Healthcare Resource Utilization 12 Months Following Initiation of Olanzapine/Samidorphan: Real-World Assessment of Patients With Schizophrenia
INTRODUCTION: The combination of olanzapine and samidorphan (OLZ/SAM) provides the antipsychotic efficacy of olanzapine while mitigating olanzapine-associated weight gain. OLZ/SAM treatment was associated with significant reductions in healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in a previous 6-month pre/post study. This study examined HCRU among patients with schizophrenia in the 12 months after OLZ/SAM initiation.
METHODS: This retrospective analysis used administrative claims data from October 18, 2020, to December 31, 2023, from the Komodo Healthcare Map. Adults with schizophrenia and continuous enrollment ≥12 months before (baseline) and after (follow-up) OLZ/SAM initiation were eligible. Inpatient (IP) admissions, emergency department (ED) and outpatient (OP) visits, and average numbers of inpatient days/patient were compared between baseline and follow-up. A secondary analysis was conducted in patients who received OLZ/SAM treatment for the full 12-month follow-up.
RESULTS: Patients (n=1287; mean age: 39 years; female: 46%) were on average persistent for 196.6 days. Proportions of patients with ≥1 all-cause, mental health (MH)-related, and schizophrenia-related IP admissions and ED visits significantly decreased between baseline and follow-up (all P < 0.001). Mean numbers of all-cause, MH-related, and schizophrenia-related inpatient days/patient decreased significantly (all P < 0.001). Proportions of patients with OP visits were similar during baseline and follow-up. Larger reductions in IP admissions and ED visits were observed in the population receiving OLZ/SAM treatment for the entire 12-month follow-up period (both P < 0.001; n=481).
CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with schizophrenia, OLZ/SAM initiation may result in clinically meaningful reductions in real-world disease burden, as evidenced by reductions in hospital-based HCRU. Longer treatment retention was associated with improved effectiveness.
