Trial Outcomes & Findings for Comparative Analysis of Outcomes Among Patients Treated With Xeljanz vs Biologics (NCT NCT03964649)

Participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who newly initiated tofacitinib or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARDs), between 01 February 2016 and 31 July 2019 (identification period), were identified using Truven Health MarketScan Research database. Data for eligible participants from database were evaluated in this retrospective observational study. Index date = date of first claim for index medication (bDMARDs or tofacitinib) during identification period of 3.5 years.

Baseline characteristics- age, sex, region of enrollment were evaluated at index date. Other study specific characteristics were observed over 12 months before index date (12 months pre-index baseline period) and/or over variable-length pre-index baseline period. Variable-length pre-index baseline period was minimum of 1 year and could have been maximum up to 5.68 years before index date.

Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

In this outcome measure number of participants who were on combination therapy with index medication and who were on monotherapy during 12 months pre-index date were reported. Participants with a use of at least 1 of 4 specific csDMARDs (methotrexate, sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide) within 90 days on or after the index date were considered as being treated with combination therapy. Participants who did not take any csDMARDs along with index medication were considered being treated with monotherapy.

Number of participants with most commonly used medications use during 12 months post index period are reported. The 25 most medications: 1) methotrexate sodium, 2) prednisone, 3) folic acid, 4) adalimumab, 5) etanercept, 6) acetaminophen/hydrocodone bitartrate, 7) hydroxychloroquine sulfate, 8) azithromycin, 9) levothyroxine sodium, 10) tramadol hydrochloride, 11) methylprednisolone, 12) gabapentin, 13) albuterol sulfate, 14) amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium, 15) omeprazole, 16) amoxicillin, 17) meloxicam, 18) tofacitinib citrate, 19) fluticasone propionate, 20) cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, 21) diclofenac sodium, 22) duloxetine hydrochloride, 23) atorvastatin calcium, 24) leflunomide, 25) fluconazole. A participant could have received \>=1 most common medication.

Number of participants who used at least 1 opioid and NSAID during post-index period are reported.

The mean number of pharmacy claims for opioids and NSAIDs during the post-index period are reported. A pharmacy claim was defined as a claim made by participants to their insurance provider in purchasing opioids and NSAIDs from the pharmacy.

Mean number of days from the index date to the first opioid and NSAIDs claim during post index period are reported.

Number of participants who used opioids and NSAIDs during tofacitinib persistency and post-persistency are reported. Persistence with the index medication was defined as not having a gap in therapy of at least 60 days between fills/infusions.

The number of participants who used at least 1 oral corticosteroid during the 12 months post-index period are reported.

Non-persistence was defined as the gap of at least 60 days in treatment with the index medication or switching to other biologic.

Participants were classified as switched immediately if they initiated a non-index bDMARD before a 60-day gap in index medication treatment.

Participants were classified as discontinued and then restarted index medication if there was a gap in the index therapy of at least 60 days and the first medication observed after the gap was the index medication.

Participants were classified as discontinued and then switched from index medication if there was a gap in the index therapy of at least 60 days and the first medication observed after the gap was a bDMARD (including tofacitinib) different from index medication.

Participants were classified as discontinued without switching or restarting index medication if they had a gap in therapy of at least 60 days and there were no claims for either the index medication or a different bDMARD for the remainder of the follow-up period.

Number of participants who switched from index medication to a biologic at any time during post-index period are reported.

Participants who had a claim for the index medication any time after they were considered non-persistent with the index treatment (i.e, including after switching) during the 12-month follow-up are reported. Non-persistence was defined as the gap of at least 60 days in treatment with the index medication or switching to other biologic.

MPR was calculated as the total days supply of methotrexate between the first and including the last prescription/administration divided by the time between the first through and including last biologic prescription/administration days supply.

The PDC was calculated based on total days supply over the 12 months follow-up. The PDC was calculated by using the date of service and the day supply for each fill of the index medication.

Participants with monotherapy who used additional csDMARD during post index period are reported.

Adherence was calculated as the total day supply for csDMARDs divided by the number of days from the first claim during the follow-up until the end of the follow-up.

Adherence criteria: PDC \>=0.8, proportion of days of supply during post-index period of 12 months.Dose escalation criteria: no increase in dose for index drug compared to starting dose during post-index period. Switch criteria: no switching from index drug to (different) biologic agent during post-index period. DMARD criteria: no addition of new csDMARD to index drug during post-index period. Oral glucocorticoid criteria: Participants with no claims for oral glucocorticoids in 6 months pre-index cannot receive oral glucocorticoids for greater than (\>)30 days between (index date +91 days) to (index date + 365 days); or participants with claims for oral glucocorticoids in 6 months pre-index no increase in oral glucocorticoid dose during months 6-12 post-index.Injectable glucocorticoid criteria: at most 1 parenteral or intra-articular glucocorticoid joint injection on unique days after participant had been on bDMARD treatment for \>3 months between (index date + 91) to (index date + 365).

All cause inpatient visits costs, outpatient visits costs and emergency room visits costs during 12 months post index period are reported. Inpatient visit costs consisted of expenses during hospital visit for formal admission. Outpatient visit costs consisted of expenses when participants visited hospital but not for formal admission. Emergency room visit costs consisted of expenses during visit to hospital emergency room.

RA related inpatient visit costs consisted of expenses during hospital visits for formal admission for RA. Outpatient visit costs consisted of expenses when participants visited hospital but not for formal admission for RA. ER visit costs consisted of expenses during visit to ER of hospital for RA.

All cause total health care costs, medical costs, pharmacy costs during 12 months post-index period are reported. All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs).

RA related total health care costs, medical costs, pharmacy costs during 12 months post-index period are reported. RA related total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs).

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 1 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 2 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 3 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 4 of post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 5 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 6 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 7 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 8 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 9 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 10 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 11 post-index date.

All cause refers to cost spent due to all comorbidities including RA. Total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 12 post-index date.

RA related total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measure RA related total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 1 post-index date.

RA related total health care cost was calculated as the total of pharmacy cost (home healthcare cost, urgent care cost and other medical services costs) and medical cost (ambulatory cost, emergency department visits cost, inpatient admission cost and other costs). In this outcome measurec RA related total all cause health care cost in dollars is reported for Month 2 post-index date.