Table 4.
Initiation and escalation of IST
| Time, days, median (IQR) | SSc (n = 30 088) | SSc-ILD (n = 6320) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time from index date to initiation of medically or self-administered ISTa | 152 (36–512) | 114 (34–404) | ||
| Time from index date to initiation of self-administered IST with dose >0 | 145 (34–505) | 115 (32–405) | ||
| Time from initiation of self-administered IST to start of first stable regimenb | 88 (1–258) | 87 (1–226) | ||
| Duration of first stable regimen | 289 (221–426) | 292 (22–455) | ||
| Time from first stable regimen to start of second stable regimen | 436 (331–660) | 451 (346–560) | ||
| Duration of second stable regimen | 397 (268–515) | 365 (240–477) | ||
| Patients receiving IST | Number with event/total qualifying, n | % (95% CI) | Number with event/total qualifying, n | % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initiation of medically or self-administered IST | 2877/30 088 | 9.6 (9.2, 9.9) | 981/6320 | 15.5 (14.6, 16.4) |
| Initiation of self-administered IST with dose >0 | 2479/30 088 | 8.2 (7.9, 8.6) | 802/6320 | 12.7 (11.9, 13.5) |
| Reaching first stable regimen after initiation, N (100%)b | 850/2002c | 42.5 (40.3, 44.6) | 294/653c | 45.0 (41.2, 48.8) |
| Escalation of IST after first stable regimen | 184/850 | 21.7 (18.9, 24.4) | 57/294 | 19.4 (14.9, 23.9) |
| Reaching second stable regimen after initiationc | 86/141c | 61.0 (52.9, 69.0) | 29/44c | 65.9 (51.9, 79.9) |
| Escalation of IST after the second stable regimen | 15/86 | 17.4 (9.4, 25.5) | 7/29 | 24.1 (8.6, 39.7) |
a
Medically administered therapy was defined as therapy that needed to be given by healthcare providers, such as drugs given intravenously or through injection, and were captured via inpatient or outpatient medical claims. Self-administered therapy was defined as therapy that could be taken by patients themselves, such as oral drugs or auto-injectable devices, and were captured via outpatient prescription claims.
b
Stable regimen defined as without escalation of IST for at least 6 months.
c
Total patients qualifying is reduced due to 180 days of continuous enrolment that is required in order to determine 180 days of stable regimen.