Method: This retrospective study used data from the OptumInsight Database from 01/01/2005-06/30/2012. Patients had a minimum of one diagnosis code of chronic or unspecified hepatitis C, had ≥1 NDC or J-Code for pegylated interferon and ribavarin, were ≥18 years at index medication date and had ≥12 months of continuous enrollment pre/post index medication date. Drug management cost of anemia was assessed for patients with at least 48 weeks of CHC treatment.
Result: There were 3,267 patients meeting inclusion criteria, with 819 (25%) on pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy for at least 48 weeks. Mean age of the entire sample was 49.2 years, 64% were male, and >99% had commercial insurance. During the time on CHC treatment, the following hematologic adverse events were reported: anemia, neutropenia, leukocytopenia, pancytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Of the 819 patients with ≥48 weeks of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy, 405 (49.5%) of patients experienced anemia, 134 (16.4%) experienced neutropenia and 127 (15.5%) experienced leukocytopenia, pancytopenia, or thrombocytopenia. Out of the 405 patients reporting anemia diagnoses, 185 had a record of Erythropoietin-stimulating agent usage, having an average pharmacy cost of $16,671 (SD $10,437) over the course of the CHC therapy and an average of $94.83 (SD $31.33) per day of anemia therapy.
Conclusion: Pharmacy cost to manage anemia may represent a significant part of the total cost of current CHC treatments.
1Fried MW. Side effects of therapy of hepatitis C and their management. Hepatology 2002; 36(suppl 1):S237–S244.