Contribution of skin cancer to overall healthcare costs of lung transplantation in Queensland, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Skin cancers are a major source of morbidity in lung transplant recipients, but the relative costs associated with their treatment are unknown. METHODS: We prospectively followed 90 lung transplant recipients from enrollment in the Skin Tumors in Allograft Recipients study in 2013-2015, until mid-2016. We undertook a cost analysis to quantify the health system costs relating to the index transplant episode and ongoing costs for 4 years. Linked data from surveys, Australian Medicare claims, and hospital accounting systems were used, and generalized linear models were employed. RESULTS: Median initial hospitalization costs of lung transplantation were AU$115,831 (interquartile range (IQR) $87,428-$177,395). In total, 57 of 90 (63%) participants were treated for skin cancers during follow-up at a total cost of AU$44,038. Among these 57, total government costs per person (mostly of pharmaceuticals) over 4 years were median AU$68,489 (IQR $44,682-$113,055) vs AU$59,088 (IQR $38,190-$94,906) among those without skin cancer, with the difference predominantly driven by more doctors' visits, and higher pathology and procedural costs. Healthcare costs overall were also significantly higher in those treated for skin cancers (cost ratio 1.50, 95%CI: 1.09, 2.06) after adjusting for underlying lung disease, age on enrollment, years of immunosuppression, and the number of treated comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Skin cancer care is a small component of overall costs. While all lung transplant recipients with comorbidities have substantial healthcare costs, those affected by skin cancer incur even greater healthcare costs than those without, highlighting the importance of skin cancer control.

Recent trends in pirfenidone and nintedanib use for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Australia.

Objectives Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most common forms of interstitial lung disease presenting in people aged ≥50 years. There is currently no cure for IPF, but two medications (pirfenidone and nintedanib) have been shown to slow the functional decline of the lungs. In 2017, these two medications were listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for subsidisation in Australia. This study evaluated local trends in the use of these two medications. Methods Prescription data for this analysis were obtained from the PBS Item Reports for the period May 2017-May 2020. Population data were extracted from the Australian Bureau of Statistics data cubes. A descriptive approach was used to conduct and report the analysis to illustrate trends in the use of these two medications and associated costs. Results There were 44 010 prescriptions processed for the treatment for IPF in the 3-year period. Nintedanib use was higher than pirfenidone use, accounting for 54% of prescriptions. New South Wales accounted for 35% of the total prescriptions but, when standardised against population size, the Australian Capital Territory accounted for the highest proportion of prescriptions (24%). Prescriptions for nintedanib and pirfenidone were associated with a total cost of A$131 377 951 over the period 2017-20. Conclusion This study provides initial information on prescription rates, practices and expenditure for pirfenidone and nintedanib. In addition, we provide some insight into possible pharmacological and epidemiological trends based on jurisdictional differences. Together, the results from this study provide a platform for future research given the dearth of information on IPF in Australia. What is known about the topic? Data regarding trends in the utilisation of antifibrotics for the treatment of IPF in Australia are currently limited. What does this paper add? This study demonstrated that nintedanib use was slightly higher than pirfenidone use, and that there were variations in jurisdictional prescribing practices. The highest number of prescriptions and costs were attributable to New South Wales but, when standardised against population size, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest number of prescriptions and costs. What are the implications for practitioners? This study provides some insights into the use of pirfenidone and nintedanib, as well as pharmacoepidemiological trends, in Australia, which is useful for economic evaluation and modelling future health expenditure.

Longevity of pulmonary rehabilitation benefit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-health care utilisation in the subsequent 2 years.

