Elevated risk of multimorbidity post-COVID-19 infection: protective effect of vaccination.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has affected multimorbidity incidence among those with one pre-existing chronic condition, as well as how vaccination could modify this association. AIM: To examine the association of Covid-19 infection with multimorbidity incidence among people with one pre-existing chronic condition, including those with prior vaccination. DESIGN: Nested case-control study. METHODS: We conducted a territory-wide nested case-control study with incidence density sampling using Hong Kong electronic health records from public healthcare facilities and mandatory Covid-19 reports. People with one listed chronic condition (based on a list of 30) who developed multimorbidity during 1 January 2020-15 November 2022 were selected as case participants and randomly matched with up to 10 people of the same age, sex and with the same first chronic condition without having developed multimorbidity at that point. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of multimorbidity. RESULTS: In total, 127 744 case participants were matched with 1 230 636 control participants. Adjusted analysis showed that there were 28%-increased odds of multimorbidity following Covid-19 [confidence interval (CI) 22% to 36%] but only 3% (non-significant) with prior full vaccination with BNT162b2 or CoronaVac (95% CI -2% to 7%). Similar associations were observed in men, women, older people aged 65 or more, and people aged 64 or younger. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significantly elevated risk of multimorbidity following a Covid-19 episode among people with one pre-existing chronic condition. Full vaccination significantly reduced this risk increase.

SGLT2i as fourth-line therapy and risk of mortality, end-stage renal diseases and cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: Current guideline recommends insulin as fourth-line glucose-lowering medications. However, treatment effects of sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on the risk of complications are uncertain. This study examines risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients on triple oral glucose-lowering medications initiating SGLT2i, insulin or other oral medications. METHODS: A population-based retrospective cohort of patients with T2DM between 2006-2017 was extracted from Hong Kong Hospital Authority database. Patients who were initiated a fourth-line therapy with SGLT2i, insulin or other oral medications were included. Hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality, CVD and ESRD were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up period of 18.5 months with 63,122 person-years, SGLT2i and insulin group had the lowest and highest incidence rate of all-cause mortality, CVD and ESRD (1.06, 0.65 and 0.61 vs 4.25, 5.58 and 4.39/100 person-years), respectively. Initiating SGLT2i as fourth-line medication had more benefits on CVD, in particular coronary heart disease and stroke. Insulin users had higher risks of CVD (HR=8.04, 95%CI=3.06-21.12) than SGLT2i users. SGLT2i was associated with insignificant reduction in ESRD (HR=4.62, 95%CI=0.73-29.09) and all-cause mortality (HR=3.06, 95%CI=0.75-12.45), and HF (HR=2.99, 95%CI=0.37-24.42) among patients without established HF. CONCLUSION: Among T2DM patients initiating fourth-line therapy, SGLT2i users had significant benefits in lowering risk of CVD, and potential benefits in lowering risks of ESRD and all-cause mortality. SGLT2i was the preferred fourth-line glucose-lowering medication least likely to be associated with complication risks.

Budget impact of introducing tofacitinib to the public hospital formulary in Hong Kong, 2017-2021.

INTRODUCTION: As the first approved oral kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib is effective and well-tolerated, but more expensive than conventional treatments for uncontrolled rheumatoid arthritis. Public formulary listing typically exerts a positive impact on the uptake of new drugs. We aimed to assess the budgetary impact of introducing tofacitinib into the Hospital Authority Drug Formulary as a fully subsidised drug in Hong Kong. METHODS: We applied a population-based budget impact model to trace the number of eligible patients receiving biologics or tofacitinib treatment, then estimated the 5-year healthcare expenditure on rheumatoid arthritis treatments, with or without tofacitinib (2017-2021). We used linear regression to estimate the number of target patients and compound annual growth rate to estimate market share. Competing treatments included abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, and tofacitinib. Retail price was used for drug costs, valued in Hong Kong dollars (HK$) in 2017 and discounted at 4% per year. RESULTS: The annual treatment cost of tofacitinib was HK$74 214 per patient, and the costs of biologics ranged from HK$64 350 to HK$115 700. Without tofacitinib, the annual government health expenditures for rheumatoid arthritis treatment were estimated to increase from HK$147.9 million (2017) to HK$190.6 million (2021). The introduction of tofacitinib to the formulary would reduce healthcare expenditures by 17.3% to 20.3% per year, with cumulative savings of HK$192.8 million; this change was estimated to provide consistent savings (HK$66.4 million to HK$196.8 million) in all tested scenarios. CONCLUSION: Introduction of tofacitinib to the formulary will provide 5-year savings, given the current drug price and patient volume.