REAL-WORLD CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALTHCARE RESOURCE USE IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH BIMEKIZUMAB IN SWEDEN: THE BIMENORDIX STUDY
Author(s)
Triantafyllos Pliakas, MSc1, Alexandra Cooper, MSc2, Gustaf Ortsäter, MSc2, Alvin F. Wells, MD, PhD3, Flore Decuypere, MSc, MIM4, Adam R Prickett, MSc5, Herve Besson, MSc1;
1UCB, Breda, Netherlands, 2Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden, 3American Medical Group, Destin, FL, USA, 4UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium, 5UCB, Slough, United Kingdom
1UCB, Breda, Netherlands, 2Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden, 3American Medical Group, Destin, FL, USA, 4UCB Pharma, Brussels, Belgium, 5UCB, Slough, United Kingdom
OBJECTIVES: To describe patient characteristics and healthcare resource use (HCRU) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) initiating bimekizumab (BKZ) in Sweden.
METHODS: Adult patients (≥18 years) initiating BKZ (index) with a PsA diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-10: L40.5, M07.0-M07.3) within two years before index were identified in national registries between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2024. Patients prescribed multiple biologic or 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. HCRU (outpatient visits, hospitalizations, rheumatology visits) and associated costs were assessed during the six months pre- and post-index.
RESULTS: A total of 280 patients were included (mean age 53.1 [standard deviation, SD 14.2] years; 62% female). Common co-diagnoses were psoriasis (73%), joint pain (28%), and osteoarthritis (27%). 99% had prior b/tsDMARDs exposure, and 81% received ≥2 previous b/tsDMARDs. BKZ was prescribed by rheumatologists in 67%. Mean visits/hospitalizations per six months decreased from 4.2 (SD 3.4; Median 3; inter-quartile range [IQR] 4) pre-index to 3.6 (SD 3.8; Median 3; IQR 4) visits post-index. Rheumatology visits decreased from 1.7 (SD 1.9; Median 1; IQR 3) to 1.2 (SD 1.7; Median 1; IQR 2). Mean (SD) costs per six months changed from €1766 (1387) pre-index to €1492 (1525) post-index for outpatient visits, €736 (2815) to €500 (1833) for inpatient visits, and €3667 (3170) to €7784 (3289) for dispensed medications.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients initiating BKZ for PsA 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, supporting an improved disease control. 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 a PsA diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-10: L40.5, M07.0-M07.3) within two years before index were identified in national registries between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2024. Patients prescribed multiple biologic or 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. HCRU (outpatient visits, hospitalizations, rheumatology visits) and associated costs were assessed during the six months pre- and post-index.
RESULTS: A total of 280 patients were included (mean age 53.1 [standard deviation, SD 14.2] years; 62% female). Common co-diagnoses were psoriasis (73%), joint pain (28%), and osteoarthritis (27%). 99% had prior b/tsDMARDs exposure, and 81% received ≥2 previous b/tsDMARDs. BKZ was prescribed by rheumatologists in 67%. Mean visits/hospitalizations per six months decreased from 4.2 (SD 3.4; Median 3; inter-quartile range [IQR] 4) pre-index to 3.6 (SD 3.8; Median 3; IQR 4) visits post-index. Rheumatology visits decreased from 1.7 (SD 1.9; Median 1; IQR 3) to 1.2 (SD 1.7; Median 1; IQR 2). Mean (SD) costs per six months changed from €1766 (1387) pre-index to €1492 (1525) post-index for outpatient visits, €736 (2815) to €500 (1833) for inpatient visits, and €3667 (3170) to €7784 (3289) for dispensed medications.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients initiating BKZ for PsA 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, supporting an improved disease control. 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
EE240
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