Healthcare utilization, costs, and epidemiology of Huntington's disease in Israel.

Introduction: Data on Huntington's disease (HD) epidemiology, treatment patterns, and economic burden in Israel are scarce. Methods: Annual prevalence and incidence of HD (ICD-9-CM 333.4) were assessed in the Israel-based Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS) database 2016-2018. Adherence (medication possession rate [MPR], proportion of disease covered) were assessed for adult people with HD (PwHD) 2013-2018. Healthcare resources utilization (HCRU) and costs related to inpatient and outpatient visits and all medications in 2018 were assessed for PwHD, who were randomly matched to MHS members without HD (1:3) by birth-year and sex. Results: Overall, 164 patients had at least one HD diagnosis. Annual prevalence and incidence were 4.45 and 0.24/100,000, respectively. A total of 67.0% of adult patients (n = 106) were taking tetrabenazine (median MPR and proportion of disease covered, 74.3% and 30.2%, respectively), 65.1% benzodiazepines (75.8% and 32.3%), and 11.3% amantadine (79.2% and 6.0%). Over a 1-year follow-up, PwHD (n = 81) had significantly more neurologist, psychiatrist, physiotherapist, and speech therapist visits (P < 0.05 for each) and more hospitalization days (P < 0.0001) compared with matched controls (n = 243). Total healthcare and medication costs per patient (US dollars) were significantly higher for PwHD than controls ($7,343 vs. $3,625; P < 0.001). Discussion/Conclusion: PwHD have greater annual HCRU and medical costs than MHS members without HD in Israel. Among those who have taken medications, adherence was lower than 80% (both MPR and proportion of disease covered), which may translate into suboptimal symptom relief and quality of life.

The variability of diagnosed migraine epidemiology amongst different municipalities in southern Israel.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate and timely diagnosis is one of the most important milestones in effective migraine care and is affected by public awareness, access to medical care, health care systems, and physicians' knowledge. We assessed the variability in migraine diagnosis rates in different communities under universal national health coverage in Israel. METHODS: In this population-based retrospective, observational, cohort study, adult (≥18 years) migraine patients were identified in the computerized database of the southern district of the Clalit Health Services Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) based on recorded diagnosis and/or purchase of specific anti-migraine acute medication (triptans). Migraine prevalence in 2018 was calculated in the entire study population and in different municipalities. We utilized a standardized (age and gender) mortality ratio (SMR) approach for comparison among the municipalities. RESULTS: In 2018, a total of 29,938 migraine patients were identified out of 391,528 adult HMO members, with an overall prevalence (per 10,000) of migraine of 764.64 (7.65%), 1143.34 (11.43%) for women, and 374.97 (3.75%) for men. Among the municipalities, adjusted prevalence (per 10,000) ranged from 386.15 (3.86%) to 1320.60 (13.21%). The female-to-male ratio ranged from 1.8:1 to 5.1:1. Prevalence rates were positively associated with the socioeconomic status of the municipalities (Spearman rho = 0.472, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: High variability in the prevalence of diagnosed migraine suggests underdiagnosis. Resources for awareness and educational programs should be directed to low diagnosed prevalence communities.

Migraine epidemiology and comorbidities in Southern Israel: a clinical database study in a universal health coverage setting.

BACKGROUND: Understanding migraine epidemiology and its burden is crucial for planning health policies and interventions at the local level as well as at the global level. National policies in Israel rely on global estimations and not on local data since local epidemiologic studies had not previously been performed. In this study, we evaluated the epidemiology of migraine in the southern district of Israel using the electronic medical records database of the largest Israeli health maintenance organization (HMO). METHODS: In this population-based, retrospective, observational cohort study, adult migraine patients were identified in the computerized database of the southern district of the Clalit Health Services HMO (total population, 0.75 million). Patients were identified based on recorded diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) and/or claims for specific anti-migraine medication (triptans) between 2000 and 2018. A 1:2 age-, gender-, and primary care clinic-matched control group was used for evaluation of comorbidities. RESULTS: In 2018, a total of 29,938 patients with migraine were identified out of 391,528 adult HMO members. Most of the patients were women (75.8%), and the mean ± standard deviation age at diagnosis was 36.94 ± 13.61 years. The overall prevalence of migraine (per 10,000) was 764.64 (7.65%), 1143.34 (11.43%) for women and 374.97 (3.75%) for men. The highest prevalence was observed in patients aged 50 to 60 years and 40 to 50 years (1143.98 [11.44%] and 1019.36 [10.19%], respectively), and the lowest prevalence was among patients aged 18 to 30 years and > 70 years (433.45 [4.33%] and 398.49 [3.98%], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale epidemiologic study of migraine prevalence in Israel. Compared to international estimations, migraine appears to be underdiagnosed in the southern district of Israel.

