Initiating Drug Therapy In Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Effect On Healthcare Costs

Objective: To measure annual healthcare charge and utilization trends related to multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients new to treatment with self-injectable disease-modifying drug (DMD) therapy.Study Design: Descriptive analysis of MS patients new to DMD therapy in 2005 and followed throughout 2006.Methods: This was a retrospective, claims-based analysis of matched medical and pharmaceutical claims from the IMS/PharMetrics Integrated Patient-Centric Database from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2006. Patients were selected for observation based on diagnosis of MS (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 340) during 2005 and use of a self-injectable DMD (ie, interferon products, glatiramer acetate). Charges and utilization of medical services and prescription drugs were identified and captured using the Episode Treatment Groups software methodology for calendar years 2005 and 2006.Results: A total of 1840 MS patients were followed. The average total annual charges associated with MS care were $ 19,247 in 2005 and $ 22,035 in 2006. Among the individual DMDs, significant differences were noted between the study years in terms of total charges, utilization of inpatient services, and use of ancillary pharmacotherapy.Conclusions: These MS-specific, population-based measurements represent benchmarks that are easily reproducible within a managed care environment. They offer a starting point to further investigate the impact these products have both in the short term and over longer study periods on medical and pharmaceutical spending.