A claims analysis, which speakers will present at AMCP 2024, demonstrates a significant reduction in health care resource utilization (HRU), costs, and oral corticosteroid use (OCS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps after initiating mepolizumab treatment.

Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) use more health care resources than those without nasal polyps and current treatment options for CRSwNP include sinus surgery, corticosteroids, and mepolizumab, a biologic medication. 

Researchers used the Komodo Research database data covering more than 320 million insured US patients to measure HRU, costs, and use of OCS before and after mepolizumab initiation in patients with CRSwNP. Adults with CRSwNP treated with mepolizumab 100 mg after July 29, 2021, were included in the study. Patients also had at least 2 mepolizumab treatments within 6 months of starting and were enrolled in continuous health care 12 months before and at least 6 months after the study. The study compared HRU, costs, and OCS before and after treatment initiation but excluded outpatient visits related to mepolizumab administration and pharmacy costs.

Data analysis showed that out of 240 patients, 73.8% had comorbid mild/moderate asthma. The majority of patients were commercially (69.2%) or Medicaid (22.5%) insured and were prescribed mepolizumab by allergists (32.1%) or otolaryngologists (27.9%). The average number of NP-related outpatient visits per year decreased from 4.8 to 3.5 after treatment with mepolizumab. Additionally, the rate of NP-related otolaryngologist visits per year decreased by 48%. The total NP-related costs per year also decreased significantly after treatment with mepolizumab, including a reduction in respiratory specialist visit costs.

“Patients with CRSwNP had significantly less clinical and economic burden after mepolizumab initiation,” concluded researchers. 

Reference
Edgecomb A, Laliberté F, Hilts A, Ramasubramanian R, et al. Health care resource utilization, costs, and steroid use among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps treated with mepolizumab: A real-world claims analysis. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2024;30(4-a suppl):S75. AMCP 2024 post abstract.