Prevalence of Claims-Reported Pruritus in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis Overall and Among Those Treated With Obeticholic Acid
Moderator
Radhika Nair, PhD, Intercept Pharma, Cedar Park, TX, United States
Speakers
Aparna Goel; Joanna MacEwan, MS, PhD; Jennifer Hernandez; Alina Levine; Quynh Doan; Christopher White; Jasmine Sham
OBJECTIVES: Pruritus is a common symptom of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC; ~80% of patients) that impacts health-related quality of life. We assessed the prevalence of claims-reported pruritus in patients with PBC, including a subset who initiated obeticholic acid (OCA) treatment.
METHODS: This analysis identified adults with PBC (≥2 outpatient claims or ≥1 inpatient claim) between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2024, using Komodo’s Healthcare Map. The date of first claim with a PBC diagnosis was set as the index date. Among these patients, we identified a subset who initiated OCA, including a separate cohort generally aligned to OCA 2021 US prescribing information (USPI) criteria. For OCA-treated patients, the date of first OCA prescription claim on or after the PBC diagnosis date was set as the index date. Patients were enrolled for ≥12 months pre-index and ≥1 day (all PBC) or ≥12 months (OCA treated) post-index. Descriptive analyses were used for patient characteristics and pruritus prevalence. Pruritus was defined using ICD-10-CM code L29.X.
RESULTS: We identified 29,584 patients with PBC (mean [SD] age, 58.5 [13.1] years). Claims-reported pruritus was observed in 21.0% of patients with PBC. Since 2016, 1561 patients initiated OCA; 404 patients met USPI-aligned criteria. Mean age was 55 years in both OCA cohorts. Before initiating OCA, claims-reported pruritus was observed in 17.6% (overall OCA) and 16.6% (USPI aligned) of patients. Claims-reported pruritus before and after OCA initiation was observed in 9.8% (overall OCA) and 10.4% (USPI aligned). Incident claims-reported pruritus after OCA initiation was observed in 9.4% (overall OCA) and 8.9% (USPI aligned).
CONCLUSIONS: Although pruritus is underreported in claims, these data potentially reflect relevant pruritus-related medical visits and may be important to payers and health systems. Prevalence estimates of claims-reported pruritus in the overall PBC and OCA cohorts were similar.
©2024 Komodo Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
METHODS: This analysis identified adults with PBC (≥2 outpatient claims or ≥1 inpatient claim) between October 1, 2016, and January 31, 2024, using Komodo’s Healthcare Map. The date of first claim with a PBC diagnosis was set as the index date. Among these patients, we identified a subset who initiated OCA, including a separate cohort generally aligned to OCA 2021 US prescribing information (USPI) criteria. For OCA-treated patients, the date of first OCA prescription claim on or after the PBC diagnosis date was set as the index date. Patients were enrolled for ≥12 months pre-index and ≥1 day (all PBC) or ≥12 months (OCA treated) post-index. Descriptive analyses were used for patient characteristics and pruritus prevalence. Pruritus was defined using ICD-10-CM code L29.X.
RESULTS: We identified 29,584 patients with PBC (mean [SD] age, 58.5 [13.1] years). Claims-reported pruritus was observed in 21.0% of patients with PBC. Since 2016, 1561 patients initiated OCA; 404 patients met USPI-aligned criteria. Mean age was 55 years in both OCA cohorts. Before initiating OCA, claims-reported pruritus was observed in 17.6% (overall OCA) and 16.6% (USPI aligned) of patients. Claims-reported pruritus before and after OCA initiation was observed in 9.8% (overall OCA) and 10.4% (USPI aligned). Incident claims-reported pruritus after OCA initiation was observed in 9.4% (overall OCA) and 8.9% (USPI aligned).
CONCLUSIONS: Although pruritus is underreported in claims, these data potentially reflect relevant pruritus-related medical visits and may be important to payers and health systems. Prevalence estimates of claims-reported pruritus in the overall PBC and OCA cohorts were similar.
©2024 Komodo Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EPH29
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Safety & Pharmacoepidemiology
Disease
SDC: Gastrointestinal Disorders, SDC: Rare & Orphan Diseases