Health care resource use and costs associated with possible side effects of high oral corticosteroid use in asthma: a claims-based analysis.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of possible oral corticosteroid (OCS)-related side effects and health care resource use and costs in patients with asthma.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional, matched-cohort, retrospective study using a commercial claims database. Adults with asthma diagnosis codes and evidence of asthma medication use were studied. Patients with high OCS use (≥30 days of OCS annually) were divided into those who did versus those who did not experience OCS-related possible side effects. Their health care resource use and costs were compared using linear regression or negative binomial regression models, adjusting for age, sex, geographic region, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease status.


RESULTS
After adjustment, high OCS users with possible side effects were more likely to have office visits (23.0 vs 19.6;P<0.001) and hospitalizations (0.44 vs 0.22;P<0.001) than those without possible side effects. Emergency department visits were similar between the groups. High OCS users with possible side effects had higher adjusted total annual mean health care costs ($25,168) than those without such side effects ($21,882;P=0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
Among high OCS users, patients with possible OCS-related side effects are more likely to use health care services than those without such side effects. Although OCS may help control asthma and manage exacerbations, OCS side effects may result in additional health care resource use and costs, highlighting the need for OCS-sparing asthma therapies.
HealthyAirways, Madison, WI.
Allan T
AT
Luskin
Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco.
Evgeniya N
EN
Antonova
Partnership for Health Analytic Research, LLC, Beverly Hills, CA.
Michael S
MS
Broder
Partnership for Health Analytic Research, LLC, Beverly Hills, CA.
Eunice Y
EY
Chang
Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco.
Theodore A
TA
Omachi
Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
Dennis K
DK
Ledford
adverse effect; asthma; cost; health care resource use; oral corticosteroid; side effect