Burden of migraine in Brazil: A cross-sectional real-world study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the burden and consequences of migraine in Brazil in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and daily activities, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU). BACKGROUND: Despite existing data on how migraine affects populations worldwide, there are limited data on the burden of migraine in Latin America. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used patient-reported data from the 2018 Brazil National Health and Wellness Survey. HRQoL scores (EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level [EQ-5D-5L]; 36-item Short Form Health Survey, version 2 [SF-36v2]; and Short Form 6-dimension [SF-6D]), impairments to work productivity and daily activities (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire), and all-cause HRU were compared between migraine respondents and matched non-migraine controls. RESULTS: Of the 12,000 total respondents in the survey database, 1643 self-reported a physician diagnosis of migraine and were propensity score matched 1:1 with controls without migraine. HRQoL was lower in patients with migraine versus non-migraine controls, with significantly lower SF-36v2 physical (mean [± SD] 50.3 [7.5] vs. 52.0 [7.6]) and mental component (mean [± SD] 42.9 [10.2] vs. 46.0 [9.9]) summary scores and SF-6D (mean [± SD] 0.7 [0.1] vs. 0.7 [0.1]) and EQ-5D-5L (mean [± SD] 0.7 [0.2] vs. 0.8 [0.2]) utility scores (all p < 0.001). Patients with migraine reported higher levels of work productivity loss (mean [± SD], 40.6% [31.4%] vs. 28.6% [30.9%], including absenteeism 12.8% [19.1%] vs. 8.4% [17.1%] and presenteeism 35.0% [28.7%] vs. 24.8% [28.0%]; all p < 0.001); activity impairment (mean [± SD] 36.0% [28.8%] vs. 25.5% [28.1%]; p < 0.001); and significantly higher HRU in the past 6 months (healthcare provider and emergency department visits [mean [± SD] 7.2 [9.5] vs. 4.5 [6.3] and 1.7 [3.8] vs. 0.9 [2.2]; both p < 0.001] and hospitalizations [mean [± SD] 0.4 [2.7] vs. 0.2 [1.1]; p = 0.002]) than controls. CONCLUSION: Migraine is associated with poorer HRQoL, higher all-cause HRU, and greater activity impairment and work productivity loss versus non-migraine controls in Brazil.

The Clinical and Economic Burden of Tardive Dyskinesia in Israel: Real-World Data Analysis.

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a hyperkinetic movement disorder caused by exposure to dopamine-receptor blockers. Data on TD burden in Israel are scarce. This analysis assesses the clinical and economic burden of TD in Israeli patients. METHODS/PROCEDURES: This retrospective analysis used a national health plan database (Maccabi Healthcare Services), representing 25% of the Israeli population. The study included adults alive at index date with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification TD diagnosis before 2018 and more than or equal to 1-year enrollment before diagnosis. Tardive dyskinesia patients were matched to non-TD patients (1:3) by underlying psychiatric condition, birth year, and sex. Treatment patterns and 2018 annual health care resource utilization and costs were assessed. FINDINGS/RESULTS: Of 454 TD patients alive between 2013 and 2018, 333 alive on January 1, 2018, were matched to 999 non-TD patients. At baseline, TD patients had lower socioeconomic status and higher proportion of chronic kidney disease and antipsychotic medication use; all analyses were adjusted accordingly. Tardive dyskinesia patients had significantly more visits to general physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, and emergency departments versus non-TD patients (all P < 0.05). Tardive dyskinesia patients also had significantly longer hospital stays than non-TD patients ( P = 0.003). Total healthcare and medication costs per patient were significantly higher in the TD versus non-TD population (US $11,079 vs US $7145, P = 0.018). IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Israeli TD patients have higher clinical and economic burden than non-TD patients. Understanding real-world health care resource utilization and costs allows clinicians and decision makers to quantify TD burden and prioritize resources for TD patients' treatment.

