Patient characteristics and treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy: A US database analysis.
Epilepsy Behav
; 85: 37-44, 2018 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29906700
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this study was to determine patient characteristics and antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy in a United States (US) population followed for ≥180â¯days.METHODS:
In this retrospective cohort study, Commercial, Supplemental Medicare, and Medicaid insurance claims from US-based Truven Health MarketScan® claims database were analyzed for incident epilepsy cases (index date January 2010-June 2013; prior baseline of 2â¯years [1â¯year for ages 1 to <2â¯years; none for those <1â¯year]). Cases met epilepsy criteria consistent with the International League Against Epilepsy diagnostic guidelines, with continuous medical and pharmacy enrollment without an epilepsy or seizure diagnosis or AED prescription during baseline. Treatment was classified as monotherapy (one AED for ≥90 continuous days), polytherapy (at least two AEDs for ≥90â¯days), or untreated (no AED claims but other pharmacy or healthcare claims). Treatment pattern comparisons used matched cohorts across seizure types.RESULTS:
Of 58,757 incident cases, 50,838 had a follow-up of ≥180â¯days. The median (range) follow-up duration was 529 (180-1096) days. Patient characteristics were similar across seizure types (matched focal vs. generalized epilepsy, Nâ¯=â¯9949 each). At 6 and 12â¯months post-index, 46.8% and 52.2% of patients, respectively, had received AED treatment. Of 29,226 patients receiving treatment, 74.7% and 1.6% received monotherapy and polytherapy for ≥90â¯days, respectively, as first-line treatment; remaining patients received AED for <90â¯days and were excluded. The probability of remaining on initial treatment after 1â¯year was 61.0% for monotherapy and 36.5% for polytherapy. The most common first-line AEDs were levetiracetam (44.4%), phenytoin (6.5%), valproic acid (6.4%), lamotrigine (6.3%), oxcarbazepine (5.7%), topiramate (5.5%), and gabapentin (5.3%).CONCLUSION:
Although the majority of treated patients received AED monotherapy consistent with guidelines, suboptimal rates of AED treatment and persistence of first-line treatment after initial epilepsy diagnosis suggest that efforts are needed to improve patient care.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Convulsões
/
Epilepsia
/
Anticonvulsivantes
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Child
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Child, preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
País como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article