TY - JOUR

T1 - Persistenz und Frequenz von Verordnungen im Bereich der Subkutanenallergenspezifischen Immuntherapie (SCIT) bei GKV-patienten in Deutschland

AU - Claes, Christa

AU - Mittendorf, Thomas

AU - Graf Von Der Schulenburg, J. Matthias

PY - 2009/7

Y1 - 2009/7

N2 - Background and Purpose: : In accordance with guidelines subcutaneousallergen-specific immunotherapy (SCIT) should be continued for at least 3consecutive years, which makes compliance to an issue of special importance.Measuring this compliance poses a methodological challenge. The aim of thisstudy is to analyze persistence (reuptake of SCIT in the following years) andfrequency (mean number of prescriptions) with the help of secondary data.Methods: Results: Conclusion: Key Words Methods: : The sample, which was takenfrom a regional prescription database, includes all members of the Germanstatutory health insurance, who received at least one prescription of selectedallergen extracts between January 1, 2003 and June 30, 2006. In addition topersistence, average prescriptions for each year of therapy were used to comparelong-term SCIT and short-term SCIT. Based on mean number of prescriptions peryear, it was examined whether persistence is higher in short-term than inlong-term SCIT. Results: : Mean number of prescriptions is significantlydifferent in the 1st (2nd; 3rd) year of therapy: 1.50 (1.31; 1.28) prescriptionsfor long-term SCIT, 1.30 (1.42; 1.42) prescriptions for short-term SCIT, and1.10 (1.12; 1.14) prescriptions for a shortened therapy regimen with anadjuvant-supported allergoid. As presented, persistence is decreasing.Altogether 45% of SCIT patients continue therapy in the 2nd year. In the 3rdyear of therapy, there are only 24% of patients remaining. Persistence rates toa certain degree seem to be dependent on the application form. Conclusion: : Theanalysis of this secondary dataset has found that nonpersistence may jeopardizethe therapy according to guidelines to a greater extent than expected from theliterature. Except for one allergen extract the differentiation betweenlong-term and short-term SCIT seems diffuse. Packages for consecutive treatmentare used not only in long-term SCIT, but also in short-term SCIT regimens, ifthey are available. The analysis provides first hints that a shorter therapyregimen supports persistence of SCIT during the 2nd and 3rd year of therapy.

AB - Background and Purpose: : In accordance with guidelines subcutaneousallergen-specific immunotherapy (SCIT) should be continued for at least 3consecutive years, which makes compliance to an issue of special importance.Measuring this compliance poses a methodological challenge. The aim of thisstudy is to analyze persistence (reuptake of SCIT in the following years) andfrequency (mean number of prescriptions) with the help of secondary data.Methods: Results: Conclusion: Key Words Methods: : The sample, which was takenfrom a regional prescription database, includes all members of the Germanstatutory health insurance, who received at least one prescription of selectedallergen extracts between January 1, 2003 and June 30, 2006. In addition topersistence, average prescriptions for each year of therapy were used to comparelong-term SCIT and short-term SCIT. Based on mean number of prescriptions peryear, it was examined whether persistence is higher in short-term than inlong-term SCIT. Results: : Mean number of prescriptions is significantlydifferent in the 1st (2nd; 3rd) year of therapy: 1.50 (1.31; 1.28) prescriptionsfor long-term SCIT, 1.30 (1.42; 1.42) prescriptions for short-term SCIT, and1.10 (1.12; 1.14) prescriptions for a shortened therapy regimen with anadjuvant-supported allergoid. As presented, persistence is decreasing.Altogether 45% of SCIT patients continue therapy in the 2nd year. In the 3rdyear of therapy, there are only 24% of patients remaining. Persistence rates toa certain degree seem to be dependent on the application form. Conclusion: : Theanalysis of this secondary dataset has found that nonpersistence may jeopardizethe therapy according to guidelines to a greater extent than expected from theliterature. Except for one allergen extract the differentiation betweenlong-term and short-term SCIT seems diffuse. Packages for consecutive treatmentare used not only in long-term SCIT, but also in short-term SCIT regimens, ifthey are available. The analysis provides first hints that a shorter therapyregimen supports persistence of SCIT during the 2nd and 3rd year of therapy.

KW - Allergen-specific immunotherapy

KW - Analysis of secondary data

KW - Compliance

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349984429&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s00063-009-1113-8

DO - 10.1007/s00063-009-1113-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 19618139

AN - SCOPUS:70349984429

VL - 104

SP - 536

EP - 542

JO - Medizinische Klinik

JF - Medizinische Klinik

SN - 0723-5003

IS - 7

ER -