Shorter benefits, higher economic burden linked to multiple-drop therapies for glaucoma

Patients with glaucoma treated with multiple-drop therapies experienced shorter-term benefits with each additional agent and were associated with added clinical and economic burden, according to a study in the Journal of Glaucoma.

Multiple-drop therapies yielded shorter-lasting benefits with each additional agent and were associated with increased clinical and economic burden.

In this retrospective analysis, the administrative claims data of 48,402 patients with glaucoma who started or increased intensity of treatment from 1 to 4 topical glaucoma medications of a different drug class, were included. Approximately 47%) received a first medication class, 34% received a second medication class, 15% received a third medication class, and 4% received a fourth medication class as their initial or intensified regimen.

Within 12 months, 7.8%, 12.2%, 17.2%, and 22.6% of patients receiving 1, 2, 3, or 4 medication classes had subsequent increases in treatment including class addition or glaucoma procedure, laser or surgical. Within 24 months, 12.6%, 18.5%, 25.9%, and 33.7% of patients receiving 1, 2, 3, or 4 medication classes had subsequent treatment augmentation.

Over a 24-month period, eye-related outpatient costs increased with each additional topical glaucoma medication class at index.

Eye-related outpatient costs over 24 months increased with each additional topical glaucoma medication class at index [mean (SD) $1610 ($3460) in patients receiving 1 medication class, $2418 ($4863) in patients receiving 2, $2872 ($5110) in patients receiving 3, and $3751 ($6608) in patients receiving 4].

Reference
Patel AR, Schwartz GF, Campbell JH, et al. Economic and clinical burden associated with intensification of glaucoma topical therapy: A US claims-based analysis. J Glaucoma. 2020; DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000001730.