is often viewed as a major component of aggregate medical expenditure, accurate measures of this type of medical spending are scarce. We used detailed health care data for the period 2009-11 from Denmark, England, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan, the United States, and the Canadian province of Quebec to measure the composition and magnitude of medical spending in the three years before death. In all nine countries, medical spending at the end of life was high relative to spending at other ages. Spending during the last twelve months of life made up a modest share of aggregate spending, ranging from 8.5 percent in the United States to 11.2 percent in Taiwan, but spending in the last three calendar years of life reached 24.5 percent in Taiwan. This suggests that high aggregate medical spending is due not to last-ditch efforts to save lives but to spending on people with chronic conditions, which are associated with shorter life expectancies.