TREATMENT PATTERNS, HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION, AND DIRECT MEDICAL COSTS OF CHRONIC URTICARIA IN CHINA: A REAL-WORLD STUDY
Author(s)
Xiangyu Liu, Master’s Student1, Hui Tang, PhD2, Huiping Wang, PhD3, Wanjie Guo, MSc4, XIAOXIAO REN, PhD Student4, Fang Liu, PhD4, Hongchao Li, PhD1.
1School of International Pharmaceutical Business; Centre for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China, 2Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 3Department of Dermatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China, 4Novartis, Beijing, China.
1School of International Pharmaceutical Business; Centre for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China, 2Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 3Department of Dermatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China, 4Novartis, Beijing, China.
OBJECTIVES: To describe treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and direct medical costs among patients with chronic urticaria (CU) in China using real-world data.
METHODS: This retrospective observational study used regional electronic healthcare databases from Tianjin and Xiamen (2019-2024). Patients were identified between January 2020 and December 2023 using ICD-10 code (L50.802) or ≥2 urticaria diagnoses 6 weeks to 12 months apart (excluding acute urticaria). Demographics, treatments, healthcare resource utilization, and costs were analyzed descriptively in the overall CU population, and stratified by disease subtype.
RESULTS: A total of 74,807 patients with CU were included (Tianjin: 45,033; Xiamen: 29,774). Mean age at diagnosis was 40.85 and 37.59 years, with female accounting for 54.62% and 57.22%, respectively. Upper respiratory infections and sleep disturbance were the most common comorbidities (Tianjin: 19.37% and 10.33%; Xiamen: 25.46% and 6.52%). Over 90% received second-generation antihistamines, mainly ebastine, levocetirizine, and cetirizine. Omalizumab was used by 573 (Tianjin) and 399 (Xiamen) patients, primarily at 300 mg. After national reimbursement listing in 2024, 300 mg dose accounted for 74.04% (Tianjin) and 91.31% (Xiamen) of administrations overall at the visit level, with 84.43% and 94.04% in the CSU subgroup. The average number of injections per 150 mg was 9.10 in Tianjin and 8.17 in Xiamen. During the first year post-diagnosis, CU-related outpatient visits averaged 3.52 (Tianjin) and 3.50 (Xiamen) per patient, with 6.78 and 6.88 in the CSU subgroup. The mean CU-related direct medical cost per patient was CNY 1,625.99 in Tianjin and CNY 905.77 in Xiamen. Medication costs accounted for the largest share of direct medical costs in both regions.
CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study provides comprehensive insights into CU treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and economic burden in China, informing decision-making for CU management and healthcare resource allocation.
METHODS: This retrospective observational study used regional electronic healthcare databases from Tianjin and Xiamen (2019-2024). Patients were identified between January 2020 and December 2023 using ICD-10 code (L50.802) or ≥2 urticaria diagnoses 6 weeks to 12 months apart (excluding acute urticaria). Demographics, treatments, healthcare resource utilization, and costs were analyzed descriptively in the overall CU population, and stratified by disease subtype.
RESULTS: A total of 74,807 patients with CU were included (Tianjin: 45,033; Xiamen: 29,774). Mean age at diagnosis was 40.85 and 37.59 years, with female accounting for 54.62% and 57.22%, respectively. Upper respiratory infections and sleep disturbance were the most common comorbidities (Tianjin: 19.37% and 10.33%; Xiamen: 25.46% and 6.52%). Over 90% received second-generation antihistamines, mainly ebastine, levocetirizine, and cetirizine. Omalizumab was used by 573 (Tianjin) and 399 (Xiamen) patients, primarily at 300 mg. After national reimbursement listing in 2024, 300 mg dose accounted for 74.04% (Tianjin) and 91.31% (Xiamen) of administrations overall at the visit level, with 84.43% and 94.04% in the CSU subgroup. The average number of injections per 150 mg was 9.10 in Tianjin and 8.17 in Xiamen. During the first year post-diagnosis, CU-related outpatient visits averaged 3.52 (Tianjin) and 3.50 (Xiamen) per patient, with 6.78 and 6.88 in the CSU subgroup. The mean CU-related direct medical cost per patient was CNY 1,625.99 in Tianjin and CNY 905.77 in Xiamen. Medication costs accounted for the largest share of direct medical costs in both regions.
CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study provides comprehensive insights into CU treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and economic burden in China, informing decision-making for CU management and healthcare resource allocation.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE501
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin), STA: Biologics & Biosimilars