Treatment patterns and economic burden of sickle-cell disease patients prescribed hydroxyurea: a retrospective claims-based study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:This study aimed to evaluate sickle-cell disease (SCD) treatment patterns and economic burden among patients prescribed hydroxyurea (HU) in the US, through claims data. METHODS:SCD patients with pharmacy claims for HU were selected from the Medicaid Analytic Extracts (MAX) from January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2013. The first HU prescription during the identification period was defined as the index date and patients were required to have had continuous medical and pharmacy benefits for ≥6 months baseline and 12 months follow-up periods. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, health care utilization, and costs were examined, and variables were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS:A total of 3999 SCD patients prescribed HU were included; the mean age was 19.2

SUBMITTER: Shah N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6794855 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature