RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Therapies that target the underlying defect in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) will likely impact the future characteristics of the CF population and healthcare utilization. The objectives of this study were to estimate the potential impact of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor on morbidity and mortality, and the impact of delayed access. METHOD: A microsimulation transition model was applied to Canadian CF Registry data to forecast lung disease severity, pulmonary exacerbations, deaths and transplants to 2030 under three scenarios: 1) no availability of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, 2) availability in 2021 ('early') or 3) availability in 2025 ('delayed'). Published Phase III data on treatment effects were used to estimate transition rates between disease severity states. RESULTS: Under specific assumptions regarding disease state and treatment effect applied to the Canadian CF population it is projected that by 2030, early introduction of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor is expected to reduce the number of individuals with severe lung disease by 60% (95% CI 55.3; 63.9), increase the number of individuals with mild lung disease by 18% (95%CI 18.2; 19.0) and reduce the number of pulmonary exacerbations by 19% (95%CI 18.9; 19.5). Earlier introduction of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor could reduce deaths by 15% (95% 13.2; 18.4) and improve the median age of survival by 9.2 years (7.5; 10.8) over a 10-year period. The expected benefits of therapy are cumulative, therefore delayed access to elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor will result in preventable health care utilization and deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed access to elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor will have a negative impact on lung health and survival in the CF population.