Defining Utility Values for Chorea Health States in Patients with Huntington's Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chorea is characterized by sudden, involuntary movements that interfere with quality of life (QOL). Utility values measure preferences for different health states and reflect societal perceived disease severity. To date, no studies have reported utility values specifically for Huntington's disease (HD) chorea. We estimated impact on QOL of HD chorea severity using utility values from the general population. METHODS: Participants were enrolled using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Participants read vignettes describing four health states for varying levels of chorea severity, with the same underlying HD severity. Time trade-off (TTO) methods were used to estimate utility values, which range from -1 (worse than death) to +1 (perfect health) and represent the number of years in an imperfect health state an individual is willing to give up to live in full health. TTO utilities were augmented with visual analog scale (VAS) participant responses. The primary outcome was HD chorea utility estimated by TTO. RESULTS: Mean ± SD TTO-derived utility values were 0.07 ± 0.52, 0.26 ± 0.50, 0.48 ± 0.47, and 0.64 ± 0.41 for severe, moderate/severe, moderate/mild, and mild chorea severity, respectively. Differences between each health state and its adjacent less severe health state were statistically significant (all P < 0.0001). Respondents were willing to give up 3.6, 5.2, 7.4, and 9.3 years during a 10-year life span to avoid living with mild, mild/moderate, moderate/severe, and severe chorea, respectively. VAS and TTO results were consistent. CONCLUSIONS: Significant decreases in utility values were seen as HD chorea severity increased. These data can be leveraged for cost-effectiveness modeling to better understand the value of treatments for chorea.

Defining utility values for patients with tardive dyskinesia.

OBJECTIVE: To measure health state preferences and estimate utility values for tardive dyskinesia (TD) from the perspective of the US general population, accounting for factors affecting quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Participants from the general population were recruited and asked to watch and assess videos of professional actors simulating nine health states, including psychiatric disorders with/without TD and moderate-to-severe TD without any underlying disease. Time tradeoff (TTO) methods were used to elicit utility values, which ranged from -1 (worse than death) to +1 (perfect health) and represented individual preferences for avoiding specific health states associated with TD. Lower TTO utility values indicated individuals' willingness to give up more years of life to avoid living in each health state. RESULTS: Based on TTO responses (n = 157), mean ± standard deviation utility for TD alone was 0.59 ± 0.38. Mean utilities for schizophrenia with negative symptoms (without TD: 0.43; with TD: 0.29) and positive symptoms (without TD: 0.44; with TD: 0.30) were generally lower than those for bipolar disorder (without TD: 0.59; with TD: 0.46) and major depressive disorder (without TD: 0.60; with TD: 0.44). According to utility decrements associated with TD (0.13-0.16), respondents were willing to give up 1.3 to 1.6 years during a 10-year lifespan to avoid living with TD. CONCLUSIONS: Utility decrements for TD in this study were slightly larger than previously reported values, potentially due to incorporation of QOL and social consequences in TD health state descriptions. An important limitation of this analysis is that participants' willingness to trade future years of healthy life may not indicate actual willingness to accept the life decrement. These findings can be leveraged to improve cost-effectiveness analyses used to assess the value of treatments for TD.

Budgetary Impact of Bendamustine Ready-to-Dilute Products in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma to a United States Infusion Facility.

BACKGROUND: Bendamustine hydrochloride (BND HCl) is indicated for first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and rituximab-refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). There are two ready-to-dilute (RTD) formulations of BND HCl on the US market: a large-volume, long-duration infusion (BND-L) and a small-volume, short-duration infusion (BND-S). It is estimated that the shorter duration infusion could result in cost savings to infusion facilities. OBJECTIVE: Estimate the one-year budget impact between BND-S and BND-L for use in the treatment of CLL and iNHL when all current BND-L utilization is replaced with BND-S, from the US infusion facility perspective. METHODS: An illustrative budget impact model estimated the change in costs associated with a projected increase from 50% to 100% market share for BND-S. The model included CLL and iNHL patient populations. Budgetary costs reflected facility expenditures on drug acquisition and administration based on recommended dosing for BND-S and BND-L. The base-case model assumptions and inputs were derived from scientific literature and publicly available resources. The total budget impact was calculated annually, along with the differences in per patient cost; one-way sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Per-patient savings with BND-S use after the utilization shift were estimated at $2812.24 for CLL and $4769.01 for iNHL. Across both indications, the total annual incremental savings after the utilization shift were estimated at $452,209 for 250 CLL and iNHL patients in a 10,000-patient infusion facility, resulting in cost savings of $150.74 per BND HCI patient per month and $1808.84 per BND HCI patient per year. The model was sensitive to changes in proportion of patients receiving BND HCI infusions for CLL and iNHL, patient body surface area, and BND-S wholesale acquisition cost. CONCLUSION: This analysis estimated over $450,000 in annual savings for a 10,000-patient chemotherapy infusion facility following a utilization shift from 50% use of each RTD product to 100% use of BND-S in CLL and iNHL patients, driven by lower acquisition costs for BND-S and lower administration labor costs associated with rapid infusion.