Prevalence of Pre-Existing Risk Factors for Adverse Events Associated with Atypical Antipsychotics Among Commercially Insured and Medicaid Insured Patients Newly Initiating Atypical Antipsychotics

Title:Prevalence of Pre-Existing Risk Factors for Adverse Events Associated with Atypical Antipsychotics Among Commercially Insured and Medicaid Insured Patients Newly Initiating Atypical Antipsychotics

Volume: 9 Issue: 3

Author(s): Leslie Citrome, Stephen Johnston, Anagha Nadkarni, John J. Sheehan, Siddhesh A. Kamat and Iftekhar Kalsekar

Affiliation:

Keywords: Adverse events, atypical antipsychotic, drug-drug interactions.

Abstract: Background: Atypical antipsychotics (AA) differ from one another in their adverse event (AE) profiles. Patient-specific pre-existing risk factors for AEs, including comorbidities and concomitant medications, may render the use of certain AAs potentially inappropriate, and others relatively safer or more tolerable.

Objective: To quantify the prevalence of pre-existing risk factors for AEs and potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) associated with AA treatment among patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), or major depressive disorder (MDD) newly-initiating AA treatment.

Methods: Retrospective, observational study using US claims databases. Patients identified had newly-initiated on a single AA (1/1/2010-11/30/2011; index date), were aged 18–64 years, had insurance enrolment for 12 months pre- (baseline) and 1 month post-index, and had ≥1 medical claim with an ICD-9-CM diagnosis of SCZ, BD, or MDD during baseline. A comprehensive list of AE risk factors, including potential DDIs, was developed based on AA package inserts. Administrative claims-based identification algorithms flagged the presence of each medical risk factor during baseline and identified concomitant prescribing of medications (90 days pre- to 30 days post-index) potentially causing DDIs with AAs.

Results: Of 97,010 patients identified, mean age was 41.2 years and 66.7% were female. Among patients initiating AA treatment, prevalence of pre-existing AE risk factors were aripiprazole 32.2%; olanzapine 51.6%; ziprasidone 75.6%; quetiapine 77.4%; risperidone 82.5%.

Conclusion: Despite the availability of several AAs to treat psychiatric conditions, pre-existing AE risk factors can limit patient treatment options. Given inter-AA variability in risk factors, open access to AA may help to optimize appropriate prescribing.

Cite this article as:

Citrome Leslie, Johnston Stephen, Nadkarni Anagha, Sheehan J. John, Kamat A. Siddhesh and Kalsekar Iftekhar, Prevalence of Pre-Existing Risk Factors for Adverse Events Associated with Atypical Antipsychotics Among Commercially Insured and Medicaid Insured Patients Newly Initiating Atypical Antipsychotics, Current Drug Safety 2014; 9 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574886309666140601211551