Home Infusions for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Safe: US Experience and Patient Perspectives

Abstract

Abstract Background Home infusions (HIs) for biologic medications are an option for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in the United States. We aimed to describe the population receiving HIs and report patient experience with HIs. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the Quintiles-IMSLegacy PharMetrics Adjudicated Claims Database from 2010 to 2016 to describe the population receiving infliximab (IFX) and vedolizumab (VDZ) HIs and determine predictors for an urgent/emergent visit post-HIs. We then administered a cross-sectional survey to IBD Partners Internet-based cohort participants to assess knowledge and experience with infusions. Results We identified claims for 11 892 conventional IFX patients, 1573 home IFX patients, 438 conventional VDZ patients, and 138 home VDZ patients. There were no differences in demographics or median charges with IFX home and conventional infusions. Home VDZ infusions had a greater median charge than conventional VDZ infusion. Less than 4% of patients had an urgent/emergent visit post-HIs. Charlson comorbidity index > 0 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-3.77) and Medicaid (OR: 3.01; 95% CI, 1.53-5.94) conferred significantly higher odds of urgent/emergent visit post-HIs. In IBD Partners, 644 IBD patients responded; 56 received HIs. The majority chose HIs to save time and preferred HIs to conventional infusions. Only 2 patients reported an urgent/emergent visit for HI-related problems. Conclusions HI appears to be safe in IBD patients receiving IFX and VDZ. However, patients with fewer resources and more comorbidities are at increased risk for an urgent/emergent visit post-HIs. The overall patient experience with HI is positive. Expansion of HIs may result in decreased therapy-related logistic burden for carefully selected patients.