Comparison of Healthcare Costs for Women with Treated Versus Untreated Vasomotor Symptoms Due to Menopause.

Publisher: Health Communications Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8611864 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1865-8652 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0741238X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Adv Ther Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: New York : Springer Healthcare Communications, 2008- : Health Communications Inc.
Original Publication: Metuchen, N.J. : Health Communications Inc., c1984-

Menopause* ; Health Care Costs*/statistics & numerical data; Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Hot Flashes/economics ; United States ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data ; Propensity Score

Introduction: The study objective was to estimate all-cause healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical and pharmacy costs for women with treated versus untreated vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using US claims data from Optum Research Database (study period: January 1, 2012-February 29, 2020). Women aged 40-63 years with a VMS diagnosis claim and ≥ 12 and ≥ 18 months of continuous enrollment during baseline and follow-up periods, respectively, were included. Women treated for VMS were propensity score matched 1:1 to untreated controls with VMS. Standardized differences (SDIFF) ≥ 10% were considered meaningful. A generalized linear model (gamma distribution, log link, robust standard errors) estimated the total cost of care ratio. Subgroup analyses of on- and off-label treatment costs were conducted.
Results: Of 117,582 women diagnosed with VMS, 20.5% initiated VMS treatment and 79.5% had no treatment. Treated women (n = 24,057) were matched to untreated VMS controls. There were no differences in HCRU at follow-up (SDIFF < 10%). Pharmacy ($487 vs $320, SDIFF 28.4%) and total ($1803 vs $1536, SDIFF 12.6%) costs were higher in the treated cohort. Total costs were 7% higher in the treated cohort (total cost ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.05-1.10, P < 0.001). The on-label treatment pharmacy costs ($546 versus $315, SDIFF 38.6%) were higher in the treated cohort. Off-label treatment had higher medical costs ($1393 versus $1201, SDIFF 10.4%).
Conclusions: Most women with VMS due to menopause were not treated within 6 months following diagnosis. While both on- and off-label treatment increased the total cost of care compared with untreated controls, those increases were modest in magnitude and should not impede treatment for women who report symptom improvement as a result of treatment.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Database; HCRU; Health care costs; Healthcare resources; Hormone replacement therapy; Hot flashes; Propensity score; Resource use; Retrospective studies; Treatment

Date Created: 20240312 Date Completed: 20240427 Latest Revision: 20240429

20240429

PMC11052820

10.1007/s12325-024-02821-0

38467985