DERMATOMYOSITIS MANAGEMENT IN GERMANY: A RETROSPECTIVE CLAIMS DATA ANALYSIS OF TREATMENT PATTERNS, HEALTHCARE RESOURCE UTILIZATION, AND COSTS
Author(s)
Lena Hasemann, MA1, Jana Diekmannshemke, MSc1, Min-Jean Hsieh, MBA, MD2, Niklas Hegemann, MSc, PhD2, Martin Wieczorek, PhD2, Saskia Trescher, MSc, PhD2, Daniel Gensorowsky, MSc, PhD1, Agnes Kisser, MSc, PhD2, Udo Schneider, MD3, Cord H. Sunderkoetter, MD4, Carolina Schwedhelm, MPH, MSc, PhD2.
1Vandage GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, 2Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Berlin, Germany, 3Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 4Department and Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Berlin, Germany.
1Vandage GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany, 2Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Berlin, Germany, 3Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Immanuel Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 4Department and Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Berlin, Germany.
OBJECTIVES: Dermatomyositis (DM) is a rare autoimmune disease with a heterogeneous clinical presentation, affecting skin, muscle and other organ systems, i.e. lung and heart. DM treatment is characterized by a complex therapeutic landscape, often involving combination therapies and off-label agents. Real-world data on treatment patterns and healthcare burden in Germany remain scarce. This study aimed to describe pharmacological treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs among adults with DM in Germany.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used anonymized German statutory health insurance (SHI) claims data provided by GWQ ServicePlus AG, covering 2010-2024. Adults with incident DM were identified by either one inpatient diagnosis or two confirmed outpatient diagnoses of ICD-10-GM codes M33.1 or M33.9 documented within three consecutive quarters, after a 4-year diagnosis-free washout period. Outcomes were assessed in 2024 among DM patients identified between 2014 and 2023. Pharmacological treatment was described as the proportion of patients with at least one prescription of specific therapeutic classes and mean HCRU and costs, accounting for varying follow-up lengths, were descriptively reported.
RESULTS: The study population included 411 adults with DM, with a mean age of 59 years and 62% female patients. Observed therapeutic classes predominantly involved systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. In 2024, mean total healthcare costs were €12,101 (standard deviation [SD] €20,294) per patient, including outpatient costs (€1,596; SD €2,365), inpatient costs (€4,408; SD €11,570), drug costs (€5,115; SD €14,531), costs for medical aids and remedies (€516; SD €1,623), and sickness benefits (€467; SD €2,786).
CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results indicate that DM management is largely based on conventional pharmacological treatment approaches and show substantial HCRU and costs among adults with DM. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of current DM treatment patterns and resource use in Germany.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used anonymized German statutory health insurance (SHI) claims data provided by GWQ ServicePlus AG, covering 2010-2024. Adults with incident DM were identified by either one inpatient diagnosis or two confirmed outpatient diagnoses of ICD-10-GM codes M33.1 or M33.9 documented within three consecutive quarters, after a 4-year diagnosis-free washout period. Outcomes were assessed in 2024 among DM patients identified between 2014 and 2023. Pharmacological treatment was described as the proportion of patients with at least one prescription of specific therapeutic classes and mean HCRU and costs, accounting for varying follow-up lengths, were descriptively reported.
RESULTS: The study population included 411 adults with DM, with a mean age of 59 years and 62% female patients. Observed therapeutic classes predominantly involved systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. In 2024, mean total healthcare costs were €12,101 (standard deviation [SD] €20,294) per patient, including outpatient costs (€1,596; SD €2,365), inpatient costs (€4,408; SD €11,570), drug costs (€5,115; SD €14,531), costs for medical aids and remedies (€516; SD €1,623), and sickness benefits (€467; SD €2,786).
CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results indicate that DM management is largely based on conventional pharmacological treatment approaches and show substantial HCRU and costs among adults with DM. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of current DM treatment patterns and resource use in Germany.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HSD109
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)