P468 Association of uncontrolled disease with quality of life and healthcare resource utilisation in Ulcerative Colitis patients treated with advanced therapy in the United States
Igho-Osagie, E.(1);Knight, H.(2);Barlow, S.(3);Harvey, N.(2);Khandker, R.(1)*;
(1)Merck & Co. Inc, Center for Observational and Real World Evidence, North Wales- PA, United States;(2)Adelphi Real World, Autoimmune franchise, Bollington, United Kingdom;(3)Adelphi Real World, Statistics and Data Analytics, Bollington, United Kingdom;
Background
Advanced therapies (AT; i.e., biologics, biosimilars, Janus kinase inhibitors) are used to treat patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis (UC) after inadequate response to conventional treatments; yet some patients continue to have uncontrolled disease. We examined the association between uncontrolled UC and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU) in a real-world clinical setting.
Methods
The analysis was conducted using secondary data from the Adelphi UC Disease Specific Programme™,1 a cross-sectional, retrospective survey of gastroenterologists and patients, from January 2020-March 2021. Gastroenterologists provided clinical characteristics and HCRU information for 5-7 consecutive UC patients, while EuroQol-5-dimensions (EQ-5D), EQ-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), short inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (SIBDQ) and work productivity and impairment questionnaire (WPAI) were patient-administered to capture HRQoL status. Patients receiving AT for ≥6 weeks were classified as uncontrolled if: physician assessment was currently moderate or severe, they had ≥2 flares in the last 12 months, or currently had ≥3 symptoms. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared using T-test and Fisher’s exact test. Multivariable linear regressions estimating the association between UC control status and HRQoL were adjusted for age, ethnicity, disease duration and severity at diagnosis.
Results
Of the 236 patients included in the sample, 57.6% had uncontrolled disease and were likely to be non-White (27.9% v 14.0% controlled; p=0.01). Although healthcare provider consultations were similar in both groups, uncontrolled patients had more radiological imaging (mean 1.9 v 1.3, p<0.01), endoscopies (mean 0.6 v 0.3, p<0.01) and hospitalisations (mean 0.2 v 0.1, p=0.01) in the last 12 months compared to controlled patients. Uncontrolled patients reported significantly lower (worse) total and subdomain SIBDQ scores (total: 47.2 v 59.6; systemic symptoms: 4.8 v 5.9; bowel symptoms: 4.7 v 6.1; emotional function: 4.6 v 5.6; social function: 4.8 v 6.2; all p<0.01; Table 3). EQ-5D (0.85 v 0.92, p<0.01), EQ-VAS scores (76.3 v 86.1, p<0.01) and activity impairment (29.2 v 16.7, p<0.01) were significantly worse in the uncontrolled group.
Conclusion
A substantial number of UC patients continue to have uncontrolled disease and high unmet need despite AT use. These patients experience poorer HRQoL and contribute a significant burden on healthcare resources. Study findings highlight the need for innovative therapeutic options that would further reduce disease burden for patients and the healthcare system.
1. Anderson P et al. Curr Med Res Opin 2008;24;3063–72.