TREATMENT DELAYS IN IBD: A MULTI-SITE REAL-WORLD ANALYSIS ACROSS UC HEALTH
Author(s)
Ann-Kathrin Schalkamp, PhD, Hoi Tsun Chu, PharmD, Vivek A. Rudrapatna, MD, PhD.
UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Timely administration of biologic therapies is critical for quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. This study quantifies real-world delays from prescription to administration of biologics across the University of California health system and investigates the influence of factors like insurance, treatment history, and disease status.
METHODS: Using a cohort of 19,099 prescriptions from 5,866 patients with IBD between 2012 and 2024, we defined delay as days from prescription to administration and non-fulfillment as no administration occurring within 180 days. We assessed delay and fulfillment over time and conducted multivariable regressions to identify factors associated with delay and fulfillment.
RESULTS: We found that 71% of prescriptions were fulfilled within 180 days, with a mean delay of 17.7 days. Fulfillment rates have increased in the last decade whereas delays have remained stable since 2016. Having medicare advantage insurance reduced fulfillment likelihood while medicare insurance reduced delays. New prescriptions were more likely to not be fulfilled. Prescriptions during hospitalizations were filled faster while disease activity proxies prior to prescription had less impact on delays. Patients waited for treatment a combined number of 656 years during which 252 hospitalizations for IBD occurred and their quality of life was reduced.
CONCLUSIONS: Addressing disparities in timely administration of biologics may enhance patient quality of life and reduce hospitalizations.
METHODS: Using a cohort of 19,099 prescriptions from 5,866 patients with IBD between 2012 and 2024, we defined delay as days from prescription to administration and non-fulfillment as no administration occurring within 180 days. We assessed delay and fulfillment over time and conducted multivariable regressions to identify factors associated with delay and fulfillment.
RESULTS: We found that 71% of prescriptions were fulfilled within 180 days, with a mean delay of 17.7 days. Fulfillment rates have increased in the last decade whereas delays have remained stable since 2016. Having medicare advantage insurance reduced fulfillment likelihood while medicare insurance reduced delays. New prescriptions were more likely to not be fulfilled. Prescriptions during hospitalizations were filled faster while disease activity proxies prior to prescription had less impact on delays. Patients waited for treatment a combined number of 656 years during which 252 hospitalizations for IBD occurred and their quality of life was reduced.
CONCLUSIONS: Addressing disparities in timely administration of biologics may enhance patient quality of life and reduce hospitalizations.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD56
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
SDC: Gastrointestinal Disorders, STA: Biologics & Biosimilars