Background: The primary aim was to determine the healthcare utilisation benefits including respiratory-related hospital admissions, hospital admission days and emergency department presentations in the 0-12 and 12-24 months postpulmonary rehabilitation compared with the 12 months preprogramme. Methods: An observational, data-linkage design of 11 standardised pulmonary rehabilitation programmes were used. All programmes were 8 weeks in duration with two supervised exercise sessions per week and were required to use the national pulmonary rehabilitation recommendations with regard to programme organisation, exercise training guidelines and multidisciplinary education. For each participant with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), healthcare utilisation data were collected for the 12 months preprogramme and 24 months postprogramme. Results: 426 participants (231 males, FEV149.3 (19.6) % predicted) were studied. The number of respiratory admissions/participant/year decreased from 0.7 (1.1) in the 12 months preprogramme to 0.5 (1.9) in the 12 months postprogramme, p=0.083; but increased in the 12-24 months postprogramme to 1.0 (2.3), p<0.001. The hospital days/participant/year improved from 4.0 (7.8) days in the 12 months preprogramme to 2.5 (8.5) days in the 12 months postprogramme, p<0.001; but increased in the 12-24 months postprogramme to 6.1 (16.6) days, p=0.004. The emergency department presentations/participant/year improved from 1.15 (1.75) in the 12 months preprogramme to 0.9 (1.8) in the 12 months postprogramme, p=0.003; but increased in the 12-24 months postprogramme to 2.0 (3.3), p<0.001. Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves hospital days and emergency department presentations in the first 12 months postprogramme. Healthcare utilisation benefits in the second 12 months are less clear.

Risk of anastomotic dehiscence in patients with pulmonary fibrosis transplanted while receiving anti-fibrotics: Experience of the Australian Lung Transplant Collaborative.

BACKGROUND: The new anti-fibrotics pirfenidone and nintedanib are now in widespread use for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but they may have an adverse impact on pathways involved in wound-healing. This study aimed to establish the safety of anti-fibrotic therapy in the peri-transplant period, particularly with regard to healing of the bronchial anastomosis. METHODS: In this work we assessed a retrospective cohort of patients who had undergone lung transplantation with a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis between January 2012 and December 2017. Pre-transplant use of pirfenidone and nintedanib was identified. Anastomotic dehiscence of any extent was determined at bronchoscopy. Known risk factors for anastomotic dehiscence were evaluated in both anti-fibrotic and control groups. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-six patients (160 males; mean age 59.7 ± 7.8 years) underwent transplantation in Australia for pulmonary fibrosis during the study period. Forty (17.7%) were receiving anti-fibrotics at the time of transplantation (29 with pirfenidone and 11 with nintedanib). There were 7 anastomotic dehiscence events, with overall incidence rates of 7.5% and 2.2% in the anti-fibrotic and control groups, respectively (p = 0.08). All episodes of dehiscence in the anti-fibrotic group and 2 of 4 in the comparator group occurred <6 weeks post-transplant. Survival at 30days was 100% and 96% (p = 0.21) and at 1 year was 93% and 88% (p = 0.01) in the anti-fibrotic and comparator groups, respectively. Two patients with dehiscence died. The other 5 anastomotic defects resolved, with 1 requiring stent insertion. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of bronchial dehiscence after transplantation for IPF is low and is not significantly higher in patients receiving anti-fibrotic therapy at the time of transplantation.

A novel approach to the assessment of lymphocytic bronchiolitis after lung transplantation--transbronchial brush.

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytic bronchiolitis (LB) is the strongest risk factor for subsequent allograft loss due to bronchiolitis obliterative syndrome (BOS); however, it is poorly assessed by transbronchial biopsy (TBBx) because of sampling error, interpretation error and the presence of non-alloimmune airway inflammation. We hypothesized that flow cytometric evaluation of bronchiolar brushings (transbronchial brush, TBBr) may be a better approach. METHODS: Transbronchial brushings (2 to 3 cm from the pleural surface under radiologic guidance) were obtained prior to TBBx in 32 patients and analyzed by flow cytometry. We assessed the proportion of nucleated cells that were CD3(+)CD103(+) (epithelial-specific T cells). RESULTS: No adverse events occurred; 0.5% (0.27 to 0.84) of the cells were epithelial-specific T cells and numbers increased with episodes of Grade A1 rejection (p < 0.01) and in patients with BOS (p = 0.02). Viral and invasive fungal infection were associated with marked infiltration with CD103(-) T cells (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: TBBr is simple to obtain, low risk, quantitative, and can discriminate between infective and alloimmune LB. It may be a valuable addition to current lung allograft assessment.