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Fewer Hospitalizations and Lower Medical Costs Seen Among Patients With Schizophrenia Taking Risperidone Long-Acting Injection

Posted on: Thursday, 5 October 2006, 15:00 CDT

NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder taking risperidone long-acting injection were observed to have fewer psychiatric-related hospitalizations, and additionally fewer psychiatric-related inpatient days per month, improved antipsychotic medication compliance, and lower total monthly medical costs, compared to their experience prior to initiating treatment with risperidone long-acting injection. These were the results of an analysis conducted in a United States veterans population that was presented at the American Psychiatric Association's 58th Institute of Psychiatric Services.

"This retrospective analysis demonstrates the potential for decreased psychiatric-related hospitalizations in patients being treated with risperidone long-acting injection," said Kenneth M. Shermock, Pharm.D, President, Shermock Outcomes Research. "Partial and noncompliance with antipsychotic medication is a significant contributor to psychiatric hospitalizations. Risperidone long-acting injection provides continuous delivery of medication when administered once every two weeks, and allows the treatment team to monitor the patient's condition and adherence to therapy, which can help avoid hospitalizations and potentially reduce the overall cost of care," Shermock added.

In the U.S., schizophrenia consumes more than $60 billion a year in treatment, societal and family costs, with hospitalizations representing a major component of treatment expenditures. Put in perspective, that total translates to $32,500 in direct and indirect annual costs for each of the approximately two million people with schizophrenia in the United States.

Study Design

In this observational study, healthcare claims data were analyzed from 106 eligible patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the Ohio Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System. Patients ranged in age from 30-85 years old and were mostly male. Eligible patients must have had at least four doses of risperidone long-acting injection during the analysis period.

The primary analysis was based on a comparison of the patients' own psychiatric-related hospitalizations and psychiatric-related healthcare resource utilization pre- and post-initiation of treatment with the therapy. The period of time reviewed for each patient prior to risperidone long-acting injection treatment was equal to the available period of follow up after treatment initiation. In this manner, each patient served as his or her own control.

Study Findings Specific study findings included the following: -- Prior to initiation of risperidone long-acting injection, 75% of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder experienced a psychiatric-related hospitalization compared with only 42% after initiation of therapy -- Following initiation of therapy, patients experienced an average of 0.8 fewer psychiatric-related hospitalizations from 2.0 to 1.2 over approximately 9 months -- Psychiatric-related inpatient days per month decreased an average of 3.1 days, from 5.1 to 2 days -- On average, patients attended one more outpatient visit per month after initiation of risperidone long-acting injection compared to their experience prior to initiating therapy -- Antipsychotic medication compliance improved after initiation of risperidone long-acting injection, as measured by the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) -- There was a mean decrease in the monthly cost of hospitalizations by $2,273 and a mean decrease of $1,598 in the monthly total cost following initiation of risperidone long-acting injection. This represented a 31% reduction in total monthly costs in the period after initiation of risperidone long-acting injection treatment.

Worldwide, it is estimated that one person in every 100 develops schizophrenia, one of the most serious types of mental illness. It is marked by positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions) and negative symptoms (depression, blunted emotions and social withdrawal), as well as by disorganized thinking.

Risperidone long-acting injection is the first and only long-acting, atypical antipsychotic to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and now is approved in more than 70 countries worldwide. The treatment uses Alkermes proprietary technology to deliver and maintain therapeutic medication levels in the body through just one injection every two weeks. Risperidone long-acting injection is manufactured by Alkermes, Inc. and marketed in the United States by Janssen, L.P. Available in 25 mg, 37.5 mg and 50 mg dose units, it is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. For more information, visit http://www.janssen.com/.

Important safety information: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis:

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo. Analyses of 17 placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks) in these patients revealed a risk of death in the drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times that seen in placebo-treated patients. Over the course of a typical 10-week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Risperidone long-acting injection is not approved for the treatment of patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis.

In a study of people taking risperidone long-acting injection, the most common side effects were: sleepiness, restlessness, tremors and muscle stiffness, stomach upset, constipation, dry mouth, feeling tired and weight increase. Studies suggest an increased risk of elevated blood sugar-related side effects, which are sometimes potentially fatal, in patients treated with this class of medications, including risperidone long-acting injection. Some people may need regular blood sugar testing.

Patients may have heard the term "tardive dyskinesia." These are potentially persistent, uncontrollable, slow or jerky facial or body movements that can be caused by all medications of this type. If patients have these symptoms, they should talk with their health care professional.

A rare but serious side effect that has been reported with this kind of medicine, including risperidone long-acting injection, is known as NMS or neuroleptic malignant syndrome. NMS is characterized by muscle rigidity and fever and can be serious.

For more information, refer to the full prescribing information at http://www.janssen.com/.

Janssen, L.P., based in Titusville, N.J., is the only large pharmaceutical company in the US dedicated solely to mental health. The company currently markets prescription medications for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania. For more information about Janssen, L.P. visit http://www.janssen.com/ .

Janssen, L.P.

CONTACT: Media - Srikant Ramaswami, +1-609-730-2612, orsramaswa@gpcus.jnj.com

Web site: http://www.janssen.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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