Treatment Patterns in the Management of Vitiligo in a Colombian HMO During 2015-2023: A Real-World Data Study
Author(s)
Luz E. Perez Jaramillo, MSc1, Jair A. Arciniegas, MSc2, Carlos Bello, Pharm1, Juan Manuel Reyes Sanchez, MSc2, Jhon E. Bolaños, MSc, MD1, Farley J. Gonzalez, MSc1, Julian Espitia, MD2, Andreina J. Alamo, BSc2, Mónica García, MSc2, Luisa Amador, MD2, Alejandra Toro, MD1;
1Biociencias-Sura, Medellín, Colombia, 2Pfizer, Bogotá, Colombia
1Biociencias-Sura, Medellín, Colombia, 2Pfizer, Bogotá, Colombia
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: To identify treatment patterns in the management of vitiligo in a Colombian Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) between 2015 and 2023.
METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive cohort study of vitiligo patients from 2015 to 2023 was conducted. Patients with the ICD-10 code L80.X were included. The index date was when vitiligo was diagnosed, and patients were followed until death, insurance discontinuation, 5-year follow-up, or December 31, 2023, whichever happened first. Demographics, treatment, and medical care were assessed at the index and during follow-up. Data were extracted from HMO administrative health records. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to determine treatment persistence.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 21,457 patients. Approximately 43.4% of these patients were identified during the period following the post COVID pandemic (2021-2023). A higher proportion of these patients were women (56.3%), with a median age of 35.4 years (IQR 29.9). Most patients received their first vitiligo diagnosis from a general practitioner (64.6%), with only 22.7% diagnosed by a dermatologist. Follow-up consultations were higher with dermatologists (61.1%) compared to general practitioners (34.6%). Common tests included complete blood count (22.3%) and blood sugar test (21.5%). Only 7,899 patients (36.8%) received pharmacological treatment, most patients didn’t receive more than two medications. From 11,818 pharmacological claims topical betamethasone (45.5%), hydrocortisone (21.8%) and tacrolimus (10.8%) were the most common. In addition, the median duration of any of the received treatment was 13 months, where topical betamethasone and hydrocortisone presented the longest median duration, with 16 and 14 months, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed vitiligo patients were mostly female middle-aged adults, who, while they have been diagnosed by a general practitioner, are usually followed by a dermatologist, and who have topical betamethasone as their most frequent and persistent treatment.
METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive cohort study of vitiligo patients from 2015 to 2023 was conducted. Patients with the ICD-10 code L80.X were included. The index date was when vitiligo was diagnosed, and patients were followed until death, insurance discontinuation, 5-year follow-up, or December 31, 2023, whichever happened first. Demographics, treatment, and medical care were assessed at the index and during follow-up. Data were extracted from HMO administrative health records. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to determine treatment persistence.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 21,457 patients. Approximately 43.4% of these patients were identified during the period following the post COVID pandemic (2021-2023). A higher proportion of these patients were women (56.3%), with a median age of 35.4 years (IQR 29.9). Most patients received their first vitiligo diagnosis from a general practitioner (64.6%), with only 22.7% diagnosed by a dermatologist. Follow-up consultations were higher with dermatologists (61.1%) compared to general practitioners (34.6%). Common tests included complete blood count (22.3%) and blood sugar test (21.5%). Only 7,899 patients (36.8%) received pharmacological treatment, most patients didn’t receive more than two medications. From 11,818 pharmacological claims topical betamethasone (45.5%), hydrocortisone (21.8%) and tacrolimus (10.8%) were the most common. In addition, the median duration of any of the received treatment was 13 months, where topical betamethasone and hydrocortisone presented the longest median duration, with 16 and 14 months, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed vitiligo patients were mostly female middle-aged adults, who, while they have been diagnosed by a general practitioner, are usually followed by a dermatologist, and who have topical betamethasone as their most frequent and persistent treatment.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HSD11
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)