Psychotropic Medication Treatment Patterns in Employee Dependents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Author(s)
Cindy M. Chan, PharmD, MHI1, Kylie M. Stitt, MAS2, Samuel K. Peasah, PhD, MBA3, Eric M. Rosenberg, MA2, Joseph N. Pierri, MD, MS4, Chester B. Good, MD, MPH3;
1University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2Workpartners, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 3UPMC Health Plan, Center for High-Value Health Care, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 4University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
1University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2Workpartners, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 3UPMC Health Plan, Center for High-Value Health Care, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 4University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: In children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), psychotropic medications are prescribed to manage behavioral symptoms and comorbidities, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. This analysis aimed to summarize changes in medication use among employee dependents with ASD.
METHODS: Using the Workpartners RRDb (a national US-based employee database), we identified dependents aged <18 years with an ICD-10 diagnosis code of autism disorder (F84.0) from 2016 to 2023. We summarized their psychotropic medication use by drug class, concurrent use, and age group (0 to <5 years, 5 to <10 years, and 10 to <18 years at baseline) followed over 3 years. Drug classes with at least 30 days of prescription overlap were considered concurrent use. These medications included: antidepressant/anxiolytic agents, anti-seizure medications, antipsychotics, alpha agonists, stimulants, and sleep medications.
RESULTS: There were 76% males, and ADHD was the most common comorbidity. At Year 1, only 8.4% of children in the 0 to <5 years group (n=641) took one or more concurrent psychotropic medications. In 5- to <10-year-old children (n=892), 23.1% took 1 psychotropic medication and 15.4% took 2 or more, whereas in 10- to <18-year-old children (n = 1214), 28.6% took 1 psychotropic drug and 32.9% took 2 or more. Use of two or more concurrent medications increased from Year 1 to Year 3 in the 0 to <5 years and 5 to <10 years age groups. The most prescribed drug classes were stimulants, antidepressant/anxiolytic agents, followed by alpha agonists. Antipsychotic drug use was highest in the 10 to <18 years group.
CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropic medication use, especially antipsychotics, was more prevalent in older age groups, with increasing number of patients prescribed multiple drug classes in older groups. The findings highlight the burden of polypharmacy with increasing age and over time in children with ASD.
METHODS: Using the Workpartners RRDb (a national US-based employee database), we identified dependents aged <18 years with an ICD-10 diagnosis code of autism disorder (F84.0) from 2016 to 2023. We summarized their psychotropic medication use by drug class, concurrent use, and age group (0 to <5 years, 5 to <10 years, and 10 to <18 years at baseline) followed over 3 years. Drug classes with at least 30 days of prescription overlap were considered concurrent use. These medications included: antidepressant/anxiolytic agents, anti-seizure medications, antipsychotics, alpha agonists, stimulants, and sleep medications.
RESULTS: There were 76% males, and ADHD was the most common comorbidity. At Year 1, only 8.4% of children in the 0 to <5 years group (n=641) took one or more concurrent psychotropic medications. In 5- to <10-year-old children (n=892), 23.1% took 1 psychotropic medication and 15.4% took 2 or more, whereas in 10- to <18-year-old children (n = 1214), 28.6% took 1 psychotropic drug and 32.9% took 2 or more. Use of two or more concurrent medications increased from Year 1 to Year 3 in the 0 to <5 years and 5 to <10 years age groups. The most prescribed drug classes were stimulants, antidepressant/anxiolytic agents, followed by alpha agonists. Antipsychotic drug use was highest in the 10 to <18 years group.
CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropic medication use, especially antipsychotics, was more prevalent in older age groups, with increasing number of patients prescribed multiple drug classes in older groups. The findings highlight the burden of polypharmacy with increasing age and over time in children with ASD.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
RWD78
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
SDC: Neurological Disorders, SDC: Pediatrics