Mortality, Clinical Complications, and Healthcare Resource Utilization Associated with Managing Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease with Recurrent Vaso-occlusive Crises in Italy

To examine the clinical burden and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) among patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) and patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) with recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in Italy.

Eligible patients were identified from an administrative claims database from 1 January 2010 and 1 February 2019. Patients with TDT had ≥ 1 iron chelation treatment, ≥ 8 red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) during any 12-month period, and ≥ 12 months of available data pre- and post-index (i.e., first RBCT claim). Patients with SCD with recurrent VOCs had ≥ 2 VOCs/year in ≥ 2 consecutive years and ≥ 12 months of available data pre- and post-index (second VOC claim in the second of 2 consecutive years). Patients were propensity score matched to five controls by age, sex, geographic area, and index year. Clinical and HCRU outcomes were evaluated post-index.

In total, 214 patients with TDT and 111 patients with SCD with recurrent VOCs were matched to 1070 and 555 controls, respectively. Both patient groups had substantially higher mortality rates than controls (TDT: 4.8 versus 0.8 deaths per 100 person-years; SCD: 1.6 versus 0.4 deaths per 100 person-years). Clinical complications were prevalent in both patient groups. Compared with controls, both patient groups had significantly higher mean rates of all-cause hospitalizations (TDT: 1.4 versus 0.1; SCD: 2.0 versus 0.1) and outpatient services (TDT: 21.9 versus 1.6; SCD: 6.2 versus 1.0) per patient per year (all: p < 0.05).

Management of TDT and SCD in Italy is associated with significant clinical and health system burden, highlighting the need for new treatments that eliminate RBCTs and VOCs.