A Real-World Retrospective Study on the Utilization of Antifibrotic Drugs in Greece During the Period 2019-2023
Author(s)
Stylianos Ravanidis, PhD1, Garyfallia Stefanou, MSc1, Kostas Mathioudakis, MSc2, Anastasios Tsolakidis, PhD3, Dimitrios Zografopoulos, PhD4, Georgia Kourlaba, PhD5.
1Department of Nursing, University of the Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece, 2IDIKA SA - e-Government Center for Social Security Services, Athens, Greece, 3Department of Archival, Library & Information Studies, University of West Attica, Greece, Athens, Greece, 4Greek Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece, 5Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
1Department of Nursing, University of the Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece, 2IDIKA SA - e-Government Center for Social Security Services, Athens, Greece, 3Department of Archival, Library & Information Studies, University of West Attica, Greece, Athens, Greece, 4Greek Ministry of Health, Athens, Greece, 5Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the utilization patterns of available anti-fibrotic medications in the Greek market over the period 2019-2023.
METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study of patients receiving anti-fibrotic therapy - pirfenidone (any brand) and nintedanib (Ofev®), between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, was conducted. Data was extracted from the Greek National Electronic Prescription Database (IDIKA). Patients were categorized into two subgroups based on ICD-10 codes: (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and (b) progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), defined as any ICD-10 code other than IPF suggesting fibrosing lung disease.
RESULTS: Among 3,007 patients identified as receiving anti-fibrotic treatment, 85.9% were diagnosed with IPF and 14.1% with PPF. The majority of patients were male (68.9%), with a mean (SD) age of 71.6 (9.3) years. The number of newly treated (naïve) IPF patients increased annually, ranging from 305 to 498 in 2020 and 2022, respectively; with the corresponding numbers for PPF being 36 (2020) and 136 (2023). Pharmacoutilization-based prevalence peaked in 2023 at 18.3 and 3.8 cases per 100,000 population for IPF and PPF, respectively. Incidence rates ranged between 3.5-5.7/100,000 population for IPF and 0.4-1.6/100,000 population for PPF throughout the study period. Among IPF naïve patients, 79.0%, 85.0%, and 84.3% remained on treatment one year after initiation in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. The corresponding figures for PPF patients were 72.2%, 86.5%, and 81.5%.
CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide analysis highlights the increasing adoption of anti-fibrotic therapies in Greece, over the past five years. The data suggests consistent patient retention on treatment and a growing recognition of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases beyond IPF. These findings may inform future healthcare planning and support the need for broader clinical access and awareness regarding anti-fibrotic therapy in PPF.
METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study of patients receiving anti-fibrotic therapy - pirfenidone (any brand) and nintedanib (Ofev®), between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, was conducted. Data was extracted from the Greek National Electronic Prescription Database (IDIKA). Patients were categorized into two subgroups based on ICD-10 codes: (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and (b) progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), defined as any ICD-10 code other than IPF suggesting fibrosing lung disease.
RESULTS: Among 3,007 patients identified as receiving anti-fibrotic treatment, 85.9% were diagnosed with IPF and 14.1% with PPF. The majority of patients were male (68.9%), with a mean (SD) age of 71.6 (9.3) years. The number of newly treated (naïve) IPF patients increased annually, ranging from 305 to 498 in 2020 and 2022, respectively; with the corresponding numbers for PPF being 36 (2020) and 136 (2023). Pharmacoutilization-based prevalence peaked in 2023 at 18.3 and 3.8 cases per 100,000 population for IPF and PPF, respectively. Incidence rates ranged between 3.5-5.7/100,000 population for IPF and 0.4-1.6/100,000 population for PPF throughout the study period. Among IPF naïve patients, 79.0%, 85.0%, and 84.3% remained on treatment one year after initiation in 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. The corresponding figures for PPF patients were 72.2%, 86.5%, and 81.5%.
CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide analysis highlights the increasing adoption of anti-fibrotic therapies in Greece, over the past five years. The data suggests consistent patient retention on treatment and a growing recognition of fibrosing interstitial lung diseases beyond IPF. These findings may inform future healthcare planning and support the need for broader clinical access and awareness regarding anti-fibrotic therapy in PPF.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
RWD4
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
Rare & Orphan Diseases, Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)