This study integrated 5 United States healthcare claims databases to evaluate the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major bleeding (MB) among VTE patients who initiated apixaban vs. warfarin, stratified by obesity. Obese and morbidly obese patients were identified based on diagnosis codes. Stabilized inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was conducted to balance observed patient characteristics between treatment cohorts. An interaction analysis was conducted to evaluate treatment effects of apixaban vs. warfarin according to obesity status. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the risk of recurrent VTE and MB among IPTW weighted obese and morbidly obese patients. A total of 112,024 non-obese patients and 43,095 obese patients were identified, of whom 19,751 were morbidly obese. When stratified by obesity status post-IPTW, no significant interactions were observed for effects of apixaban vs. warfarin on recurrent VTE or MB (interaction p > 0.10). Among IPTW obese and morbidly obese patients, apixaban was associated with a significantly lower risk of recurrent VTE (obese: 0.73 [0.64–0.84]; morbidly obese: 0.65 [0.53–0.80]) and MB (obese: 0.73 [0.62–0.85]; morbidly obese: 0.68 [0.54–0.86]) as compared with warfarin. In this large sample of obese and morbidly obese VTE patients, apixaban had a significantly lower risk of recurrent VTE and MB vs. warfarin.

Background: This study examined biologic persistence, dosing, and other treatment patterns among Crohn’s disease (CD) patients that initiated adalimumab (ADA), certolizumab pegol (CZP), infliximab (IFX), ustekinumab (UST), and vedolizumab (VDZ). Methods: This descriptive study pooled data from IBM MarketScan, IQVIA PharMetrics, and Optum databases and identified CD patients who initiated the above biologics. Due to low sample size, CZP was not included in the analyses. Persistence was defined as the proportion of patients that remained on the index biologic without a gap of >30 days for ADA and >120 days for UST, IFX, and VDZ between two claims. A sensitivity analysis using fixed gap (90-day) was also conducted. Dose titration (based upon mean maintenance dose) including 50% dose escalation, and 50% dose reduction was assessed among patients with ≥2 maintenance doses during follow-up among ADA, UST, and VDZ patients. Results: After applying all selection criteria, patients were selected into bio-naive (ADA: 2047; IFX: 1127; UST: 296; VDZ: 342) and bio-experienced cohorts (ADA: 300; IFX: 341; UST: 801; VDZ: 593) based on the biologics used. Unadjusted persistence was numerically higher among bio-naive and bio-experienced UST (87.2%, 86.3%) patients followed by VDZ (78.9%, 80.8%), IFX (79.0%, 77.4%), and ADA (64.9%, 60.7%). Similar trends were observed using sensitivity analysis. Dose escalation was numerically higher for ADA patients (16.1%–16.4%) followed by UST (13.4%–16.9%), and VDZ (12.4%–14.7%). Dose reduction followed a similar trend. Conclusions: Among CD patients, unadjusted persistence using variable and fixed gap definition was numerically highest for UST patients whereas dose escalation was numerically highest among ADA patients. Further research is needed to examine treatment patterns after adjusting for confounders and baseline differences among biologic users.

Introduction Understanding the patient journey of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may inform future clinical decision-making and enhance the patient experience. The objectives of this study were to explore the patient experience of HCC in relation to treatment options, treatment decision-making and treatment goals throughout the disease journey. This study also aimed to determine the symptoms and impacts of HCC across early, intermediate and advanced HCC. Methods Semi-structured 60-min interviews were conducted with n = 50 patients with HCC and n = 12 healthcare professionals (HCPs) with experience of treating patients with HCC. Interview data were analyzed using directed content analysis techniques with a hybrid inductive and deductive approach. An assessment of conceptual saturation was conducted for patients' symptom experience. Results Patients described treatment decisions as mostly HCP-led. In this study, surgery/resection was the most frequently offered treatment option across the HCC journey, and most patients were satisfied with the treatment options presented to them. Overall, patients described extending their overall survival (OS) and preserving quality of life (QoL) as their most important treatment goals, with patients diagnosed with advanced/unresectable HCC prioritizing QoL. HCPs also prioritized OS and progression-free survival (PFS) though reported that QoL became more important as HCC progressed. Patients experienced various symptoms across the HCC journey including fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, diarrhea and pain. Conclusion Overall, HCPs and patients collaborate throughout the treatment journey regarding treatment decisions and shared treatment goals. OS is critically important to patients and HCPs, though treatment goals may change depending on various clinical factors.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting 33.5 million patients globally. It is associated with increased morbidity, leading to significant clinical and economic burden. There exist only limited data in the Middle Eastern region from the existing registries. The goal of the FLOW-AF (atrial FibriLlatiOn real World management registry in the Middle East and Africa) registry is to evaluate the characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical and economic outcomes associated with anticoagulation among patients newly diagnosed with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in Egypt, Lebanon, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Methods: This study will be a multicountry, multicenter, prospective observational registry aiming to enroll 1446 newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients at more than 20 sites across the four countries. During the recruitment period, patients will be included if they were newly diagnosed with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and had initiated treatment for the prevention of stroke/systemic embolism. Patient data will be assessed prospectively at 6 and 12 months from their enrollment date. Demographics, clinical characteristics, antithrombotic treatments received, clinical outcomes, adverse events, healthcare resource utilization, and direct costs associated with management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation will be collected and analyzed overall, by country, and by groups created based on treatment, demographics, and clinical characteristics, medical history and risk factors. Conclusion: The FLOW-AF registry will provide information on the uptake of oral anticoagulants, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, and healthcare utilization and costs among newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients in the Middle Eastern region.

