OBJECTIVES: Study objective was to assess the HCRU rates due to BREs in ITP patients.

METHODS: A syndicated electronic medical record network containing data on inpatient and outpatient services and procedures, diagnoses, prescriptions, and labs for over 29 million patients from 27 US hospitals was queried. Adult patients (≥18) diagnosed with primary ITP and treated with EPAG, ROMI, or RITUX currently and steroids previously were included. Patients with secondary ITP were excluded. Patients were divided into three groups based on type of BREs since initiating treatment: no BREs, BREs without platelet transfusion (PT) (mild) and BREs with PT (severe). BREs were identified as actual bleeding events and/or uses of rescue therapy (intravenous immunoglobulin or steroids, or platelet transfusion) using a combination of diagnosis, procedure, and medication codes. Mean rates of HCRU across three groups were compared using Z-tests (two-tailed α=0.05).

RESULTS:

CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective RWE study emphasized the significantly higher HCRU in patients with BREs as compared to patients without BREs. Severe BREs add additional burden of hospitalizations and emergency room visits, which may potentially lead to substantial financial burden.