REAL-WORLD CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALTHCARE RESOURCE USE IN PATIENTS WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS TREATED WITH BIMEKIZUMAB IN SWEDEN: THE BIMENORDIX STUDY
Author(s)
Triantafyllos Pliakas, MSc1, Alexandra Cooper, MSc2, Gustaf Ortsäter, MSc2, Alvin Wells, MD, PhD3, Annick Schatteman, MSc4, Flore Decuypere, MSc, MIM5, Herve Besson, PhD1;
1UCB, Breda, Netherlands, 2Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden, 3American Medical Group, Destin, FL, USA, 4UCB, Brussels, Belgium, 5UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium
1UCB, Breda, Netherlands, 2Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden, 3American Medical Group, Destin, FL, USA, 4UCB, Brussels, Belgium, 5UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium
OBJECTIVES: To describe patient characteristics and healthcare resource use (HCRU) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) initiating bimekizumab (BKZ) in Sweden.
METHODS: Adult patients (≥18 years) initiating BKZ (index) with an axSpA diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-10: M45, M46.0, M46.1, M46.8, M46.9) within two years before index were identified in national registries between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2024. Patients prescribed multiple biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) concomitantly were excluded. Baseline co-diagnoses and treatment history were described from 1 January 2005, including index. Anterior uveitis diagnosis was captured during 12 months pre-index. HCRU (outpatient visits, hospitalizations, rheumatology visits) and associated costs were assessed during the six months pre- and post-index.
RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were included (mean age 50.5 [standard deviation, SD 14.3] years; 57% female). Common co-diagnoses were joint pain (28%) and hypertension (26%); 8% had a history of anterior uveitis. 98% had prior b/tsDMARDs exposure and 77% received ≥2 previous b/tsDMARDs. BKZ was prescribed by rheumatologists in 83%. Mean visits/hospitalizations per six months decreased from 4.1 (SD 4.3; Median 3; inter-quartile range [IQR] 4) pre-index to 3.7 (SD 3.8; Median 2; IQR 3) visits post-index. Rheumatology visits decreased from 2.0 (SD 2.0; Median 1; IQR 2) to 1.4 (SD 1.4; Median 1; IQR 1). Mean (SD) costs per six months changed from €1611 (1654) pre-index to €1564 (1652) post-index for outpatient visits, €790 (2903) to €753 (2285) for inpatient visits, and €3609 (3764) to €6585 (2518) for dispensed medications.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients initiating BKZ for axSpA in Sweden had substantial prior b/tsDMARD treatment exposure and co-diagnostic history. Medication costs increased, reflecting treatment acquisition, while results on HCRU and associated outpatient and inpatient costs suggest a slight decrease post-BKZ initiation. Further research with extended follow-up is warranted to assess impact on clinical burden, disease control and associated costs.
METHODS: Adult patients (≥18 years) initiating BKZ (index) with an axSpA diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-10: M45, M46.0, M46.1, M46.8, M46.9) within two years before index were identified in national registries between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2024. Patients prescribed multiple biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) concomitantly were excluded. Baseline co-diagnoses and treatment history were described from 1 January 2005, including index. Anterior uveitis diagnosis was captured during 12 months pre-index. HCRU (outpatient visits, hospitalizations, rheumatology visits) and associated costs were assessed during the six months pre- and post-index.
RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were included (mean age 50.5 [standard deviation, SD 14.3] years; 57% female). Common co-diagnoses were joint pain (28%) and hypertension (26%); 8% had a history of anterior uveitis. 98% had prior b/tsDMARDs exposure and 77% received ≥2 previous b/tsDMARDs. BKZ was prescribed by rheumatologists in 83%. Mean visits/hospitalizations per six months decreased from 4.1 (SD 4.3; Median 3; inter-quartile range [IQR] 4) pre-index to 3.7 (SD 3.8; Median 2; IQR 3) visits post-index. Rheumatology visits decreased from 2.0 (SD 2.0; Median 1; IQR 2) to 1.4 (SD 1.4; Median 1; IQR 1). Mean (SD) costs per six months changed from €1611 (1654) pre-index to €1564 (1652) post-index for outpatient visits, €790 (2903) to €753 (2285) for inpatient visits, and €3609 (3764) to €6585 (2518) for dispensed medications.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients initiating BKZ for axSpA in Sweden had substantial prior b/tsDMARD treatment exposure and co-diagnostic history. Medication costs increased, reflecting treatment acquisition, while results on HCRU and associated outpatient and inpatient costs suggest a slight decrease post-BKZ initiation. Further research with extended follow-up is warranted to assess impact on clinical burden, disease control and associated costs.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE131
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), STA: Biologics & Biosimilars