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs), a heterogeneous group of cancers arising from the biliary tract, account for ∼15% of primary liver cancers. Patients are often diagnosed with advanced disease, resulting in poor prognoses and documented 5-year survival rates of <2%. The aim of this study was to describe real-world treatment patterns and outcomes among patients with advanced BTC in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. A retrospective, physician-abstracted chart review survey was conducted between May 2018 and October 2021. Data were abstracted from medical charts of adult patients diagnosed with advanced BTC who initiated treatment with first-line (1L) systemic therapy. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes were summarized descriptively. In total, 196 physicians provided data for 792 advanced BTC patients who initiated 1L systemic therapy. Mean age was 65.7 years and most of the patients were male (62.6%). At data abstraction 56.1% were deceased. The most frequently prescribed 1L systemic treatment was cisplatin–gemcitabine (47.9%). The median 1L treatment duration was 5.3 months. Additionally, 33.5% of patients received 2L and 4.5% received 3L+ treatment. Median real-world overall survival from index date was 13.4 months, with substantial regional variation. This study supports extant data detailing that presentation at an advanced stage may contribute to the poor outcomes of BTC patients. There are significant implications for awareness and guideline-driven pathway changes to improve outcomes for these poorly served patients.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the second leading cause of death in cancer patients. The treatment of cancer-associated VTE carries a significantly greater risk of major bleeding (MB) and recurrent VTE compared to that in non-cancer patients. CHEST Guidelines suggest the use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) over a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in patients diagnosed with VTE and cancer. The last decade has seen an emergence of non-VKA anticoagulants (NOACs) for the treatment of VTE. Despite completed and ongoing clinical trials, there is a lack of real-world evidence comparing the effectiveness and safety of LWMH with VKAs and NOACs among VTE patients with active cancer. Therefore, this study evaluates the risk of MB, clinically relevant non-MB (CRNMB), and recurrent VTE (fatal or non-fatal) among VTE patients with active cancer prescribed apixaban, LMWH, or warfarin in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Four US commercial insurance claims databases were used to identify VTE patients with active cancer (defined as cancer diagnosis or cancer treatment [chemotherapy, radiation and cancer-related surgery] within 6 months before or 30 days after VTE diagnosis) who initiated apixaban, LMWH, or warfarin within 30-days following the first VTE event (01SEP2014-31MAR2018). Patients who used LMWH as bridging therapy for warfarin (≤14 days before or after warfarin initiation) were classified as warfarin users. Patients were followed to the earliest of: health plan disenrollment, death, index therapy discontinuation, switch to another anticoagulant, study end, or a maximum of 6 months. Additional analysis using all available follow-up was also conducted. Stabilized inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance treatment cohorts. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the risk of MB, CRNMB, and recurrent VTE. RESULTS: After applying all eligibility criteria, 3,393 apixaban, 6,108 LMWH, and 4,585 warfarin patients were identified with mean ages of 65, 64, and 64 years, respectively. After IPTW, all patient characteristics were balanced. The mean follow-up was 105, 88, and 113 days for apixaban, LMWH, and warfarin, respectively. Among the weighted VTE cancer population, 51% of the patients had metastatic cancer and 77% of patients received cancer treatment. Further, 15% of patients had very high-risk cancer (brain, stomach, or pancreas), and 40% patients had high-risk cancer (lung, lymphoma, gynecologic, bladder, testicular, renal cell carcinoma). Apixaban patients had a lower risk of MB, CRNM bleeding, and recurrent VTE compared to LMWH. Apixaban patients also had a lower risk of recurrent VTE and a similar risk of MB and CRNM bleeding compared to warfarin. Warfarin patients had a similar risk of MB, CRNM bleeding, and recurrent VTE compared to LMWH (Figure). When the entire available follow-up period (mean follow-up was 137, 106, and 166 days for apixaban, LMWH, and warfarin, respectively) was used, the trends were similar to the 6-month analysis for apixaban vs. LMWH and warfarin vs. LMWH. However, apixaban patients were associated with a lower risk of both MB and recurrent VTE compared to warfarin patients. CONCLUSION: VTE patients with active cancer initiating apixaban had significantly lower risk of MB, CRNM bleeding, and recurrent VTE compared to LMWH patients. Apixaban patients also had a lower risk of recurrent VTE compared to warfarin patients. These results may be helpful for clinicians in evaluating different anticoagulation treatments for VTE patients with active cancer. Further studies are needed to evaluate these outcomes between different anticoagulation treatment options. Figure Disclosures: Cohen: Lifeblood: Other: advisor to Lifeblood: the thrombosis charity and is the founder of the European educational charity the Coalition to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism; ONO: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Portola: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy; TRN: Consultancy; UK Government Health Select Committee: Other: advised the UK Government Health Select Committee, the all-party working group on thrombosis, the Department of Health, and the NHS, on the prevention of VTE; Temasek Capital: Consultancy; ACI Clinical: Consultancy; Navigant: Consultancy; McKinsey: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy; Aspen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Boston Scientific: Consultancy; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Daiichi-Sankyo: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; GLG: Consultancy; Guidepoint Global: Consultancy; Johnson and Johnson: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Leo Pharma: Consultancy; Medscape: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Keshishian:STATinMED Research: Other: I am a paid employee of STATinMED Research which is a paid consultant to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc.. Lee:Pfizer Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wygant:Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Employment. Rosenblatt:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: Stock Owner ; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Employment. Hlavacek:Pfizer Inc.: Employment. Mardekian:Pfizer Inc.: Employment. Wiederkehr:Pfizer Inc.: Employment. Sah:STATinMED Research: Other: I am a paid employee of...