Savings Associated With the Optimization of Pharmacological Therapy in Patients With Chronic Respiratory Pathologies

OBJECTIVES: To describe the savings generated by a comprehensive healthcare program for patients with chronic respiratory pathologies.

METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study in patients with a diagnosis of asthma and COPD belonging to helPharma's Complex Pulmonary Pathologies Care Program. The health economic results obtained from the optimization strategy of pharmacological treatment during the period January - December 2023 were evaluated. The patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary group formed by a pulmonologist, nurse, pharmacist, and respiratory therapist, who, according to the clinical evolution of the patient, adjusted the pharmacological therapy ensuring adequate effectiveness and safety, with a rational use of health resources. With the results obtained, a univariate analysis was performed, with summary measures of central tendency, and relative and cumulative frequencies. The statistical package R Core Team Version 4.2 (2022) was used.

RESULTS: During the period evaluated, drug therapy optimization strategies were established in 124 patients with a mean age of 52 years (SD= 19), 60.9% women, 75.8% with a diagnosis of severe asthma, and 24.2% COPD. According to the clinical evolution, medication suspension was achieved in 51.6% of the cases, change of treatment in 23.4%, evitability in the initiation of new therapies in 18.6%, dose adjustment in 4%, and spacing in the frequency of medication administration in 2.4%. These optimization strategies generated a total saving of USD 217,584.75, 94.5% of which corresponded to biologic drugs (USD 314,022.34), 3.3% to inhalers (USD 11,019.48), 2.1% to oxygen (USD 7,015.03) and 0.1% to oral drugs (USD 342.65).

CONCLUSIONS: The continuous monitoring and care of patients allow the establishment of strategies for the optimization of pharmacological therapies, impacting the clinical outcomes of patients and the reduction of health costs.