Effectiveness of Vortioxetine in Working Patients with Major Depressive Disorder in China: A Subgroup Analysis of the RELIEVE China Study

Abstract

Gang Wang,1,* Tianmei Si,2,* Andreas Rieckmann,3 Jingdong Ma,4 Michael Cronquist Christensen3 1The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital & The Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Global Medical Affairs, H. Lundbeck A/S, Valby, Denmark; 4Medical Affairs, Lundbeck China, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Michael Cronquist Christensen, Global Medical Affairs, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: Major depressive disorder (MDD) causes significant functional impairments that impact on all aspects of patients’ daily lives, including their ability to work, work productivity, and social life.Purpose: To assess the real-world effectiveness of the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine in working patients with MDD in China.Patients and methods: RELIEVE China was an observational, prospective cohort study. Patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with MDD initiating treatment with vortioxetine in routine clinical practice settings were followed for 24 weeks. In this subgroup analysis, functioning was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) in patients in full- or part-time work or education at baseline who remained on treatment at all follow-up visits (n=424). Depressive, cognitive, and anxiety symptoms were also assessed. For all endpoints, mean change from baseline at weeks 8 and 24 was analyzed using mixed models for repeated measures.Results: Clinically relevant and sustained improvements in patient functioning and measures of work productivity were observed over the 24 weeks of vortioxetine treatment. The adjusted mean (standard error) reduction in SDS total score from baseline was 5.4 (0.3) points at week 8 and 8.7 (0.3) points at week 24 (both P< 0.001 vs baseline). Significant improvements were observed across all SDS domains and in levels of absenteeism and presenteeism (P< 0.001 vs baseline for all endpoints at both time points). Significant improvements in depressive, cognitive, and anxiety symptoms were also observed over the study period (all P< 0.001 vs baseline). The proportion of patients in remission (ie, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ≤ 7) after 24 weeks of vortioxetine treatment was 65.4%. Vortioxetine was well tolerated; nausea was the most common adverse event, reported by 18.6% of patients.Conclusion: These findings support the effectiveness and tolerability of vortioxetine in working patients with MDD receiving treatment in routine clinical practice settings in China.Keywords: China, cognitive symptoms, major depressive disorder, patient functioning, vortioxetine, work productivity

Keywords

• china
• cognitive symptoms
• major depressive disorder
• patient functioning
• vortioxetine
• work productivity