A Longitudinal Year-by-Year Cost Analysis for Patients Diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera
Author(s)
Hung Lun Chien, MPH, Andrew Howe, BA, PharmD, Craig Zimmerman, PHD.
PharmaEssentia, Burlington, MA, USA.
PharmaEssentia, Burlington, MA, USA.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Polycythemia vera (PV), a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm, is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events and progression to thrombosis, myelofibrosis (MF), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Studies reported patients with PV incur significantly higher healthcare expenditures, increased health care utilization, and long-term care, compared to the general population. A year-by-year longitudinal cost analysis has been conducted to provide a comprehensive financial profile of the disease burden.
METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal analysis was conducted utilizing Blue Health Intelligence claims data (2014 - Apr/2024) on patients diagnosed with PV between 2017 and 2019 using continuous enrollment criteria of one year prior to and five years post index diagnosis and excluding pre-existing MF and AML. Outcomes include annual inflation adjusted healthcare costs (allowed amount) and healthcare utilization. Generalized linear models (GLM) with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate annual cost increases which were adjusted for potential confounder and cluster effects.
RESULTS: After applying the selection criteria, 3,933 PV patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 52.5 years (±SD=9.27), and 75.2% (n=2,956) were male. Half (n=1,971) were previously diagnosed with PV prior to index date and 73.9% (n=2,906) were low-risk. The total annual mean cost was $17,746 (±SD=$43,982, median=$5,086, range: $0-$1,454,008). For patients newly diagnosed (n=1,962) the year-by-year mean cost over 5-years were $15,714, $13,079, $14,572, $15,918, and $18,501 in the fifth year. The estimated year-by-year increase based on the GLM was $1,279 (95%CI=$609-$1,949), or an 11.3% (95%CI=6.6%-16.2%) percentage increase based on the gamma distribution model. High-risk patients were associated with an 68.4% (95%CI=29.7%-118.6%) higher cost when comparing to the low-risk patients.
CONCLUSIONS: These results underscore the substantial economic burden associated with PV and emphasize the need for optimized management strategies where early interventions may help to address rising costs and disease burden associated with PV.
METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal analysis was conducted utilizing Blue Health Intelligence claims data (2014 - Apr/2024) on patients diagnosed with PV between 2017 and 2019 using continuous enrollment criteria of one year prior to and five years post index diagnosis and excluding pre-existing MF and AML. Outcomes include annual inflation adjusted healthcare costs (allowed amount) and healthcare utilization. Generalized linear models (GLM) with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate annual cost increases which were adjusted for potential confounder and cluster effects.
RESULTS: After applying the selection criteria, 3,933 PV patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 52.5 years (±SD=9.27), and 75.2% (n=2,956) were male. Half (n=1,971) were previously diagnosed with PV prior to index date and 73.9% (n=2,906) were low-risk. The total annual mean cost was $17,746 (±SD=$43,982, median=$5,086, range: $0-$1,454,008). For patients newly diagnosed (n=1,962) the year-by-year mean cost over 5-years were $15,714, $13,079, $14,572, $15,918, and $18,501 in the fifth year. The estimated year-by-year increase based on the GLM was $1,279 (95%CI=$609-$1,949), or an 11.3% (95%CI=6.6%-16.2%) percentage increase based on the gamma distribution model. High-risk patients were associated with an 68.4% (95%CI=29.7%-118.6%) higher cost when comparing to the low-risk patients.
CONCLUSIONS: These results underscore the substantial economic burden associated with PV and emphasize the need for optimized management strategies where early interventions may help to address rising costs and disease burden associated with PV.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
EE463
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), SDC: Oncology, SDC: Rare & Orphan Diseases