Altawalbeh, Shoroq
(2015)
ADDITION OF LEUKOTRIENE RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS VERSUS LONG ACTING BETA AGONISTS TO INHALED CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY FOR ASTHMA TREATMENT IN OLDER ADULTS:
A RETROSPECTIVE DATA ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS, SAFETY AND COST.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Asthma treatment is challenging in older adults. To date, there is no evidence from research with older adults to support choosing the most appropriate add-on treatment for inadequately controlled asthma, despite using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). We retrospectively investigated the comparative effectiveness, cardiovascular (CV) safety and costs associated with ICS + leukotriene receptor antagonists (ICS+LTRA) versus ICS + long acting beta agonists (ICS+LABA) treatments. We included asthmatic Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 and older, who continuously enrolled in Fee for Service Medicare with Part D coverage, and treated with ICS+LABA or ICS+LTRA in an exclusive manner.
This dissertation work was organized into two major studies. Firstly, effectiveness and CV safety outcomes were compared between the two treatments. The augmented inverse propensity weighted estimator was used to determine the effect of LABA vs. LTRA add-on therapy on asthma exacerbations requiring inpatient, emergency, or outpatient care as well as CV events, adjusting for several co-variables. Our results showed that LTRA add-on treatment was associated with increased odds of asthma-related hospitalizations/emergency department visits (OR=1.4, p<0.001), and outpatient exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids or antibiotics (OR=1.41, p<0.001) compared to LABA treatment. LTRA add-on therapy also showed lower effectiveness in controlling symptoms as indicated by greater utilization of short-acting beta agonists (RR=1.58, p<0.001). On the other hand, LTRA add-on treatment was associated with lower odds of experiencing a CV event compared to LABA (OR=0.86, p=0.006).
Secondly, multivariable regression models with nonparametric bootstrapped standard errors were employed to compare all-cause and asthma-related costs between the two treatment groups. The results showed that ICS+LTRA treatment was associated with increased asthma-related costs compared to ICS+LABA. With a mean of 1.06 person-years follow up, adjusted asthma-related costs were $4,724 for ICS+LTRA group vs $2,939 for ICS+LABA group (p<0.001). Total all-cause costs were not significantly different between treatment groups ($74,369 for ICS+LABA compared with $68,944 for ICS+LTRA (p=0.219)). Together, these findings provide new evidence specific to older adults to help health care providers weigh the risks and benefits of these add-on treatments. The economic evaluation conducted in this dissertation can enhance clinical decision-making and efficient evidence-based health practice in older adults.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
21 September 2015 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
1 September 2015 |
| Approval Date: |
21 September 2015 |
| Submission Date: |
3 September 2015 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
148 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Pharmacy > Pharmaceutical Sciences |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Asthma, Older adults, Cardiovascular safety, Effectiveness, Cost |
| Date Deposited: |
21 Sep 2015 12:31 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 14:30 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26111 |
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